Potty Training

Here we are, into week 4 after our first initial weekend of potty training. I have to say, things are going stellar thus far. I pretty much copied my friend, Molly, word for word and went for it.

Amo for the weekend included:
-A variety of juice boxes and other beverages
-A bag of M&M's
-A variety of stickers
-Fun "treasures" in a Treasure Chest (that I typically use with my speech clients)
-Portable potties in the living room and in Charlie's room
-My IPAD, which we used for a timer
-Loads and loads of undies
-Cleaning supplies, just in case there was an accident on the couch/rug (I think I only had to use this once!)



The day started off with diaper off, big boy underwear on and a trip to the potty.
Timer was set to go off every 15 minutes for the first hour, then 20 for the second hour, 25 for the third, etc. Drinks were pushed all day and Charlie pretty much consumed 1 juice everytime the timer went off. By the time nap time came around, he was pretty much telling me everytime he needed to potty, so we started fading out the timer that afternoon.

Prize system went as follows:
-A sticker for every time he sat on the potty and tried.
-An M&M everytime he either (1)pottied in the toilet or (2)everytime he told me he needed to go potty before the timer was up.
-A "treasure chest" prize everytime he pooed in the potty.

If he had an accident, he didn't get a prize, but was just told "better luck next time". Here he is washing hands. Such a big man!

At the days end, I asked Charlie what he wanted for his Potty Party and he requested cupcakes. Done, little buddy! (Notice the band-aid on his tummy. He requests a band-aid because his tummy hurts before he has to poo.)

On Day 2 we didn't push liquids or prizes for pottying. Just let things fall as they may, but we did keep close to home and to the potty. Day 3 was treated as any other day, we left the house and went to the park and to lunch and just reminded him to potty. The next week he started school and had just 1 accident while there.

Now, he has done really well over the past 2 weeks. No accidents except at nap times (when we forget to put on his pull-up). When he has to poo, he says his tummy hurts, so we know when to go sit. At school, he wears his underwear for naps and at home, we put him in a pull-up. His naps at home are always much longer than at school, so we need back-up. He also has started to use the potty without us even having to go in the bathroom with him, which has been super nice. He tells us, "No mommy/daddy, you stay. I do it." Ok then, you go for it! Hopefully things will progress until baby Allen arrives! I hear that some kids regress when they have a younger sibling come along. Please, no!