Thoughts on Potty-Training

Something I realized while going through this process for the 6th time is that there seems to be a cycle to this potty-training business. What I mean by that is, that there is an order to learning this new skill. Goes something like this:

Day 1-4 Everything starts out exciting and fun, for both Mom and child. The M & M's are the perfect motivator, as well as all the applause throughout the house.

Day 5 Mother and child are starting to get sick of all the watching and waiting. M & M's aren't the perfect motivator anymore, neither are applause.

Day 6-7 Child is actually starting to resist the training and almost rebelling against it: running the other way, only peeing 4 drips and saying "all-done." Possibly having accidents on purpose (Laffy hasn't done this, but I remember some of my other ones doing it.) At this point I do actually start discipling, if there is rebellion involved. As in, "let's go potty." "No! Mom-Mom!" That's just not accceptable and doesn't have anything to do with the act of peeing in the toilet. I think this is where most of us quit. (or go back to disposable underwear or slack-off to the point of untraining) I've felt this way. But the ticket is to not give in or give up, because on the other side is the glory!

Day 8 and beyond We've now changed our reward to gummi bears. Ahh...Child has told me he needs to poop...we make it to the toilet... Such relief! This after pooping in his pants TWICE yesterday!

Honestly though, I am not done. Just like Blue-Raspberry knows how to read, I am still teaching him to read, new words, new sounds. In new environments and in new situations, I can't let my gaurd down, Laffy is not completely independent yet, but we are well on our way, having gotten through day 6 & 7. There may still be accidents, but the mind connection has been made, the baby is no longer, the little boy has arrived. Ahhhh...that pretty much sums it up!

Joyfully,
Mrs. Taffy

Let the Potty-Training Begin!

I didn't start out the day thinking, "Oh today will be a GREAT day to start potty-training Laffy Taffy." Nope, I've been procrastinating slightly because I know it will be challenging giving him the attention he needs to get this new skill mastered. But this morning when I was changing him he kept saying his butt hurt (My butt hurts Mom-Mom) and sure enough he had a couple little owies from a bad poop yesterday. So I just decided I was done changing poopy toddler diapers anyway and put a pair of training pants on him.



I use a loose version of this book-Toilet Training in Less than a Day. Here's what I do:
~Once I start, I don't stop. NO MORE DIAPERS. Except at nap/bed time and I'm not using my usual cloth diapers, but actual cloth "good-nights" that can be washed over and over again.
~I give him lots of juice and milk to drink so he has to go potty often and therefore has many chances at success.
~Every time he pees in the potty he gets a M&M. Two if he poops-he hasn't yet, but likely will sometime later as is his routine. :o)
~Every time he has a success in the bathroom the whole household cheers, thus making it a wonderful joyful occasion that he wants repeated again and again!

So far today he's been able to pee on demand. He hasn't told me he needs to go yet, but I've taken him to sit on the potty and he's peed. I'm impressed! He thinks it's funny! He did have one accident during school, not too huge but boy was it cold for him! It's FREEZING here and the fire took a while to warm up the house this morning, so all that pee made for one cold boy!

The training pants I'm using are called Imse Vimse. I bought them when he was a baby still. It was just one of those moments when I felt like ordering something on-line. They are spendy and at the time we had the money, not now though, so I am so thankful that I bought them because they are so soft and he thinks they are so cool with their "cows and horses." If you click on the picture of him laying on the floor it will take you to the sight I bought them from.

An interesting side note, I've used cloth diapers with all my children at some point. With my first born, I actually used a diaper service. But I will admit that I was NEVER as committed to using them as I have been with this child. Laffy Taffy has worn cloth his entire life, unless we were traveling for more than a day and when he was a new born (if you've had a newborn, you KNOW why). I think the reason being that I surrendered myself to it. I just told myself that I had no other choice, though I did, and I just stayed committed to it. Thinking about all the money I've saved my family makes me so happy. And you know, my husband is so happy I use cloth, though he would never require it of me. He instinctively knows it's better, knows it saves money and he doesn't even change diapers! :o) Maybe a couple, but he basically retired from diaper changing after number 3. And I don't tell you that to feel sorry for me or to think badly of him, this is NOT an area of contention in our marriage, I am happy to change diapers (most of the time) because I'm so blessed to have these children and I don't take any of them or their messy diapers for granted!

I'll keep you updated on how this potty-training goes. I have high hopes because my Laffy Taffy is such a smart and articulate little guy, but he's still a baby...sniff...sniff...

Joyfully putting away the cloth diapers (but not getting rid of),
Mrs. Taffy

P.S. I would just like to point out how much Laffy Taffy looks like my CPK model in my contest picture...even the dimple. See why I love them so much? They look like MY babies! :o)