Final Destination On The Potty Train!

Nearing the end of our potty training journey!

There is an almost audible screeching of the brakes as Cupcake and I round the bend, approaching the last tunnel, rattling slowly toward our final destination on The Potty Train.  We embarked on the scenic route, had a few delays, switched gears to the fast track and hope to disembark soon at No Diaper Depot!

The ultimate goal of complete potty independence seemed miles away at the beginning of our journey, but now I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  We've gone from diapers to pull-ups over the course of several months as we introduced Cupcake to the world of potty training.  During our Intensive Potty Training Day, we made the switch from diapers to underwear while at home.  The last leg of our journey involves ditching the diapers for outings, naps and bedtime.

We have already had several successful trips out of the house without incident (or diapers!), which gives me hope that we are on our way to freedom soon.  Cupcake even prefers wearing panties to pull-ups, except at naps and bedtime when she asks for her "Cinderella" diaper.  She does, however, start pleading for diapers and whining about how much she "no likes panties!" during the occasional accident (only 3 so far!)   This aversion of accidents on her part is an encouragement to me, since it means that she will continue to do her best to avoid them.  Of course, it takes an extra measure of patience to clean up and then coax her back into her pretty little undies!

Constant supervision on my part will be necessary to help her avoid the accidents and continue to build her confidence.  This means reminding her to go potty, keeping an eye on her as she maneuvers on and off, assisting her in completing her potty routine when necessary and helping her be prepared to do it all by herself in time for preschool at the end of the summer.  (Always helps to have a deadline!)

It also may mean allowing her a few more diapers to help ease the transition of those stubborn little poopies!  Poor little Cupcake has been plugged up for two days and just couldn't do her duty until I gave her a little time back in the diaper for a longer car ride.  Our next step will be to focus on having her accomplish both types of elimination on her own in the bathroom.  One down, two to go (a little potty humor for ya!)

Once Cupcake has accomplished complete potty independence for a solid week, we will throw her a potty party.  We did this for each of our kids and it was a great incentive for them to get over any final hurdles.  Cupcake already has her potty party planned and is eager to invite all her "fans" (aka, friends!)

I hope you have enjoyed the ride here on our Potty Train express and would love to hear about your journey in potty training!

< last stop!

Taking The Scenic Route On The Potty Train

There are various tracks to be taken on The Potty Train.  Some take the fast track while others take a more leisurely approach on the scenic route.

FAST TRACK

With our first child, we pretty much took the fast track on The Potty Train and it worked for us.  There are several resources out there available on how to potty train quickly (a day, 3 days, a week, etc.) The track we followed with Darlin' was pretty similar to the one we implemented with Cupcake recently.  I outlined our Intensive Potty Training Day process in a previous post that I hope is helpful to you.  I could not find the exact book we relied on originally, (about fourteen years ago,) but pretty sure the techniques we used are similar to those found in Potty Train Your Child In Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro.  If you'd like to take the fast track to potty training, then I would recommend using this book as a guide.

THE SCENIC ROUTE

The fast track may not appeal to everyone, as it can be somewhat, well, fast...and it can get a bit intensive at times (hence the name Intensive Potty Training Day.)  Frankly, sometimes we would just rather meander leisurely through parenting instead of being on the express train!

The scenic route takes a bit of a relaxed approach to potty training, which may suit you and your child better than one focused sprint.  This is a more gradual process introducing your tot to the bathroom routine via various tools (books, videos, songs, and potty chairs) over a longer period of time (weeks or months.)  There is a plethora of things available online and in stores to help you on your journey.  Some of my favorite potty training books for kids are listed, here, in my amazon store.

As your child begins to express interest you may slowly have them sit on the potty while reading or watching a favorite show. If they sit long enough they might have the opportunity to recognize when something happens or be completely surprised by the "water" in the potty bowl - either way they begin to get the idea of what to expect!

Once they've made the connection between diapers and the potty they may be ready to sit on their special seat a few times a day - before nap time and bed time are good habits to begin.  If you notice a dry diaper after waking up, then encourage them to sit on the potty immediately.  This is a great time to garner success and build confidence!

COMBO TRACK

Perhaps the leisurely pace of the scenic route and the focus of the fast track are both appealing.  If so, then I highly recommend the combo track!  To be honest, this is more my style and precisely what I did with Cupcake.

I introduced her to various potty paraphernalia months ago and have been gradually resigning myself to potty training ever since.  Cupcake has been interested in potty training for awhile and I have been the one to avoid hopping on board The Potty Train express.  She followed me around the house with her princess potty, she sat and watched TV on her bunny potty, she hunted me down for diaper changes, she woke up dry after naps and she constantly followed me into the bathroom all day long.  As summer progressed with nursery school on the horizon, I realized that my gradual approach had not quite accomplished the goal of total potty independence and I needed to switch gears to the fast track.

I do believe the leisurely pace we have had over the past few months helped Cupcake (and Mommy!) with the adjustment to a more focused approach.  She was already familiar with her potties and really only needed to be trained in completing the whole potty process.

Despite our Intensive Potty Training Day, we are back on the scenic route and enjoying the ride.  Cupcake has been wearing her panties proudly while at home and I haven't stressed about using diapers for naps, bed or outings.  In fact it was only yesterday, (a week and a half after our IPTD,) that I dared venture out with her in undies - successfully, I might add!

Taking the scenic route to the fast track has been the perfect ride for Cupcake and has helped ease her out of diapers.  She was so afraid of having an accident in her new undies during our IPTD, that she kept running to the potty every few minutes.  She did this so much during that first day, that I considered writing a book called, The Girl Who Cried Potty!  Eventually, when we relaxed the routine over the next week, she began to go at the proper times and stopped "crying potty."  I think our easing into and out of the fast track was a significant step that enabled Cupcake to become more comfortable with the whole potty concept.

No matter which track you choose on The Potty Train, enjoy the ride!

< last stop!                          final destination! >

The Potty Train: Delays, Detours and Departures!

Rarely is a ride on The Potty Train smooth sailing the entire way.  Rather, you're bound to experience bumps, hills, turns, and even full stops on your journey.  Here's a few of the delays, detours and departures that you might experience as you wind along the track of The Potty Train.

Delays

There are several delays that you might face on the road to potty training.

You're Child Is Not Ready

If you're tot is following you around the house carrying a new potty, begging to sit on it, then you can be pretty sure it's time to start considering potty training!  On the other extreme, if you're tot is throwing tantrums at the mention of the potty, then perhaps ya might want to bring it up again later or consider a new approach.

Some key signals that your tot is most likely ready to start potty training or things that just make the ride a little smoother for all involved are:  

1. Communication: It's so much easier to understand when your child has to go potty when they can tell you! It is also easier to teach them proper potty behavior when they can understand what you're talking about.
2. Interest: If you are no longer able to relieve yourself without an audience, then it's a good time to hop on board The Potty Train!
3. Urgency:  If your tot is eager for you to change a dirty diaper, then they are beginning to feel uncomfortable and perhaps would like to be introduced to the softer side of life: cotton!
4. Development:  If you notice that your child wakes up dry after a nap or is going much longer between diaper changes, then that is a sign they are developing better bladder control.  

You're Life Is Not Ready

Perhaps the circumstances of life are such that it would make it quite difficult to even consider potty training at the moment.  Are you moving?  Are you expecting?  Are you suffering from major illness or recovering from surgery?  The list goes on of possible delays that life may bring to the potty training process.  It's important to assess your own situation and not compare yourself to friends or family.  

Our three children were all potty trained at different ages.  I was expecting our son when Darlin' was turning two.  Despite the fact that she exhibited all the signs of readiness, I choose to hold off until after the baby was born.  This worked for our family, as we all had the opportunity to adjust to a baby in the house before dealing with potty training our first child.  Even with the delay, she was still potty trained in time to attend a nursery school program at age 2 1/2.

Just after Bud turned two, we moved.  I actually do not remember potty training him at all!  Since he started nursery school at age 3 1/2, my assumption is that we worked on it the summer beforehand.  I do recall that I did not attempt to squeeze in potty training before we moved and transitioned him to a kiddie bed.  Sometimes it is better to just take one thing at a time and not overwhelm a toddler.

You're Just Not Ready!

Sometimes your child is ready, your situation is perfect, but you are just not ready to go (pun intended!)  This was my delay with Cupcake.  She has been following me around the house with her princess potty, practically using a battering ram to get into the bathroom should I attempt privacy and she cannot handle a second more than necessary should she soil her diaper!  So you might be asking yourself, "Why the delay?!" The answer is simple: Me.

I just wasn't ready to deal with potty training.  All I recalled from my previous experiences was cleaning up messes and doing extra laundry.  I was really hoping she would just potty train herself along the way!  But alas, it had not happened miraculously and with nursery school just around the corner, I could delay no more - so we boarded The Potty Train once again!

Detours

Expect a few detours as your tot adjusts to life without diapers.  Accidents will happen and it helps to handle them with an extra measure of patience in order to continue to build confidence in your child.  Attempt to maintain control even if you are ready to blow your lid (again, pun intended!)  Continue to encourage your child, even if it is a struggle for them to gain control or focus.  If you need some encouragement, talk to other moms, your Mom or other parenting resources.  Here's one article to help you through the bed wetting stage that might detour your child for a bit.  Be encouraged, even with lengthy detours you won't be sending them off to college in diapers!

Departures

Despite our best laid plans things sometimes take us off course and we Moms need to be flexible.  If you feel that you'd rather not deal with a mess in the car, then go ahead...use a diaper.  If you don't want to have to take your child to the potty every fifteen minutes at the amusement park, go ahead...use a pull-up.  Don't worry, I won't judge ya and don't worry about all the other moms out there who might be looking down their noses at your diapered three year old...they'll get over it!  You know what you and your child can handle, so handle it and don't concern yourself with what others might think.  Be aware of your situations, be prepared, but be flexible.

As you board The Potty Train, have a destination in mind, strive for complete potty training by then (nursery school, baby's arrival, after moving) and don't fret over any delays, detours or departures along the way.

< last stop!                        next stop! >

First Stop On The Potty Train!

Welcome aboard The Potty Train!  Grab your gear and get ready for our first stop:

Intensive Potty Training

Conductor Cupcake on The Potty Train!

With each of our little passengers on The Potty Train, we have set aside one day to focus entirely on potty training.  Our first experience was a huge success when Darlin' went from diapers to underwear practically overnight.  I recall that we had a week or so worth of accidents after our Intensive Potty Training Day (IPTD) as she adjusted to the change during naps and bedtime.  I considered that a great success, because that was about all Mommy could handle of washing sheets and cleaning up messes.  Fortunately, Darlin' caught on quickly and was ready for nursery school at 2 1/2!

Unfortunately, Hubby and I have absolutely no recollection of potty training our son.  (Not sure if we were just so traumatized by the endeavor, if it was just a complete breeze or if the recent decade has dimmed those memories?!)  What I do remember is that we set aside a day to train him like we had done with Darlin' and, again, claimed success.  Based on our track record, we decided to embark on yet another IPTD with Cupcake.

Below is a tour of our first stop on The Potty Train!

Schedule Trip

Clear a day for your intensive potty training.  We set aside a Saturday when we would both be home, our older kids would be away and we could focus on the potty training process with Cupcake together.  I highly recommend having an additional adult present to help occupy your tot if a major mess occurs or just to give Mommy a break to go to the bathroom herself!

Check Baggage

Gather your supplies and place them in a handy spot.  After Cupcake's first accident, I quickly realized that everything I needed was all over the house.  I rounded up our necessary items (panties, clothes, wipes, etc.) and placed them in the powder room, where we had chosen to do most of our potty training.  I cleared the washer and dryer so soiled items could be thrown in the wash immediately and dealt with at the end of the day.  Our Swiffer mop, Lysol wipes, baby wipes and paper towels stood at attention in the hallway until they were needed.  I still keep flushable wipes and several of Cupcake's undies in the powder room just in case she doesn't make it to the potty on time.

Assess Amenities

Make sure the potty works!  I had assumed that the insert on the Disney Princess Potty would fit on top of our toilets - to great disappointment, it didn't.  I then tried the portable Disney Princess Travel Potty Seat. This fold up potty seat sat on top, but really required supervision for our little one.  Our goal, with IPTD, was to teach our tot how to go to the bathroom independently, so it was a bit of a shock that morning when we realized we had nothing that Cupcake could use by herself on top of a regular toilet.  Hubby ran to the store and picked up a new potty seat that has worked perfectly for us, Disney Princess Potty Seat.  Lesson learned - check to make sure the potty seat fits!

Cafe Car

Potty training works best when ya gotta go!  Cupcake got to have special donuts with juice at breakfast, so she would be ready to relieve herself soon after we boarded The Potty Train.  The first couple trips to the bathroom were unsuccessful, but she eventually went - right after leaving the bathroom.  The second hour brought success, however, as we continued to pump her full of liquids and snacks.

Whistle Blows

Set a timer.  At the beginning of our day we planned on taking Cupcake to the restroom every half hour, so we set our timer accordingly.  At first nothing happened in the potty.  Eventually, she was successful and we realized that she was needing to empty her bladder more often.  We found that stopping every 15 minutes for the first few hours helped Cupcake avoid accidents and gain more confidence on the potty.

Follow Route

Teach your tot a potty routine and stick to it consistently.  Many of the trips to the bathroom for the first few hours are really just establishing proper potty behavior.  In the beginning your tot may need assistance, but by the end of the day should be able to accomplish much of it independently.  Cupcake is able to follow her routine all by herself, with the exception of hand washing since she still can't reach the faucet.  Here is her potty routine:

• She moves her stool in front of toilet.
• She removes her potty seat from hook and places it on top of toilet seat.
• She climbs up on stool.
• She pulls her pants down and sits on potty seat.
• She relieves herself.
• She wipes herself and any drips on potty seat.
• She pulls up her pants.
• She climbs down from stool.
• She hangs potty seat back up on hook.
• She gently closes the toilet lid and flushes.
• She pushes stool over to the sink
• She washes and dries her hands.

Perks

Positive reinforcement is beneficial.  Stock up on a few prizes to reward your child for success on the potty. Cupcake picked out candy, coloring books, crayons and stickers for her prizes.  Smaller perks were awarded if she was successful when we brought her to the potty.  Larger prizes were awarded when she initiated going to the potty on her own successfully.  We restrict the majority of our perks to our Intensive Potty Training Day.  Of course we continue to cheer, clap, hoot and holler our excitement - especially when Cupcake initiates and completes the process all on her own!  An extra special surprise does await for going poop in the potty on her own (that always seems to take kids a little longer to perfect.)

Be Alert

Keep a close watch on your child for signs of urgency.  I have to remind myself that this potty thing is new to Cupcake!  We are not used to having to interrupt play time (or blogging or laundry or phone calls) to attempt to go to the potty.  It is very easy to get distracted by life, miss the signals and end up with a big mess on your newly mopped floor!  Continue to set the timer for a few days to help you both adjust to this new habit.  Also be sure to supervise the potty routine to help reinforce what has been learned.

Tunnel Ahead

Remember there is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel!  Potty training is my least favorite part of parenthood and requires a lot of patience on my part.  Sometimes it helps to remind myself that it is a very brief part of child rearing that benefits our family immensely: no more stinky diapers, no more expensive diapers, no more diaper rash and no more overstuffed diaper bags!  Pretty soon Cupcake and I will be officially disembarking from The Potty Train! Whoo! Whoo!

< all aboard!                           next stop! >

All Aboard The Potty Train!

Whoot!  Whoo!  All Aboard The Potty Train!  Whoot!  Whoo!

This week on My Mid-Life Motherhood we are jumping on board the Potty Train!  Cupcake and I hope you'll join us as we share the ups and downs of our potty training experience.

Here are a few key items to gather if you'd like to join us on our journey!

Underwear

Take your little tyke to the store and pick out their favorite character undies.  Cupcake was so excited to pick out Princess and Minnie Mouse panties - so much so that she showed them to anyone who neared our shopping cart and proudly announced that she was getting ready to potty train!

Cupcake's New Panties!

Treats

While at the store, grab a few extra treats that your child likes. I let Cupcake pick out some donuts, candy and juice - things she would consider an extra special reward.

Prizes

We also picked out a few special stickers, crayons and coloring books to use for rewards during our intensive potty training day.  Every time she went in the potty she got to pick a small treat and if she initiated going to the potty on her own successfully, she was rewarded with a larger prize.

Portable Potty & Potty Chair

Decide which kind of potty you would like to train your tot to use and make sure you have what you need before you climb aboard the potty train!  We have several potties that Cupcake has been using on and off for the past few months.  We decided to use a portable potty insert that fits onto any toilet seat in order to train her to use the bathroom properly.

Plenty of Princess Potties!

Stool

An important part of potty training is teaching our kids how to use the bathroom on their own.  Hand washing is key to that training and it is vital to have a non-slip stool to make the sink reachable for little ones!

Potty Books

Anticipate that your tot will spend lots of time just sitting and waiting on the potty. Providing some helpful reading material is another way to educate them on proper potty usage.  One potty we have even has a little side pocket to hold a few books - it is the perfect size for one of our favorites: Once Upon A Potty!

Old Fashioned Potty Chair!

Cleaning Supplies

Stock up on paper towels, flushable wipes, Lysol wipes, baby wipes, etc. Pick whichever cleaning supplies you prefer for the inevitable accidents your tot will experience. Hopefully, your experience will be similar to ours with only a couple of accidents that first day of intensive potty training!

Timer

Make sure you have some sort of timer to help remind you to take your tot to the potty on a regular basis.

Night Time Plan

Decide how you want to handle nap time and bed time - undies, training pants, pull-ups or diapers and stock up on any necessary supplies.

Now that all our supplies are gathered, get ready to embark upon The Potty Train!

first stop! >

My "Did It!" List

The day is nearly done and as I look around at the mess of the house engulfing me, I wonder, "What in the world did I do all day?!"  In an effort to achieve some sense of accomplishment, I'd like to take a moment to list the things I did do.

Instead of the typical "To Do" list, (which leaves little satisfaction for me at the end of the day when nothing has been crossed off) here is my "Did It!" list.

I feel better already....

DID IT!

• Decided to start a new morning routine for Cupcake after realizing that the very first thing she wants each morning is to "watch a show!"  Instead, I poured us some morning Joe (coffee for me, juice for her) and we snuggled together to read her toddler Bible.  She was thrilled!  Afterward, I began reading the book of Esther out loud and she was excited to hear about a Queen in the Bible!
• Caught up on email and messages.
• Made a yummy egg breakfast for all the kiddos.
• Planned a few meals and created shopping list
• Went to the gym and broke a sweat.
• Did a full trip to the grocery store.
• Unpacked groceries and ended up needing to clean out bottom drawer of freezer in the process!
• Threw together some sort of late lunch for myself.
• Rescued Cupcake from her loose dress strap while she napped.
• Took a swim and did laps in the pool (even after working out at the gym!)
• Had a much needed and relaxing shower.
• Checked on Cupcake multiple times while she slept all afternoon...still breathing!
• Sorted laundry from our trip to the shore and started a load.
• Taught Darlin' how to make chicken fajitas and managed to keep myself from jumping in to take over since I can do it ten times faster!
• Enjoyed Darlin's dinner with the family, despite the learning curve delay.
• Hurriedly gave instructions to Hubby as I rushed out the door.
• Dropped Darlin' and Bud off at our church Senior High Youth Group.
• Raced to the church for a Board of Christian Education Meeting.  Put in my proverbial two cents.
• Drove home.
• Finished last bits of dinner clean up.
• Unloaded washer only to discover sand at the bottom, because I had neglected to rinse out Cupcake's beach cover up before throwing it in the wash!
• Rinsed it out thoroughly and started wash again.
• Checked phone and email messages.
• Had a glass of wine.
• Proudly listened to Bud's piano composition he worked on most of the day.
• Did not yell when Bud requested laundry for tomorrow...just a few minutes ago.
• Another load of laundry.
• Wrote this post!

I DID IT!  Or as Cupcake says, "I dill it!"