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Potty Training: One Mom's Adventure
by Laurie Neal
More Details at: http://www.20ishparents.com

We tried that method, with little success. Maybe it was too early - Simon was only 20 months old at the time. He was interested, uncomfortable in a messy diaper and fond of striping his clothes off. However, he was not interested in the potty chair. Instead he peed on the couch, the carpet, in shoes, even on his Weeble school house (that was a good one - right through the hole in the roof and down the slide). He peed everywhere except in the potty.

I can't say the experience was all bad though. I learned what did not work for us. Plus I got a great new home carpet cleaner out of the deal. My husband even cleaned the carpets!

Dr. T. Berry Brazelton recommends child led toilet training. I don't know about you, but I have had about enough of buying and changing diapers. My mother and mother-in-law were both quick to inform me that that method could lead to one to two more years of trying to change a wriggling, screaming, kicking little boy - not something I am looking forward to.

So - what is working for us? Here are the secrets of our potty training success (I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Simon does not read this article - you know how kids love to make liars out of their parents):

Week 1 - Preparation

I began our potty training experience by making it a point to let Simon know how unpleasant a dirty diaper is - for him and for me. I also explain to him that the potty chair is made just so little boys his size can go potty like Mommy and Daddy do.

Every time I had to use the bathroom, Simon went too. A few times he actually went on the potty!

At the end of the week we design a potty chart and pick out 3 packages of colorful reward stickers. We decide on a prize that would be rewarded when the chart was full.

Week 2 - Here we go...

-Day 1-

The potty chart was put on the wall and the stickers were waiting. I pull out my trusty friend - the kitchen timer. I picked the wind up variety that can be carried around the house with us.

I announced to Simon that he is big enough to go to the bathroom on his potty chair and we would be working on learning how to use it. We started off with a successful introductory trip to the potty. The diaper went back on and the timer was set to 20 minutes. Each time the bell rang, we headed to the potty. After a few repetitions Simon was automatically running to the potty when the bell rang. A few times he put up a fuss because he was playing or in the middle of something. I simply informed him that it was time to go potty and his toy would still be there when he was done.

-Day 2-

The timer was set in 30 minute intervals. Simon was still wearing a diaper. All the pee was going into the potty chair, but the poops were still diaper territory.

-Day 3-

The timer was up to 45 minutes. Diapers still on, but Simon began announcing when he had to go potty in between the bell.

-Days 4 and 5-

Timer on, diaper off! We graduated to big boy underpants (although Simon prefers his birthday suit). There were about three accidents. We just cleaned them up and I explained that they really belonged in the potty.

-Days 6 and 7-

We abandoned the timer. Simon was telling me when he had to go potty. He was not having any accidents. Simon received his first reward - a Furby.

Week 3 - Going Solo

-Days 1 through 5-

Simon was now marching into the bathroom when he had to go potty. He only called me when he needed help.

-Day 6-

This was the day of Grandma's birthday party. Simon insisted on wearing his big boy underpants out. I packed changes of clothes and diapers and went out with my confident little boy. Simon stayed dry for the entire 4 hours of the party. He proudly announced each time he had to go potty and appointed someone to help him. He also expressed his annoyance at my asking him if he had to go potty every five minutes.

-Day 7-

I told everyone I knew about Simon's party success. Simon basked in all the attention. He gets prize number 2 - a race track for his cars.

Week 4

Things were still going along smoothly. Simon calls me when he needs help, but he's mostly using the potty by himself.

We're going out with Simon in big boy underpants. Simon announces when he needs to go potty and has even stayed dry on a 45 minute car ride. He did have once accident in Toys R Us - he wasn't very upset, but definitely found the experience unpleasant.

We're now at the end of week 4 and Simon is loving his big boy status. His prizes are smaller now (an ice cream cone, a match box car, a coloring book).

Simon is still wearing pull ups to bed, but he is wearing underpants at nap time. I am so proud of him!

I hope this account gives you some ideas to use with your little potty trainer. Best of luck to all the other potty training parents out there!

Written by: Laurie Neal, Connecticut
laurie@20ishparents.com
http://www.20ishparents.com 

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