This summer we decided that we needed to potty train Addy Pearl. She had been showing signs of being ready to potty train, and we could tell when she was pottying, so we knew it was time.
Potty training child number 1 (Gretchen) is something that I don't ever want to do again. She tested every limit, and it took us an entire year to feel comfortable enough saying that she was entirely potty trained. We used the Three Day Potty Training Method, and while we loved the method, she proved that she was stubborn and strong willed.
Potty training child number 2 (Megan) was a breeze. The girl potty trained herself right around her 2nd birthday. We just put the potty out, let her run around bottomless, and she would potty alone.
I was really hoping that Adalyn would be just as easy as Megan, and that Addy might train herself too. It wasn't that easy, but it was definitely easier than training Gretchen!
We waited until we had moved and settled in to our new house, and we waited until we were back from our big vacation this summer.
I was planning on starting while the big girls were away at my mom's house, but that trip kept getting changed, so I potty trained while the girls were home. This ended up working out great, because Adalyn had extra cheerleaders!
I used the 3 day method, but I followed it loosely. The method suggest that you throw away all diapers when the child wakes up in the morning. Actually, it suggest that you have the child throw them away. I knew that Addy wasn't ready to be trained for naps and night time. She had just turned two, and none of my girls have been dry at night until at least 3 1/2. Plus, I'm not worried about night time training right now. We will tackle that later.
So, we woke up the first morning, and just left her without her diaper. Anytime she would start to have an accident, we would rush to the potty. We continued this for several days, and Adalyn did great! By the first afternoon, she could tell when she needed to potty, and we had maybe two accidents a day.
We continued training and reinforcing over the next several days. We had to take a trip two hours away, and she even stayed dry in the car on the way there, and she pottied when we had to stop for her sisters to potty.
The next day it was just the two of us, and I had some shopping to do. The day was difficult, and she had accidents. It was either that or we stop to run to the bathroom every 10 minutes and I knew I wouldn't get any shopping finished.
I wasn't too stressed about that though. I think that was key. I think with the third child, you're more relaxed and you know that the one setback, won't be life threatening, like it would have been with your first child.
Anytime we were at home, Addy would stay bottomless, and she was more and more successful, maybe having one accident per day- mostly around the time that she was upstairs playing with her sisters and I was downstairs doing laundry or picking up.
We did end up having some frustrations, when I started to put her in a pull up (for running errands out of the house) or in panties (around the house). Anytime she would have something on her bottom, she would have an accident. We're working on putting her in panties more often.
We've had several days of her not having any accidents and her staying dry all day- if we're out running errands or if we're at home. She did however have an accident at church on Sunday, but I think that's because she's in a class of young two year old's who aren't potty trained, and her teachers have so many distractions and they're not familiar with Adalyn's signs (saying potty or holding her self.)
She's started daycare this week, and we decided to send her in pull ups for the first few weeks. If she continues to stay dry while she's awake, then we'll start sending her in panties with lots of changes of clothes!
I'm super proud of her and how quick she's picked up pottying! I think it also helps that my expectations aren't immediate and I know that she will get it as long as we are consistent. I feel confident enough to say that while she's with me, she's trained. Being with others will be a different story, I'm sure, but I'm also sure that within a few weeks, her teachers will be use to her style and she'll be fine there!
If you're potty training a child, I'd highly recommend that you google for the 3 Day Potty Training Method. I'd also recommend that you wait until your child is ready! Don't be afraid of accidents- skip the pull ups and undies (unless you're out of the house).
Do you have some super great potty training tips? Share them in the comments below!
CONGRATS!
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