February 8, 2013

Adventures in Potty Training

I think it's safe to say Kendall is potty trained. Yep, after just one week of hardcore training. That's all it took.  Hopefully anyway.  That's not to say that we won't have accidents still, I know we will. But?  Girlfriend is smart and she is ready.

We started this journey last Wednesday/Thursday.  She had told me that if she had princess panties she would go on the potty and Wednesday we set out to get them.  When she woke up from her nap she insisted on wearing them even though I had no intention of starting until the next day.  But, OK, we went with it.  I gave her the rundown..."If you wear these you cannot go pee-pee in them, you HAVE to go on the potty.  If you pee-pee in them you will make Princess Rapunzel cry {whatever works, right?}".  And so she agreed.  But it wasn't that easy.

The next two days were filled with pee but we were committed.  I tried not to make a big deal over the outfit changes, instead used it as teaching moments.  I could tell she didn't like the feeling, especially when it was soaking her socks {ew!} and she was getting it.  There was lots of "do you have to pee?", "are you sure you don't need to go potty?", "let's try" moments and I was sick of hearing it so I'm sure she was too.  Did I mention we have spent the past week in nightgowns?  Best decision ever.  So easy and sometimes, if you're lucky, they won't even get wet if there is an accident.  Sorry boy moms.  There were also lots of potties, three to be exact, one in each bathroom.  We took "the little potty" to any room we were in.  Want to have a tea party?  Sure, how bout a Princess Tea "Potty"?  Even better.  I wanted to make it as easy and accessible to her as possible and to avoid accidents as much as possible.

By Friday we thought we were brave enough to try a public outing.  Mama needed out of this house after pee-fest 2013.  So we went for dinner in Pull-Ups.  The first thing I did when we got there was take her to the bathroom.  I showed her the potty and how it looks different than the ones she's used to but this is where we go when we are not home...blah, blah, blah.  The entire night was spent, "mommy I need go potty!" and me excitedly running her to the bathroom only to have her fool me, each time.  She never went once while we were out that night.

We decided that maybe public wasn't a good idea so soon in our potty journey so we spent Saturday at home, practicing some more and really getting used to the idea.  By Saturday she was telling US when she had to go.  This was huge!  By Sunday afternoon I felt confident that we could leave the house, again, so we ventured to some friends and this time we took her potty with us.  I highly recommend that in any situation that it's possible.  I do not recommend doing it at a restaurant, at your table, while people are eating.

Monday we had to leave the house for a doctors appointment and again we did so in Pull-Ups.  She went to the bathroom before we left and I had asked her when we left the doctor's office and she said she didn't need to go.  So we left.  About 15 minutes into the drive I hear, "mommy I need go pee-pee!".  Shit!  What do I do?  I'm driving, about to get on the freeway.  Shit! Shit! Shit!  So I asked her if she could hold it, so I could find a place to pull over and her response was "I a big girlie!  I need go pee-pee!".  That was it.  I flew into the Fazoli's parking lot and ran her inside, certain that she had probably peed by the time we actually got to the potty.  But?  She didn't!  She sat there for a couple minutes and then she went!  If I could have gotten on the loud speaker and said, "Excuse me Fazoli's guests, I know you want more delicious, hot, bread sticks but my kid just told me she had to pee, held it, and went on the potty!".  I was so proud.  I couldn't wait to get home and tell Jimmy, my mom, Jimmy's mom, anyone who would listen.

The next day, same thing, we left the house, she told me while we were out and we pulled over and she went.  Two accident-free days in a row.  I was on cloud nine.

She was so proud and likes her new big girl panties so much that she cries when I put a diaper on at nap and bedtime.  She hates them.  She doesn't even really like the Pull-Ups but since they go on the same way as her panties I think she's a little more tolerable of them.  The past few nights she's even been waking up in the middle of the night and I hear "Mommy, I need go pee-pee" over the monitor a couple of times a night.  Annoying? Sure.  Progress?  Definitely.  Thankfully she goes RIGHT back to sleep after that and then she wakes up in the morning dry!

Could this be the end of diapers for Kendall?

We've been rewarding her every way possible.  The first day it was M&M's, stickers, singing, cheering, high-fives, "We did it!" songs, you name it, we did it.  Positive reinforcement, say what?!  Now we're at the point where we give a "Yay!  Great job!  You rock!" along with one M&M and she's happy.  In fact,  told her she could have two M&M's when she went #2 and she said, "No, I just need one.".  Good girl.

So, today she's officially in panties except for night time.  She tells us when she has to go and more times than not she goes.  She fakes us out every once in a while but I think it's when she's just looking for attention.  We're still rocking nightgowns when we're at home because they're easier and she loves them.  Whatever works.

My take-away tips?  1.  Stock up on undies because the first two-three days are pee filled.  There will be lots of accidents, it's OK, but be prepared with lots of back up.  We have 14 pairs of panties and I kind of want to go get another 7-pack {I hate laundry}.  2.  Have options.  Like I said, we have 3 different "potties" and she's taken to each one differently.  We had a generic, $11 Bright Starts potty seat to start, then we got the cushioned ring that goes on a big potty, and my MIL bought a Princess Potty.  She was terrified of the "ring" at first but now that's all she wants to go on.  She hasn't cared for the Princess Potty and the generic one was our gold mine for the very beginning.  3.  Reward, reward, reward!  Not only were we singing and dancing and passing out M&M's and stickers but when major things would happen {she told US, she went #2, she woke up dry from a nap} we let her call her grandparents and tell them the good news and THEY praised her too.  Talk about an ego boost!  4.  Wait till they're ready.  Just because you see other kids the same age as your child, perhaps even older, getting potty trained that doesn't mean your kid is behind or that you have to do it now!  If we would have tried this a month or so ago, it would have been a big fat fail.  She wasn't ready.  And even though her cousin, who is 7 weeks younger, was potty trained, I knew it wasn't her time.  Waiting for her to call the shots made it SO much easier on us all.

Whew!  Who knew a post could be this long talking about toddler pee?  I'm so happy, proud, thankful, overjoyed, excited, thrilled, etc that we won't have two in diapers come August with our girl and how well she's done.  It's probably silly to say, but, I think this experience has brought us closer together and really been, dare I say, fun!


25 comments:

  1. So glad it went well!!! Our situation went pretty much the same. In fact, I keep waiting for something to go wrong because it was relatively easy!

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  2. I don't think its mortifying at all. The photograph does not show anything offensive. Its cute, and kinda funny.

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  3. Is it said that one of my favorite parts of this post is that you have Fazoli's near you!? i miss them so... I love all the potty tips, my daughter is just starting to get interested in potty training and I hope she takes to it when she is ready. How old is your little girl?

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  4. This sounds a lot like our experience. The first week was so easy, it seemed too good to be true. We have had many moments of regression and frustration since then but all in all, she's done great. Just a word of warning ... don't get upset if the accidents keep coming. I got so discrouaged and frustrated because so many people said once she was ready it would be DONE and everything and she still has accidents. Probably ona weekly basis.... maybe KP won't, but just don't get discouraged if she does :) GO MAMA....

    You need a reward too :)

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  5. Congrats to you!!! I have four kids and I HATE potty training.. I am currently "working" with #4.. She is not really showing much interest than if she wants candy.. So I am going to just go with the flow. She has only just turned 2 so.... we hall see! CONGRATS AGAIN!

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  6. Awesome job!!!! LOVE the picture of her having her tea party!! So cute!

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  7. Yay! The little boy I work with is potty training, and I get SO excited for him. Who knew that I, ME, would get so happy about a kid going to the potty.

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  8. way to go KP!!! I seriously never thought it would be so important to just wait on them to tell you they're ready but it is HUGE. E up and decided she was done with diapers and it was on from there. Although she still won't get up at night to go. I wish she would do like KP and let me know! She also LOATHES diapers but... i'm tired of washing sheets!!! Congrats Mama!

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  9. Good job KP! I hope when we get to that stage it goes as smoothly. I also really want mine to be out of diapers before I have another. Diapers are expensive!!

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  10. Great post. I love all the detail and hearing what worked for you girls. She is seriously the sweetest, "No, I just need one." So cute! Way to stick it out, Mama...and with no vino! ;)

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  11. This is awesome! My daughter just turned 2 and is showing absolutely no signs. My husband keeps thinking we should start training her, but we are going to wait. I love reading posts like this because I have no idea what I'm doing. We have two in diapers and it is not fun! Good job Kendall!

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  12. That is awesome! When my daughter was potty training, we would put her in her undies and put a diaper over them when we went out in public. That way she still has the feeling of underwear, but if she has an accident it doesn't get her clothes wet.

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  13. Yeah, KP! I am SO happy this is going well for you!

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  14. Way to go Mom and KP! It's a tough road to take and you girls did it with style

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  15. I'm so glad it went well! It's always best to wait until they're ready...the process is so much easier that way!

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  16. Congrats mama :) That's such good news :) Stickers worked for us :)

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  17. Very cool! Glad she is all PT'ed up. It is actually way easier than I ever thought it would be. We never did the baby potty thing, ever. She has always liked and been fine with jumping up on the big potty. So we don't even own one. Everyone's potty training road is different but the end result is hopefully the same! :) We have zero car issues, and she can always, always "hold it". I kind of like life with panties, it aint' so bad if you wait till they're ready--THAT is the key :)

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  18. YAY! Congrats on your hard work and to KP! She is too adorable!

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  19. Glad it went well! My potty training blog posts were named "Adventures in Potty Sitting" haha. Close!

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  20. YAY KP!!!
    Congrats to you both.

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  21. So proud of KP :) She is doing great good job mamma! You did great at teaching her :)

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  22. I'm late catching up on blogs, but I'm SO GLAD that potty training went so well for you guys. I was really undermined by day care, but we did one weekend of just panties and got it together. :)

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