I just wanted to drop a quick note on our potty training adventures.
Last week went really well. Isla has done a fantastic job both of using the potty and telling us when she needs to use the potty. She had a couple of days with no accidents at all, and then the rest of the days she had 1-2 accidents, often after she said she needed to go “poopoo” (both #1 and #2 for her) but we didn’t get her to the potty fast enough. One day she had diarrhea and had to be put back in diapers, but that was the only real disaster day and so far, the only time she’s pooped in her undies or pull-up. And over the weekend, she managed her first poopoo in the potty, so hooray! She even managed to use the potty with the sitter when they were at the library and at a play place. Pretty impressive!
We are still diapering at naptime and overnight, but that means we’re down to 1-2 cloth diapers and 1 disposable diaper total for the day. Our diaper pail is so empty! It’s awesome.
I think from here on out the trick will be consistency, watching for her cues and taking her seriously every time she says she needs to go potty (even if she just went 10 minutes before!), and picking up a travel potty seat so she can go more easily when we’re out and about. We had two accidents on Saturday when we were out grocery shopping and having lunch, and in both places Isla needed to go potty and in both places the potties were waaaaay too big for her tiny 17-month-old tush. Apart from that, she’s really got the whole potty thing down. She knows when she has to potty, tells us when she feels the need, and goes once we put her on the toilet without much coaxing. She gets very excited about reading her books, wiping herself (we do final clean-up), washing her hands, then flushing and saying bye-bye to her waste.
Potty training has been a lot of work, but so far, a big success! Hooray for Isla, and hooray for the potty!
KristyR says
September 3, 2013 at 10:30 amWe have a potty chair that Sophia sits on, but only for a second. She enjoys it when mommy or daddy go to the bathroom. She knows the sign for it, but I’m not sure she knows the feeling of having to go or just isn’t aware of it yet. She throws a fit, about half the time, when we change her diaper, so I’d love to potty train this early. Aside from being naked for a day and trying to catch her in time to have her pee on the potty I’m not sure what else to do, but wait. Thoughts?
Katie says
September 4, 2013 at 3:48 pmI think letting her be naked for a day and letting her make the connection between the sensation and the results is a good idea. What we do to keep Isla on the potty is read to her. You know how busy she is. We got some good potty books–Where’s the Poop, Everyone Poops, Princess of the Potty are her favorites–and only let her read those on the potty. We also let her watch the potty video if she sits on the potty. The best things you can do is provide opportunity and encouragement without making it stressful. When Isla doesn’t want to sit on the potty, we just let her have an accident. That’s okay, and it’s better than putting her off the potty entirely. 🙂 Good luck! I know Miss Sophia will get it! Miss that sweet girl.