How to Have Fun Potty Training: Day 3

Stats:

Attempts on the Potty: 18

Accidents in the Undies: 4 (HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?!)

Successful Potty Trips: 7 (YAY!!!!!!)

I have to be completely honest. If you'd told me that Austin would have those kinds of stats by "Day 3" of this 3-day intensive potty training adventure, I would have been disappointed. My expectations at the beginning were this: Austin would give me fits the first two days resisting my insistence on going peepee and poopy in the potty. I would be completely exhausted from fighting a defiant 2-year-old by day three. The whole potty training ordeal would be a thorn in my side. But on day three he would finally give in and totally submit himself to the potty everytime, telling me when he needed to go.

Every expectation BUMPED!

Sure, "Day 1" was hard and tiring, but it was the first day. Every first day of something new is always kind of confusing and tiring. But "Day 2" brought consistency and new accomplishments! It became a fun game to see how many pieces of candy Austin could get. And I never even realized that I was HAVING FUN until "Day 3".

Ahh. Good ole "Day 3". It was a great day. Only 4 accidents! And three of those were before his nap when we were outside playing in the garden. Well, Austin was playing in the garden. I was pulling weeds, not paying attention to Austin's cues. But that was the slight disappointment about Day 3. Austin still doesn't come tell me when he needs to go potty. I have to read his cues. We'll be working on that in the next few days. Nevertheless, I still had fun! I've LOVED watching him closely, reading his every move and facial expression. I've loved neglecting chores to play with my toddler all day long. I've loved his bright, happy, dramatic reaction to the simple act of having a successful potty trip! Its been so much fun watching him learn the past 3 days.

I know we're not done. We still have a long way to go...like using verbal signs to communicate when he needs to go and making it through the night. But I'm grateful for "Patty's Potty Plan" and all that its taught both my little tike and myself. By the way, if you noticed, the number of attempts has decreased over this 3 day period. That's because we no longer have to go every 10 minutes. I've gotten pretty darn good at reading his cues. :)

I hope you've enjoyed reading about our little adventure. I've sure enjoyed living it...surprisingly.

God Bless!

- Kate

How to Be Gleefully Happy About a BM: Day 2

Our Potty Training Adventure, Day 2 went better than anticipated! :D Wanna see the stats of the day?
Drum roll, please...

Attempts on the Potty: 19
Accidents in the Undies: 10 (Two better than yesterday)
Successful Potty Trips: 5 (WOOHOO!!!!)

Yesterday morning I was kind of disappointed that I kept catching him AFTER he'd peed his new britches and got ZERO successful trips to the potty before his afternoon nap. I went through an ENTIRE pack of toddler undies before lunch! I was really beginning to question my motives and Austin's readiness.
But TODAY was a totally different experience! Today lifted my spirits as I reminded myself why we are attempting this at the ripe old age of two, and this morning I caught him THREE times before he wet his drawers. He got to munch on 3 M&M's for going #1 in the potty 3 times before his nap! AND he only had 3 accidents before his nap...as opposed to SEVEN yesterday morning. What a fantastic leap!!!
By the end of the day it seemed as if he was actually starting to grasp the whole idea of potty training as Brett and I constantly reminded him to keep his undies dry and go in the big boy potty. I'm so darn proud of my little guy! I KNEW he'd get the hang of it. :D

Tomorrow's goal: 6 successful potty trips and only 9 accidents. I think its do-able, don't you?

How To Drive Yourself Crazy: Day 1

Today was the kick-off for a very important lesson in Austin's life. Potty Training. :) I've been thinking about it for a few months now. Austin's been showing interest in the potty ever since he was about 20 months old. As for the readiness checklist? Yep, he's totally there. Which is quite a relief for me because he's already in the largest size diaper they make!

Back about June, I called a lady here in Mountain Home who has 9 children with whom she's used one certain approach to potty training and its worked for all 9 of them. SURELY it could work for Austin.

The Plan:
A 3-day Potty Training Intensive, to sum it up. Go cold turkey on the diapers. All underwear, all the time...no training pants. Give the child as much juice/water/milk as they want all day long for 3 days straight, but cut them off an hour before bedtime. Take the child to the potty every 10 minutes. Have them sit on the potty for 2-5 minutes. If they go #1 they get 1 small piece of candy. If they go #2 they get 2 small pieces of candy. If they go #0 they get none. Sure, its bribery, but by the 3rd day they begin to realize the ultimate goal.
This woman always starts her children at about 22 months. I figure its not too early to at least try since Austin is now one month past two years.

My Plan:
A slight variation. No training pants, BUT diapers at night...because I am NOT expecting a 2-year old to make it through the night the first few days of potty training. One thing at a time for us. We'll tackle nights at a later date...like 6 months down the road, later. ;)

Day 1:
Oh, Dear. How do I sum up Day 1? Ok, lets do stats...
Attempts on the Potty: 31
Accidents in the Undies: 12 (UUUUGH!)
Successes on the Potty: 1 (Yep that's right, ONE!)
This morning started out pretty tough. Austin did not fully understand what was expected of him. Which, I totally get that. Picture yourself in diapers all your life where you get to let loose anywhere, anytime. How awesome is that!?! But then one day, Mommy tells you "no more diapers!" WHAT?!? What are you doing to me, Woman!...you might think. ;) Then on go these strange, light-weight, action-figure covered, diaper-looking doodads and you all of the sudden get told "No, we don't do that anymore" when you've gone whoopty in your new tighty whities!
So, needless to say, I'm not surprised we had TWELVE accidents and only ONE success today. In fact, I'm THRILLED we had A SUCCESS today!
(Side note: I did actually explain my expectations and what we were doing to Austin long before we threw him into his new super-hero undies. He acted pretty excited to be able to wear them, too.)

Yes, today was hard. It was hard trying to get him to go to the potty every ten minutes. It was hard to try to get him to potty IN the potty chair. It was hard having to clean up twelve messes on the floor/rug. And it was hard trying to get Austin to understand why we were doing things differently today. But I know he'll come around.
Austin is a super smart kid. He's always been ahead of the game. He smiled early. He laughed early. He talked early. He walked early. I don't push him. I gently encourage him. And if he wants do things that 3-year old children are doing, by golly, I'm going to let him try. If he doesn't catch on in a week. I'm more than happy to let him stay in diapers a little while longer. But I'm not going to hold him back because someone else says he's not ready or not old enough.

So, I'll keep encouraging him. :)

PS. Tomorrow's goal: 2 Successes on the Potty! ;)