Three weeks ago, the prospect of my daughter using the toilet was still just the stuff of fantasy. Her reactions when faced with that option were violently negative. So I went out and bought another giant box of diapers and resigned myself to more more more diaper changing.
But we hadn't given up. We regularly talked to her about how big girls go on the toilet and that she HAD to be potty trained to start pre-school this fall. Truthfully, I didn't really think it was sinking in because her typical response to the big girl argument was that she didn't need to because she was a "wittle girl."
But then last Saturday we decided to give it a go. Institute our own version of potty training boot camp. I wasn't optimistic, but she's well behind most of the kids we know her age in this department and we felt maybe it was time to make a hard effort. So as of that morning we said no more diapers. During waking hours anyway, we're not insane.
At first, we took her to the toilet every 15-20 minutes, but we very quickly found that she only actually used the toilet when she instigated the trip. So we stopped setting our timers and let her lead the pace. And just like that, the switch was flipped. Since last Saturday, eight days now, she's had maybe a half dozen accidents and the bulk of those were in the first couple of days. On the third day, I took her to the gym with me, nervous to leave her completely to her own devices, but when I picked her up, the report was that she had gone three times, all on her own.
We're only eight days in, so the final tally is hardly set, but thus far I am completely blown away by how well she is doing. I had prepared myself for more accidents or to struggle with going #2, but she has been a rock star in both. I would like to pat myself on the back for my fine parenting but it's all her. The only thing I did right was exercise a little patience and wait for her to be ready before pushing her towards it.
So now the big question is, would it be a bad example if I used some of those leftover diapers myself? I haven't made it through the night without a bathroom visit since she was born and I could really use the sleep.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
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Depends.
ReplyDeletePun intended.
:)
Yay! When they are ready, they are ready! :)My three year old still wears overnight diapers to sleep, though. Once he is asleep, there is no waking him up. I wonder when we'll be completely out of the overnight diapers? The transition, even overnight, was much quicker with my oldest son.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, congrats!
LOU! Heh.
ReplyDeleteI think it's great to let the kid lead and/or make them think it's their idea because potty training is all about their ability to control something in their lives.
Way to go, Sophie!
Hurray! For both of you! This phase of your lives will soon be nothing but a memory...
ReplyDeleteYou crack me up with your nighttime idea; somehow I don't think Pampers will stand up to Depends in that department, though. :)
Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!! The Bean is on her way! Way to go, mama and Sophie!
ReplyDeleteVICTORY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, your first comment is hysterical, lol! I think you need a wittle pat on the back yourself... it's a hard thing raising girls. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you pretty much know now how the next oh say, 15 years of child rearing will go. With you NOT in the driver's seat. If I were you I'd put your seat belt on now. lol.
The good news is that she did it! Congrats to all of you!!!
that is awesome !! goo sophie!! don't fret Liam still wears night time pants because there are some times he never goes at night ten theres the every so often accendent ... so she is moving in the right direction!!
ReplyDeleteGetting over the potty training hurdle is Just. So. Huge. Go you, Go Bean! I can't think of a single thing in my 9 yrs of parenting that made my life easier than having kids potty trained. I don't remember how old they were when they crawled/walked/first words etc. but I remember EXACTLY when each of my 3 potty trained.
ReplyDeleteThis gives me hope. I've been thinking about initiating potty training boot camp this weekend. I may be more reluctant than he is, though.
ReplyDeleteyay! *applause*
ReplyDeleteI swear, potty training was is one of my least favorite parenting duties, but it seems you found the right way to go about it. Well done!
Congrats to all! Think of all the MaiTai's you can buy with that diaper money!
ReplyDeleteWonderful news!! There are lots of reasons I want my baby to stay a baby, but wearing diapers isn't one of them. Keep checking the weight limits on the ones he's wearing to see if we're getting any closer to being done.
ReplyDeletePotty training is certainly a challenge! It took my daughter and I a lot of self discipline to get through this phase of her life! I enjoyed your story, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete~Ami
That is awesome!!! I love how potty training can go from the most pressing thing on your mind to totally a thing of the past in like 2 weeks. And it's so true no matter what anyone says: they're just not going to do it until they're ready to do it. And then they just do.
ReplyDeleteThat is amazing how she just had that switch and was able to pick it up so quickly.
ReplyDeleteJust goes to show you just how some persistence can pay off. Hope you found a new use for that box of diapers.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I love the title! I don't have kids yet but I used to babysit a lot and I love my niece and nephews and remember when they'd come visit and we'd have help monitor them while they were in their potty training phase. Boy that was fun! At least you got it figured out.
ReplyDelete-Lana
Thus far what's the hardest thing you've encountered with her? Teething? Weaning off the bottle? Potty training? I know for every parent it's different but you have to teach children so much through the course of their young lives, I'm always curious what obstacles each parent finds the most different with their individual child.
ReplyDelete<3, Lizzy