Who loves potty training???
(silence fills the room)
I have a “trained” 3-year-old boy and an almost “trained” 2 year-old girl.
I’m the first to admit that I have just winged this whole potty thing. And to be totally honest I didn’t really care when they were trained. I remember when Eli was trained last summer Hot Hubby and I were super bummed because beach days would be much more difficult having to find bathrooms instead of just changing a diaper.
I’m hoping you’ll link up tips, tricks, products, methods, musings and support about your potty training journeys!
I’m about to unveil my “method” – keep in mind that I haven’t written any books, I’m not an expert, I don’t have a Child Development degree, all kiddos learn differently AND I have only completely trained one kiddo in my whole life!!
Here it goes…
The Lazy Mom’s (Slow) Potty Training Method
First off, a confession: I’m LAZY! If I’m cleaning up more than is going in the potty, then I’m not doing it. Judge me as you will… I’m just being transparent.
Phase 1: Everybody goes potty
We put a kids’ potty in the bathroom per the suggestion of my friend’s doctor so the kiddos would be used to it around the house. We have an open-door house so the kiddos would imitate us on their potty. The doctor had told my friend that children would just start going on their own… ha! Though they weren’t instantly potty trained I think that having the potty around and the pretend play was beneficial.
Phase 2: Q – Are they ready?
When I thought my kiddos were ready (Eli was 2.5 and Cora Jane was 2) I had them go bare buns around the house and tried a sticker potty chart. There were TONS of accidents and I was cleaning up tinkle and poop all day long.
A – Not ready
It was gross (and remember, I’m lazy) I was over it! So I put diapers back on those sweet little bottoms.
Phase 3: Q – Are they ready now?
Then about a month later I tried again sans the fuss of a sticker chart. I just let those cute lil’ bare buns free around the house and did diapers during naps, nighttime and out and about.
A – Yes, ready!!
There were hardly any accidents and it took about 3-4 weeks before they were solid at home during awake time. They got one M&M for tinkle and 4 for poo poo.
Phase 4: Underwear (don’t call them panties for boys because your hubby will have a hissy)
Then we did big boy/girl underwear at home during awake time (still doing diapers during naps and nighttime). It took about two weeks for them to be accident free in underwear at home.
Phase 5: Out and About
We bought a travel potty from One Step Ahead (per the suggestion from my friend Aimee) and went for it. There were a few accidents but nothing too crazy. We love this travel potty and Eli still uses it if we are at a park with no bathroom! (This is where we are with Cora Jane and she seems to only have accidents at church… of all places!! We are 0-3 at church…LOL!) We ask a lot if they have to go and go potty right when we get somewhere and before we leave. We still do diapers during naps and nighttime. I know there is a huge controversy about confusing the kiddos by switching from diapers to undies in a day. I haven’t found that to be the case with my kiddos. In the morning the first thing they did was take off their diaper to go in the potty and at night if they had to go potty they would get up and take off their diaper and go. I just had to help put it back on at night.
Eli had issues going poo in the potty so we did bribes incentives from the Poo Poo Present Store (my favorite store ever!) and once from the dollar section at TARGET.
Phase 6: Sleep… Zzzzzzzzzzz
We ousted sippys at nap time. When there were consistent dry diapers after naps, we started doing undies. Sheets make a lot of extra laundry (and remember, I’m lazy) so I really did wait a long time before the nap/night underwear transition. Slowly we cut down liquids in the evening. Eli would go down at his bedtime, then when we were ready to turn in (around 10pm) we would carry him out of bed and set him on the potty half asleep (thanks for this suggestions Sarah). He would stay dry for the rest of the night.
Tip: Always have antibacterial cleaning wipes available for quick clean-ups.
Question: I’m noticing with little girls the tinkle shoots every-which-way. How do I prevent that?
Today is MOMday morning!! Remember all the fun we had the last time??? This Month Blessed Nest is hosting and the prizes are AMAZING!! Aside from the $75 cash-o-la and the amazing Nesting Pillow from Blessed Nest, the winner will get custom commissioned art by Joshua Sierk!
I’m standing next to someone famous from Melrose Place. 
I’m 
I think 
Two of my favorite items are this 
