...until Potty Training Extravaganza 2008! That's right, Step Three of Operation Turning Three is getting this boy to use the potty. We start this Saturday, and I haven't been this nervous since the whole breastfeeding debacle of 2005. I guess I'm so nervous because everything always seems to go either really well with Aaron or really badly. I never know what's going to happen. I think he's ready, though, because here lately he has been walking up to me and asking me to change his diaper. That's a pretty good cue, right?
So, for those of you in the know, here is my potty training arsenal:
So, for those of you in the know, here is my potty training arsenal:
Do I have everything? Is there something that really worked for you that I'm missing?
9 comments:
What happened with breastfeeding? Curious because Zoe is now on formula thanks to my hives outbreak, and I don't even have time to pump to try to pick that back up once the steroids are out of my system. nice. Not in my plan, but at least I won't have to find a secluded place to feed my girl anymore...I guess.
Chelle-
Aaron was just the worst at latching on and feeding, so I pumped for 2 1/2 months and gave him bottles. Pumping, then cleaning the pump parts was so time-consuming; I felt like that's all I ever did. I'm all for breastfeeding, but formula really worked out for us in the end. Daddies need to feel the feeding love too! And Aaron is no worse for the wear because of it.
Thanks gal!
Good luck! Just don't give up. It'll be hard and you'll want to, but don't do it! I wanted to give up after just the first day with Avery, when she peed everywhere BUT the potty. But then the next day she peed in the potty once, and then the next, every time. It may not be that fast with Aaron (it wasn't for us with Callie) but he'll get there! :)
OK... you asked. :-)
From my experience, don't use the pull ups except at night. (I know many reading this completely disagree..) Pull ups are like diapers in that they don't feel the ick of being wet.(So basically it's just like a diaper... and more expensive than one) When you go out to the store or "out" buy some of those plastic covers and put them on over his big boy underwear. That way if he has an accident, it's not all over everything. I also used the thick cotton training pants. Buy them a size or 2 larger than what he needs so he can easily pull them up and down. Sometimes they are hard to pull up and down because they don't have the elastic in them like normal big boy/girl panties do.
Good Luck! May the force be with you!
And just so you know, I've NEVER heard of anybody going to college who is still in diapers... he'll get there.
I agree with the comment above...only pull-ups at night otherwise I think it gives them mixed messages. Go straight to underwear and stay home for a few days and play outside a lot...so if he has an accident its not a big deal.
We also set a timer and went every other hour at the minimum, like it or not...m&m's were our rewards. We also had a sticker chart on the back of the bathroom door and while the kids would sit on the potty we would start selecting our sticker and what color M&M in anticipation of the big event.
I kept a change of clothes with me at all times and put a dish towel under the kids in their carseat to at least help if there was an accident (but we never had one in the car). I also kept (and still do) a small potty like you have in the back of our suburban. You have more "pee options" with boys...but it has been the best during potty training as well as while we're at a playground or place without a potty.
Every time we would go anywhere (aka Target) the first thing we would do is walk straight to the bathroom.
That is probably more then you want to know...I'm getting ready to potty train Brooke this summer so writing all this has helped refresh my memory about how much fun it is going to be!
Good luck...oh, get some good carpet stain cleaner now so you're ready...in case.
I started Braden later than most... at exactly 3 years old.
No pullups.... except at night.
Don't ask if he has to go... just take him every hour (at first) then take him when he wakes up, after breakfast, during play, before lunch, after lunch, before nap, after nap, before you leave the house, while you are out, when you get back, before dinner, after dinner, before you go to bed.
The best thing that work for Braden was giving him a CHOICE in where he could potty. Mom's bathroom Nana's bathroom (the hall/guest potty) or California potty.... which in my family means outside. Front California, side yard california... whatever gives him the feeling of being in control and making choices while all along you are getting him to pee.
Poo takes a bit longer than pee to being able to tell when you have to go... so be patient with that !
Good Luck!
Our life improved when Brandon found out that the toilet seat top of his little potty could actually go on our regular toilet. Another dramatic improvement was when his dad (not me, mind you) taught him how to pee standing up. Woo hoo! He told us we could just throw the little kid potty away after that! All of this occured before and right around the time he turned three.
Hang in there! You'll make it.
Things that worked for us...
1. Going on a regular basis (as in earlier comment) without asking if he needed to go.
2. Celebrating like mad when successful and not really saying anything about the not-successful. Our celebrations included hugs, cheering, calling grandparents, telling all our friends, M&Ms (many will disagree with me about food rewards), and lollipops.
3. Peeing with Daddy - as in "how cool is it that you can stand up and pee with Daddy! Why don't you two race or practice hitting the Cheerio floating in the toilet!"
4. Pullups only at night. He might wear pullups at night for a long time, in fact, depending on how his control muscles develop and how sound of a sleeper he is.
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