Potty Training
I’m finally working on potty training my last baby! It is unfathomable at this point, that I actually won’t be changing diapers for the rest of my life. I’ve been changing my children’s diapers for almost 7 years straight. At times, I couldn’t even see the light at the end of the tunnel. But now, here I am, ready to put my diaper changing days behind me.
Tyler’s been interested in the potty for quite some time now. Mostly because he loves to throw toilet paper into it, climb onto the back of the toilet, slam the lid down etc. He loves to be in the bathroom whenever anyone else is in there and watches them very carefully to see how it’s done. Up until recently I really didn’t think I had it in me to begin the whole potty training process again. Cody was potty trained at a little over 2 ½ and was fairly quick to learn after several months of practicing. Logan was 3 ½ and was actually convinced for a little while that the “potty train” was something fun to ride on. He was stubborn about giving up him pull-ups and would get too involved in his playing to stop when nature called. Tyler has been a tough cookie most of his short little life, so I figured he’d fall more in line with Logan. I know there are some kids who learn in a matter of days but my kids are not them. I was kind of thinking the sooner I started with Tyler, the longer we’d be working on it.
Last Friday we had a play date with some other children a little younger than Tyler. Some of the children were beginning to use the potty and suddenly I was inspired. Later that day I gave him a juice box and plopped him down on the potty. My very active, always moving, jumping, climbing little Tyler sat there for an hour and a half! We read books, sang songs, and played with the ipad and finally….he went! He was so pleased with himself and even more pleased when I gave him some M & M’s. We called Daddy & Grandma and told everyone else we came in contact with. We didn’t try again though until today. I was so proud of him and feeling so gratified that I didn’t want to ruin it by an unsuccessful time. I wanted to enjoy our success for just a little longer.
Well today when I took off Tyler’s diaper, he was dry. I asked him if he wasted to use the potty and he excitedly scampered off to the bathroom. There was a lot of standing up and sitting down but when I asked him if he was done, he insisted he had to go. Within ten minutes or so he did it! He looked down in surprise and then said he had to do more, and then he actually did! I was shocked and delighted. Later on in the afternoon he went yet again. I’m not naïve enough to think we won’t have months of this ahead of us, but I’m happy to say, I think we are on our way to being diaper free!
How do you handle potty training in your house? I’d love to hear some tips & tricks to help us along with the potty training process.
I remember my brother wouldn’t use the potty for the longest time and he wasn’t potty trained until after 3 years old. My mom had to bribe him, my cousin had this huge firetruck that he no longer wanted so he wanted to give it to my brother and my brother wanted it so bad. I remember my mom sat it on top of the fridge and told my brother that the firetruck was the ultimate prize for using the potty regularly. Within days my brother was potty trained!