So, for those moms who, like me, are experiencing their first jump at potty training, I thought I would share my experience.
First, I will admit that potty training my son scared the daylights out of me. He is a head strong, strong-willed child {must come from his daddy’s side – hehe}. Anytime something is not his idea he refuses to do it. We go ’round and ’round at times.
Now, the other thing you should know, is that my son naturally started pooping in the potty around 18 months to 2 years of age. He had a few accidents hear and there, but for the most part, he’s been going in the potty for a little over a year now. It seemed like a pretty normal thing that happened. He would hide to go do his business so it was easy to know when he had to go. So, instead of letting him hide behind the couch/under the table/in the pantry, I would whisk him into the bathroom. After he finished up he would happily proclaim to anyone with ears that “I pooped in the potty!” It didn’t take long for him to announce that he needed to go instead of hiding so that someone would chauffeur him to the bathroom.
What is that you say, how bizarre? That is usually the last step? Yeah, I know, EVERYONE has told me that – including his pediatrician {First lesson to be learned here: Do whatever feels natural to you and your child. There is no wrong way to do this – there is no rule book. All roads lead to the same destination}.
With everyone telling me that this was the usual “last step” to potty training, I decided surely he was ready to learn the other half of this potty training business. So we tried. And tried. And tried. I mopped a lot. I washed a lot of clothes. I got frustrated and darn near decided to give up and let his kindergarten teacher teach him. No…really.
The first time I tried he was a little more than 2 years old. I made a big deal out of wearing big boy pants and showed him his new potty. He peed straight through the big boy pants. Then he told me he needed dry pants. I told him we don’t want to get them wet! Tell me BEFORE you have to go. So, then he peed through the big boy pants AGAIN and THEN announced he needed to pee pee and he needed new big boy pants. Too late. Again, I told him to tell me BEFORE he went. Replay that a few more times, envision him going through a large stack of big boy pants and me washing a big load of laundry. I decided he had not made the connection about what the big boy pants were for – he thought they were just really cool looking diapers. I gave up.
A little later we decided to give it another go. Again, we made a big deal out of the big boy pants. He was so excited about them. He peed straight through them. I thought, “Am I experiencing deja vu?” I reminded him again to tell me BEFORE he had to go and we would go to the potty so that he wouldn’t get his big boy pants wet. He peed in them again. Except this time, he didn’t tell me he was wet. He didn’t tell me he needed dry pants. He just hung out in wet underwear. I discovered he was wet and he denied it. I changed his big boy pants. Replay this scenario a couple of three or four times. Envision me spot cleaning furniture, mopping the floor, and giving up. I decided he wasn’t ready because he didn’t mind being wet.
Finally, he is three years old. My friends who saw my terrified face when I told them I would be spending my spring break having potty training bootcamp said, “He’s three. He’s ready. It will be so much easier now. Boys aren’t ready until they’re three.” I wasn’t so sure. I put on my “I can do this” face and siked myself up. {Enter Rocky music}. There was no turning back. Even the pediatrician said, just put big boy pants up and don’t ever go back. {Easy for her to say. She doesn’t have to keep this same living room couch for most of her adult life}.
Sunday came. The first day of potty training boot camp. I announced with great cheer that today is big boy pants day! No more diapers, only big boy pants! Judah wasn’t so sure. He said he didn’t want to go pee pee in the potty. I decided to use a little bribery. “But every time you go pee pee in the potty we can put a quarter in this jar and then you can take it to the store and buy anything you want with your money.” Judah liked this idea. “I can buy choo choos and chocolate?” “Absolutely.”
Sunday ended and I was beginning to think his kindergarten teacher was going to have to take over this task because this child was unteachable. Wet pants every time with no attempt to make it to the potty.
I put Judah in clean big boy pants with training “rubber” pants over them (like the ones you used to put over cloth diapers). Monday morning came. Judah was dry! I whisked him straight into the bathroom and onto the potty with Judah balking the whole time that he didn’t need to go. He went. A look of shock and awe crossed his face. We put a quarter in his jar. The next time he had to go he peed in his pants. But, he did tell me that he went. That was his last accident. Something happened. It is as if the lightbulb came on. He was beginning to feel what he was supposed to be anticipating.
Quickly, I began to realize I should have started this jar with dimes…or nickels. Two days and 6 dollars later, he’s been dry. That’s right. After that one accident Monday morning, he’s been dry and accident free through Monday’s nap, Monday night, Tuesday’s nap, Tuesday night, and Wednesday’s nap. We stopped using the rubber pants after Sunday night. Apparently, HE was finally ready. {Second lesson to be learned: Take your time. Boys typically learn this potty training thing a little later. 3 seems to be a good age. Don’t give up. I’ve heard that it is typical to have a bad day on the first day and sometimes even the second, but each day gets a little better and a little easier}.
So, if this terrified mama and her strong-willed bear cub can muddle through it, anyone can. Good luck! Potty Training your little one is only a load {or two} of laundry away!
