Ready, Set, Potty Train!

My daughter turned two in July. While sometimes I wish time would slow down, I quickly turn to thoughts such as – I am so close to no more diapers!

My husband and I decided two kids is our limit and with our son being five, this means that each milestone our daughter makes is our last. Sometimes this brings mixed emotions. Like when she weaned off breastfeeding – part of me was thrilled and yet another part was sad knowing I would never again have that exact closeness and bonding that nursing brings. I will say, the only emotion that having two potty-trained kids brings me is pure joy and excitement.

I got a bit ambitious and decided that she was ready to potty train the same week she turned two. I. Was. Wrong. Like many milestones with my daughter, I am brought back to memories of when my son was at those stages. If you are beginning potty training, or perhaps at your wit’s end with it; read on to gain some tips that worked for me and that I am hopeful will work again!

It will be more stressful if you push it. How many adults do you know who are not potty trained? I promise you your child will not enter high school in diapers. If you wait until they are ready, it will be a much quicker and more painless process than if you push it too soon. (Maybe stop hanging out with the “oh my child was fully potty trained at 12 months” moms during this phase.)

Bribery.Yep, I use it. I started the process with my daughter about 3 weeks ago and I am not afraid to offer up chocolate chips and M&Ms. One single piece for pee and two for poop. Warning, this may mean they go 100 times a day just to get a treat. Our rule is that they only get the treat if they actually go. Kids are a lot like dogs.

Note- if there are older siblings, get them on board. My son cheers on his sister knowing there is chocolate in store for him as well.

Fun underwear!For my son, it was Toy Story and for my daughter it’s anything pink. Some kids love the idea of being a big kid and getting underwear. And they hate the feeling of getting them all wet and icky.
- Pull-ups can be another way to ease into this, though they don’t provide the icky feeling since they are absorbent.
- Pull-ups over underwear. The beauty of this is that they still get the absorbency but it will first get their underwear wet causing that uncomfortable feeling for them.

No diapers at home, unless sleeping. During the day at daycare and when out and about, we are not yet at the stage of trusting her bladder control. But at home, we have instilled a strict naked or underwear only rule. (For the two-year-old, not for my husband and I.)

Toilet options. Kids are so high maintenance. My daughter likes having the option of her princess potty or the “big toilet” with the kid seat on it.

Boot Camp! I never tried this but I have heard it’s successful for some. Three full days on house arrest with a pant-less toddler. Hopefully you have a lot of hardwood floors (easier to clean!)

Overnight potty training-My sons pediatrician once told me that there is no way to train the brain for overnight potty training. It will happen when the child is ready. Who cares if your kid is in pull ups till six? It’s probably better than changing the sheets 7 nights a week.

Dream pee- If you have not heard of this, try it. It worked for our son. My husband would carry our son to the bathroom at about 11pm every evening so he could go potty. I think it really helped his body to adjust to then eventually holding it all night. When they first start out, there is no way they can hold it for 10 or so hours! Baby steps.