Potty Training Boot Camp Day 1
We started potty training for real today. By for real I mean I actually took away the diapers and let Little Miss bare bottom it today. Per the advice of other moms I did the naked booty, salty food and lots of water method. I spread quilts on all the area rugs so they would catch any accidents and then I placed garbage bags under the slipcovers of our furniture. The entire house is wood floors so that helped a lot. I had taken her to get big girl pretty panties the night before but she wasn't totally interested mainly because it wasn't "Winnie the Pooh" or "Sesame Street." First thing in the morning I offered Little Miss her favorite salty chip "Funyuns" and her normal apple juice and water (a little heavier on the juice this time.) She drank it fast and then headed over to the living room to play. It wasn't but five minutes later that she said, "oh no, Mommy I'm wet!" We ran to the potty and she sat down and finished her business. I jumped up and down with excitement and was so proud of her! I had to make a big deal about it to start the day off right. I rewarded her with a Teddy Graham and the Teddy Graham bear did a dance for her. This really struck a cord with her and she loved it. The better part of the day was spent in and out of the bathroom running to the toilet. I'm so proud to report that there were no other accidents until right before bed in her pj's. I think this one happened because she thought she had something on to catch it. As soon as she realized she didn't have a diaper on she ran to the potty to finish. I couldn't be happier for my little girl. I can't believe how fast she caught on. Up until this point I had left the initiating up to her. She was still wearing a diaper and I was just counting on her independent personality to do the initiating. Looks like I just needed to give her a plan of action and she took charge.
I'm not yet sure how to handle the sleeping situation as she is very new to this. I cut her off from drinking anything after dinner and had her go potty three times before bed. I put her in a cloth diaper because it feels more like panties and it doesn't hold as much. Even if it leaks through maybe that will help with the process? I don't really know. I know I want her to feel proud of herself with what she CAN do during the day. What are your suggestions for night time?
While I'm ready to not have two children in diapers it doesn't change the emotions that come with new milestones. It's during these times that I'm reminded how fast this life is. It wasn't long ago that I was changing a dozen diapers an hour with the size "N" on it. I want to savor every moment I have with these precious children God has given me. It's the small things in life that end up being big things.Now, I'm all emotional and have this song playing in my head. The first time I heard this song I was driving to my last doctors appointment before having Little Miss. I'm pretty sure when I walked into the office they thought my water had broke because of all the tears that had fallen into my lap while driving. It still get's me every time.
Oh my gosh! As soon as I read "changing a dozen diapers an hour with the size N" I lost it! That's where I am with Jake - my, how time flies. Love this post - am battling Jake with this, too. Am going to go your route! :)
Reply DeleteWay to go Arabelle and Mommy!
Reply DeleteWe still do Pull-Ups at night,so I don't really have any advice about night time potty training. I'm interested to see what others say, though.
And know, that there will be days where Ms. A. will have more accidents than most. It can be discouraging, but we all have days where we're a little 'off'. Just keep encouraging her.
You're doing great, Robyn.
Cherish every moment.
-Kris
Hey Robyn, we potty trained jackson pretty young because he was in cloth diapers and started showing signs early. The process took a lot longer than i planned i think because i wasnt always consistent and he was very young (20 months). He is doing great now and i can't even remember the last time he had an accident with me. We did bare bottom and salty snacks too! As for night we have not even tried night yet. That's what most people i know do too. I would focus on one at a time. I've heard to take them before bed and when they wake up to get them in a good habit of going before and after sleeping. I'm waiting until he consistently wakes up dry for a week or at least a few days and then we will try it. Good luck!
Reply DeleteWell, I can't relate to potty training yet (we are far from there...) but I can relate to savoring every moment. That is one of the best things to happen since Matthew has been born. I can now see how fast these newborn days really do go and when I think of him growing up as fast as Jonathan, I cry every time!
Reply DeleteThe night is a whole different thing... and it could take a long time to get it. Michael, 7, still wears a pull-up overnight, and is finally, in the last couple of months, dry more mornings than not. Carolyn, 3 (on Sunday!) still wears a diaper at night as well, though she is dry about the same percentage of the time as Michael. Different kids, different awareness, same routines (limited fluids after about 6:00, going before going to bed, etc.), so it's just something we're not worrying about and figuring they'll get it soon enough. ((()))
Reply DeleteIt does fly by...
Reply DeleteShe's doing so good! How exciting! :] I am expecting my first baby in August and it will be so weird to finally realize how fast life flies by while watching a little one grow up!
Reply Deletebecoming a mom sure hits you fast... just got back from 2 week doctor appointment, saw this post, saw the song you posted, couldn't even click play because I was already crying... sigh.
Reply DeleteOh, man! We are right behind you. Grace runs enthusiastically to the bathroom yelling PEE PEE! the whole way but that's as far as it gets. Good luck! :)
Reply DeleteOh I'm pregnant with my 4th right now and I balled my eyes out on that song! I love potty training girls they're so much easier than boys. My youngest is a girl and she doesn't need a diaper at night, never did since the first day she was potty trained just like her big sister. But my middle child, a boy, still wears diapers at night cause every two or three nights will wet it. Congratulations to the both of you!
Reply DeleteRobyn... great job! When potty training got real for us, Ada was in panties only... and the messes just had to come in those... lots of clean up but she didn't like the feeling, etc. At night, Ada was first in a diaper, and she would still soak it for a while (their muscles just have to develop), but then we switched to cloth diapers, because i had ordered them for upcoming EvaMei (but we didn't do those until about 6 months after she had been day trained... only reason is that I had just ordered the cloth). As soon as Eva was born, about a year after wearing diapers to bed, Ada stopped. For about a year she would have 1 accident/couple months I'd say, and up until last week, at 4 years old, she hadn't had an accident for a good 6 months! Just our story, but take from it what you and Arabelle want or need! Keep going! DON'T REVERT BACK TO DIAPERS even if you have a couple of off days!
Reply DeleteComplete meltdown . . . goodness gracious.
Reply DeleteHolly @ Life as a Thrifter
Does she wake up with a dry diaper? I would go ahead and put her in panties if she does.
Reply DeleteI think there comes a time when their body is physically ready to hold it all night - it's not something you can force. They figure it out eventually. I wouldn't worry about full-on "training" at night unless it's just not happening for them when they get older.
Reply Deleteif she is waking with a dry diaper you have nothing to worry about. that is usually how you know it is time to start this adventure. my son went bare bottom and we kept a small potty in the room and moved it down the hall every time he made it on time! he was dry at night before we started so he never had accidents at night. good luck! it will happen, just be consistent!!
Reply DeleteI second everyone's advice to do diapers or pull ups at night. We used cloth diapers at night too.
Reply DeleteI've had to do to disposables at nights... I did doubling up on cloth etc but the urine in the middle of the night became so irritating to their little bottoms that we then were fighting a rash. I've also found "diaper boosters" that look like a sanitary napkin and pull a lot of the moisture away from their skin. I use those instead of the poop liners in my cloth diapers during the day..those have been a lifesaver! I can only find diaper boosters at "babies r us". Thank you so much for all the amazing ideas throughout your entire blog! Rikki Taylor, AZ
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