I was not looking forward to this, but started realizing that Eli was showing me that he was ready to start using the potty. First I started by buying him books about the potty. We used "Once Upon a Potty", "Duck goes Potty", and an Elmo potty book. Those books were helpful, but the most important book I read is called "The Three Day Potty Training Method". A friend of mine (excellent mommy) swears by this book and was kind enough to share it with me, along with her notes which gave me hope that this too could work for Eli. (Thanks Carrie).
First I want to start off by reminding everyone that every child is different. I wanted to follow the book to a T, but ended up changing a few slight things to best fit Eli and his "character". Eli is very high strong, and he hates changes (get's it from his momma). Along with the three day potty method I also read the below on baby center, which has similar rules but also gave me other ideas that could work for Eli.
(http://www.babycenter.com/0_potty-training-in-three-days-or-less_10310078.bc)
Here is also a list of things that I bought to prepare:
1. Baby BJourn potty
2. A potty seat to attach to our toilett (in case he didn't like the other potty)
3. Kalencom Pottete Plus (portable potty)
4. An Elmo potty coloring book which came with a potty training chart and stickers.
5. A small coloring book with crayons, and stickers as gift number 1, and book that comes with legos as gift #2.
6. lot's of juice, fish cheese crackers, popsicles.
7. A dora the explorer hand soap to encourage washing hands .
8. Night time Huggies Pull ups. (Eli is not showing signs that he is ready to be trained at night and naps). Be advised I only trained him for daytime, and will work on night time when he starts having more dry diapers during bed time.
9. Last but not least 20 pairs of underwear (Spider man, Diego, Sponge Bob)
 |
| We set up the potty where it is easily accessible |
Also know that you will need at LEAST 3 days off from work. I started on the weekend since I'm off Saturday and Sunday, and took Monday off from work. You will also need a lot of support for this. Make sure that you have all your meals prepared before hand, and that you are ready to spend 3 whole days at home without having to step out. I picked this week because Rigo will be on vacation starting tomorrow and he can continue what we have learned while I have to go back to work. Just make sure that your spouse/or care taker will be on the EXACT same page as you and that they know the DO's and Don'ts or else you may lose the progress you have made.
Sorry I've gone on and on, but I hope other mommy's can be helped by this. Here are my notes:
On Friday night I got home from work with a bag. Eli asked what was in it and I said It's a potty. I told him he would be doing pee pee and poopy in here since he is a big boy. I put it in the bathroom and didn't say anything else about it.
DAY 1:
10:15 AM On Saturday morning we woke up. We told Eli that he looked like he grew very tall last night and that he is now a big boy. We told him that he no longer needs diapers because they are for babies. We had him take all of his diapers and put them in a bag to give them to his baby cousin Leah. Rigo hid the bag. We told him he had to wear big boy pants now, and reminded him that he has to stay dry.
10:26 AM Eli went pee pee on himself, we rushed him to the potty but it was too late. We reminded him he has to stay dry and that pee pee goes in the potty not on the floor. Fresh pair of undies.
11:30 AM Eli went pee pee on himself. Rushed to the potty but it was too late. Did same as above.
11:45 AM Eli went pee pee on himself and as I rushed him to the potty he did poop in his underwear and then landed on the floor. By the time we made it to the potty it was too late. (My frustration level started rising). Cleaned up, gave him a fresh pair of under wear and reminded him he had to stay dry and pee pee and poo goes in the potty not on the floor.
12:25 PM Eli went pee pee on himself. Rushed to potty but it was too late. Once again reminded him pee pee goes in potty. Fresh pair of undies.
12:52 PM Eli went pee pee on himself. Did same as above.
1:32 PM and 1:51 PM It was at this point that I did EXACTLY what the book said NOT to do. I started taking it upon myself to force him to sit on the potty to make him pee because I just KNEW he had to go. DO NOT DO THIS!!! Eli got extremely frustrated went on himself instead of the potty and began to cry saying NO WAY to the potty. AGAIN I did not DO what the book said. I took a step back realized that my frustration was getting the best of me, put Eli in a diaper (ANOTHER THING NOT TO DO) and said he wasn't ready, and that I was going to give up. I put Eli to nap, and I called my mom who told me what I didn't want to hear. She said that I handled it completely WRONG and that I needed to take a break and try again after nap time.
4:40 PM Eli woke up and with an even head I decided to put on a fresh pair of underwear and explained to Eli that we were going to do pee pee in the potty when he is ready.
4:43 PM I went to use the potty and Eli went on himself. (This is why you have to be ready at ALL times). I changed his underwear and reminded him pee pee goes in the potty. New pair of underwear.
4:52 PM Eli ran to me saying Pee Pee- rushed to the potty. Nothing happened.
5:00 PM and 5:06 PM Eli said Poo Poo- ran to potty nothing happened.
5:13 PM peed a little in his underwear- rushed to the potty and he stopped peeing. Changed his underwear.
5:30 and 5:36 PM went pee pee on himself- rushed to the potty and he stopped peeing.
5:50 PM would start peeing on himself, would rush him to the potty and he would stop. I also started noticing how difficult it was to get his under wear down while rushing so I just took the darn things off and let him roam free.
6:03 PM started to pee on himself ran to the potty where he successfully finished in the potty for the very 1st time!!!! YES FINALLYYYY!!!! We did the Pee Pee happy dance, washed his hands, he got his first present (coloring book with crayons and stickers) Also put his first sticker on the chart. We also called my mom, his father (who was working), and made a REALLY BIG DEAL that he had went pee pee in the potty.
6:30 PM Eli said Pee Pee and we made it to the potty with NO accident!!! (Is this really happening??? My son is a genius LOL) Once again pee pee dance, and sticker as a reward.
7:35 PM Pee Pee on floor and then finished in potty. Gave him a sticker.
(reminder I have not been putting underwear on Eli since 5:50 PM)
7:50 PM Eli appeared to be holding in poop. I asked him if he wanted to do poop he said yes. Took him to potty and he could not go. (the major difference here from the above disaster was that I left it up to him to make the decision to sit and try rather than telling him to sit).
8:15 PM Peed on the floor, I rushed to the potty with him where he finished. Once again pee pee dance, and sticker.
8:53 PM gave him bath, got him ready for bed, and told him that he was going to wear his "big boy sleeping pants" (pull ups).
9:00 PM put him down for bed.
DAY 2
9:30 AM Woke up there was pee pee in his pull up. Changed him put on his underwear.
11:45 AM noticed that he kept clenching and grabbing his penis. Reminded him that if he has to go pee pee he has to tell mommy. He kept saying no. He then agreed to try but didn't go. He went back to play and that's when I saw the "serious poop face". I picked him up and poop fell right on the floor (You don't want to see that mess). He did manage to do some poop in the potty as well as pee pee, this terrified him but he took it in stride. That's my boy. I reminded him that poo poo and pee pee goes in the potty. We cleaned up the mess, did pee pee and poo poo dance, and gave sticker.
2:30 PM ran to me saying poo poo- did pee pee in the potty. Stood up then said poo poo again and passed gas in the potty. ( Thought this was funny but this is when I realized that he is understanding the sensation before he has to go). Washed hands and got sticker. (Have him wearing no underwear).
2:40 PM put on big boy sleeping pants and put him to nap
4:13 PM woke up dry. Got him down and he went potty to do pee pee successfully in the potty. Did dance, and put sticker in chart. (left him naked on the bottom)
5:00 PM Eli went pee pee on himself, ran to potty and he finished there. Reminded him pee pee goes in potty, and he has to tell mommy when he has to go. Did pee pee dance and gave him sticker.
5:45 PM Eli said poo poo, ran to potty and passed gas. No poop or pee.
6:50 PM Eli said pee pee went to potty and peed. As I was washing his hands he said Uh Oh and started to go on himself. Ran back to potty where he finished. Reminded Eli not to get up so quickly until all of the pee pee is out. Did pee pee dance gave him sticker.
7:05 PM said poo poo ran to potty he passed gas, and peed. While peeing he stood up. I had to remind him to wait and be patient while all the pee pee comes out. Washed hands, pee pee dance, and sticker. (Still wearing no underwear).
7:10 PM Eli gave me the serious poop face. I noticed poop going on the floor. I picked him up and rushed to the potty. Eli peed in the potty and after a push he finished pooping in the potty. He was terrified, but proud. (I am fully aware now that he is afraid to poop in the potty). Did pee pee dance, washed hands, and gave sticker.
7:46 PM Eli said poo poo told him to hold it while we ran to potty. Went pee pee in the potty- NO accidents. Did pee dance/sticker
(CAN YOU SEE HOW EXHAUSTING THIS IS?) DON'T WORRY IT PAYS OFF!
8:16 PM Eli said Poo poo and had accident. Rushed to the potty where he finished going pee pee. Gave him a sticker, and reminded him pee pee goes in the potty.
9:10 PM Eli said Poo Poo , and we ran to the potty. Did Pee pee all in the potty no accident. Pee Pee Dance/Sticker.
9:30 PM Asked him if he wanted to go potty he said no. I put on his night pants and put him to sleep.
DAY 3
10:18 AM Eli wakes up with pee pee in pull up. Cleaned him, let him be without underwear just a shirt. Asked if he wanted to potty he said no.
11:20 AM Eli said Pee pee. Ran to potty where he went without any accident. Pee pee dance/Sticker
11:53 AM Reminded him if he has to pee he has to use the potty. He said yes, sat on the potty by himself and peed. I thought it was a sick joke and looked for hidden cameras in my house.... Did pee pee dance and gave him sticker.
12:17 PM Eli said he wanted to go out for a walk. I said he has to do pee pee before we go out. He sat in the potty and did pee pee (no accidents). I was ready to cry of happiness. Did pee pee dance and gave sticker.
12:34 PM Eli was playing and said Pee pee. We ran to potty, where he peed without any accident. Pee pee dance sticker.
12:55 PM Since Eli was doing amazing I decided to up the stakes. I told Rigo to take him out for a walk around the block. We asked Eli if he wanted to try to pee. He said no. I put on underwear whch he did not want to do. (here is where my bad parenting kicks in) I said Eli the raccoon is hungry and he will bite your wee wee if you don't cover it with underwear. Needless to say he put it on without further fights. YES I KNOW that is bad... but I'll be the first to admit I am not a perfect parent. They left and came back at 1:30 PM without ANY ACCIDENTS... AM I DREAMING?
1:30 PM It's at this time I start realizing Eli may be holding his poop in. Asked him if he wanted to use the potty he said no.
3:30 PM Eli went down for a nap. I asked before the nap if he wanted to pee he said no. I didn't push him to try. Put on his pull ups and put him to nap.
5:00 PM woke up. had pee pee in his pull up. Asked him if he wanted to pee, he said no.
6:10 PM Eli took a dish that I had given him with crackers and purposely tossed it on the floor. I put him on time out (which I hated doing during this time, I know all this training is difficult). As he's on time out he yelled out Poo Poo. I ran to get him sat him in the potty and he did not pee. I reminded him he had to go back to time out for throwing the crackers on the floor. Eli sat in the potty and peed... And OKAY I let him off time out... I couldn't help it. Did the pee pee dance and gave him sticker.
7:30 PM Kept saying Poo Poo but wouldn't go. I realized he may be having a difficult time concentrating.
We had a very late dinner.
10:00 PM Eli was getting his bath when it happened... the first accident of the entire day. He pooped a little in the tub. Took him out of tub put him on potty, did not finish. Reminded him poo poo also goes in the potty. Finished bath, gave him sticker.
I then got him ready for bed, and put on his pull ups.
And just like that Eli is now potty trained!
 |
| Eli's potty chart full of stickers! |
We will continue with what we have been doing for the rest of the week, and we will start venturing out with him along with the portable potty, and enough clean under wear and clothes. We know he WILL have accidents, and we are willing to stick with this process for as long as it takes. One thing we will NOT do is use diapers. In a few months when he has better bladder control at night and during naps we will stop the use of pull ups.
I hope this has been helpful to all the mommies I know. If you have any questions PLEASE don't hesitate to ask. We wish you all the best of luck with whatever potty method you decide to go with!
XoXo
Eli & Mommy!
