It's been a long week of potty training, and I'm glad the worst is over. Luckily for me it's been cold, cloudy, and rainy, so I picked a great week to be stuck at home potty training. I was going to potty train Cole in September before Annie joined the family, but some of my friends told me that their kids had "reverted" when a new baby came. So then I said I'd potty train on Veteran's Day in November... changed my mind again b/c I was being lazy. But I finally got my act together and put Cole through Potty Boot Camp on MLK Day. I kept this journal... feel free to read along and re-live your potty-training-your-kids-days with me:
Monday, Day 1 - We woke up Cole and told him he was so lucky to be a big boy. "You get to wear BIG BOY underwear now!!" We explained to Cole the rules of the Potty:
a) When he went #1 he would get potty candy.
b) If he did #2 he would get a CARS toy.
c) If his underwear were dry at the "dry pants check" every 10 minutes or so, then he'd get a small marshmallow.
That being said, anytime we caught his pants being dry, he peed, or passed gas on the potty, he'd say, "YAY! I GET A NEW CAR TOY!!!!" No, buddy...back to square one. Here are the rules of the potty again... He did end up getting his 2nd CAR that afternoon; he had earned his first the day before b/c we caught him at the right moment and put him on the potty. Soaked through 13 pair of underwear, soiled one other pair that went straight to the garbage.
a) When he went #1 he would get potty candy.
b) If he did #2 he would get a CARS toy.
c) If his underwear were dry at the "dry pants check" every 10 minutes or so, then he'd get a small marshmallow.
That being said, anytime we caught his pants being dry, he peed, or passed gas on the potty, he'd say, "YAY! I GET A NEW CAR TOY!!!!" No, buddy...back to square one. Here are the rules of the potty again... He did end up getting his 2nd CAR that afternoon; he had earned his first the day before b/c we caught him at the right moment and put him on the potty. Soaked through 13 pair of underwear, soiled one other pair that went straight to the garbage.
Day 2 - After waking him up in the morning to take off his Pull-up, take him to the potty, and help him put on his big boy underwear, he tells me, "I don't yike it".
"You don't like what Cole?"
"I don't yike the potty."
"Well, you're a big boy now and you get to wear big boy underwear just like Daddy! Come on, let's get you some milk." [Cole is my milk addict.]
"I don't want milk. I WANT MY DIAPER!!!!"
Oh great... the kid wants a diaper more than milk?! I'm in trouble.
Oh great... the kid wants a diaper more than milk?! I'm in trouble.
Recap: no #2 = no Cars toys, went through 4 pair of underwear.
Day 3 - Full success with #2 (Maybe it was due to the all-fruit smoothie with fiber in it that mommy made for breakfast?) Cole got a poo-poo car toy... we had a great morning. Decided to brave Wal-Mart & the mall with the 3 kids. While on the Wal-Mart potty Cole declares, "I DON'T YIKE THE WALMART POTTY!!!" Alright... on to the mall for more shopping. On the Macy's department store toilet Cole let everyone know, "I DON'T YIKE THE MALL POTTY!!" Oh man. Earned another car toy this afternoon. Went through 3 pair of underwear--but no soaking pairs--just drops! I think he may be catching on?!
Day 4 - one pair of underwear all day long!!! Woo-hoo. Earned another car toy with flying colors.
Day 5 - More car toys, more potty candy, but no more marshmallows--he's remembering to stay dry without any "dry pants checks"! YAY!
Day 6 - More car toys and is forgetting about potty candy.
Now... tomorrow at church will be the real test, right? Wish us luck!
[side note: Whitney, Tyler, and I caught a stomach bug this week...yuck. I'm just starting to feel better. Luckily we don't think Cole & Annie got it.]
Day 4 - one pair of underwear all day long!!! Woo-hoo. Earned another car toy with flying colors.
Day 5 - More car toys, more potty candy, but no more marshmallows--he's remembering to stay dry without any "dry pants checks"! YAY!
Day 6 - More car toys and is forgetting about potty candy.
Now... tomorrow at church will be the real test, right? Wish us luck![side note: Whitney, Tyler, and I caught a stomach bug this week...yuck. I'm just starting to feel better. Luckily we don't think Cole & Annie got it.]
10 comments:
this is a great record--quotes and all! now that you've done one of each, are boys really more difficult than girls? just wondering if it might be a myth.
Whoa...you're my hero. I'm not even close to starting Tyler, and he's 2 1/2! But our boys have the same likes so maybe I'll steal your ideas. Sorry you've been sick.
Way to go! I'm going to have to get your tips on Potty Boot Camp. Cole didn't look too happy leaving church today, but how did he do potty wise?
I cannot tell you the fear potty training strikes in my heart! Colt for sure isn't ready but I don't think I am either! :) Thanks for the tips...
Update: Sunday went great potty-wise, but the kids were terrors at church. Today was great--Cole earned 6 Cars toys in 9 hours. How is that possible? I don't know--maybe he's sick? But he has definitely earned them. I think he has totally caught on and is now playing me.
Diana, I think potty training in general is just HARD, with boys or girls. I was preparing myself for the worst b/c I had heard that boys were harder to train than girls. But Cole trained about the same way that Whitney did. Granted, he was older than W was when we trained her AND he has had an older sister to watch on the potty daily for the last year. So the concept wasn't brand new to him. Anyway, my experience was about the same for potty training my kids. However, Whitney was a little easier in the fact that she dressed/undressed herself better than Cole.
You guys are so cute! I love this, I'll use it as my manual when it's time with Carson. Love how much he loves his Cars toys. What a cute kid...and such a big boy now! You crack me up.
wow! i have tried with sarah about 3 times!! britten was so much easier and so done by now. my goal is to start again next week!! you have inspired me. we made a potty chart today with stickers and a candy jar! she LOVES candy. my girlfriend in cedar actually took her little potty everywhere she went when she was training her little girl. love the good ideas!! leigh
Tag your it! Come to my blog to see what to do...
So cute Natalie! I potty trained Jonah the same week you did Cole. We had a very succesful time and Jonah earned cars for going #2 as well! It worked great! Thanks for sharing that cute journal. Take care!
Mandi
I've been peeking in - you may never read this LATE comment, but if you do - you are HIRED when I potty-train Joshua. How do you do it? I tried every trick in the book and it took 6 months with Logan and 12 months + another round of about 2 weeks with Brianna and I read the "How to Potty-Train in a Day" You are the winner! I love you.
Emily
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