Our family has been filled with the challenges (and joys) of potty training these past few days. We actually began potty training shortly after Raffaele turned two. I bought the Potty Training in One Day supplies minus the doll. Raffaele understood pretty well what was (is!) going on in the potty training department, so I felt the purchase of the doll would be unneccessary. He never did potty train in one day. I do not believe that it was because we lacked the doll. One of the things explained in the book for parents is that if you have a baby, you should have someone else care for your baby on The Big Day so as to not interfere with your Toddler's activities that day. This is not a reasonable request for us because my parents are the only very close family close by that could care for Theresa all day, but they do so much for us already as they are here three days per week, and we we felt it too much of an encumbrance to ask them to dedicate an additional day towards caring for Theresa. So, inevitably, Raffaele did not receive the concentration from us that was needed in order to accomplish Potty Training in One Day, so this method was not a good fit for us.
As we felt that he does understand what is going on in the elimination department, we decided to try the Naked plus $75 method this weekend, or, as my husband calls it, "Potty Training Boot Camp." Young Raffaele had no problem running around half naked all weekend, here in our home, of course. He's quite comfortable, actually, and he doesn't even seek out additional clothes. Sure enough, whenever he needed to go, he ran to the potty!! He prefers privacy, so he closes the door and situates himself inside, all the while with me listening from the outside (if Theresa permits it). Then, after the flush, he runs out exclaiming, "I did it!" We are so very proud of him, have incredible celebrations, and offer him his reward which consists of gummy bears. I then proceed to speak to each gummy bear telling each one, "Raffaele used the potty and we are so proud of him." He holds the gummy bear up for me so that I may properly speak to it while he has the biggest smile. Then he says, "bye bye gummy bear," and he eats the gummy bear. We proceed to do this with each gummy bear that I may have put in his little bowl. One by one, telling each one what a fine job Raffaele did on the potty.
Today is Monday, so it is the third day of the Potty Training Boot Camp. Raffaele did not run around naked today, however. We had him in the toddler training pants, which are merely extra-cushioned underwear. This worked out really well today as he continued to use the potty.
He is not completely potty trained at this point. In Mr. FloridaWife's words, "he is batting 800." We have had two accidents, all over the tiled area of the house. So, fortunately, the method has not cost us the $75 since we've been able to quickly clean/mop over the tile. Despite these accidents, I am not disheartened. We shall continue throughout the week, either letting him be naked or putting the toddler training pants on him. (We are putting a diaper on him for nighttime until some point in the future.)
Theresa, inevitably, and very adoringly, does not want to be left out of all the potty-training excitement, so she requests to go on the potty too, since it appears to be such a fun activity replete with praise, celebration, and gummy bears. She doesn't quite say the "t" sound yet, so it is more of "panny" after Raffaele is done and she wants to go to the potty too.
Despite potty training appearing to appear like work, I am enjoying this wonderful phase in my little boy's life. What a beautiful life-changing moment for him, which I get to share with him!
May your lives be filled with joy, and God bless you all.
1 comments:
When I potty trained Jeffrey, the first two days were like a never-ending stream of pee. We did the training-pants/timer method, and even when I set it for every 5 minutes he would leak in between. It took me an entire morning to empty the dishwasher. I never could have done it if I had had another child to take care of. If I ever have a second child, I would just let that child potty train whenever they want to. But, after two days he did great, and the painful memory is slowly fading. He has been in underwear 24/7 since about three weeks after his third birthday. I'm so proud of my little guy. It's amazing how far they've come.
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