Potty Training-Tales from the Potty

My son is now 2 1/2  and is potty trained.  Yea!  Moms keep asking me how I got there.  So now that it’s been about 4 months since I did 3 day potty training, I think I have a better perspective to share the good, the bad and the poopy.  

There is no one right way.  I think it really depends on your child, how much time and commitment you have, and if you have other children.

Here are few links to help you find what is best for you and your child.
Baby Center Advice
Dr. Sears Advice
3-day Potty Training

I did 3 day potty training-which is basically going cold turkey!  No more diapers-not even at night.   Here is the basic rules-you throw away all the diapers in the house, dress you child in big kid underwear, give him liquids, and rush him to the potty when you catch him in the act. Within those first three days of staying home and being positive and focused on your child, something is supposed to "click" and your child will just get it.

This week  I am going to share my potty training diary.  Follow me on my journey.

3 Day Potty Training Diary-The Day Before:

So after putting it off for months, I have decided to do 3 day potty training this weekend.  My son has been ready,  but I wasn’t ready.  With a 9 month old I didn’t have the time or the commitment, but this is the time.  He is 2 1/2 and has all the readiness signs.   I have been gradually getting him ready since he was 18 months old.  We got books, had pottys in the bathroom, showed him how to use it, had stickers and rewards but I never pushed anything and didn’t use any particular method.  I hoped eventually he would just get better, use the potty more often and stay dry.  Didn’t happen.  In fact he got worse.  Not only did he not use the potty, he wouldn’t even tell me when he had a poopy diaper.  We were going backward.  It was time to take away the diapers and let him have a chance to be a big boy.

I was anxious.  I told him soon there would be no more diapers and we would be wearing underwear.   He was excited. He said," Like Calliou and his friend in preschool!"  I said, "Yes, you are a big boy now".  So we made it fun.  We went to the store and bought dozens of pairs of underwear.  Trucks, Elmo, Dinosaurs, Thomas. you name it.  Then I bought stickers, poster board for a reward chart, and a few inexpensive prizes and lots of books and games to keep us busy for 3 days without leaving the house.

I lined the couch where he sits and his crib with a waterproof mattress pad, stocked up on rags, carpet cleaner and clean pants and pjs. Tomorrow it is go time!  See you then.