We are a cloth diapering family not because we're trying to save the planet or protect our daughter's bum from all the nasty stuff in disposable diapers (although those are both pluses). We cloth diaper more out of necessity. When I decided to leave my career and stay home with my daughter, I knew there were some sacrifices I would have to make to be able to do that financially. This particular sacrifice just happens to include loads and loads of squishy poo mashed into diapers on a daily basis. Sounds fun, right?
The closer I get to having baby boy, the more I have been thinking that I just may lose it if I have to handle double the poo and last week I had had it! Now, there are some things about parenting that I spend days and weeks researching, questioning friends, and scouring the internet and then there are other things that I leap headfirst into without the least bit of how-to advice. Potty training fell into that latter category.
We already had a potty chair and even a Minnie Mouse potty seat for when the time came. I ran to Walmart and picked up some cute training pants. It helps if they are cute, right? I knew that my daughter would need all the motivation I could muster and since she adores anything pink, these were the answer! I immediately took them home and changed her into a pair of "big girl panties."
That first day I really wasn't sure she was ready. She had three accidents and only made it in the potty once. (Can I just take a minute to note how words like "potty," "poop," and "tee-tee" have become a regular part of my vocabulary? Goodness, y'all!) I was determined though, and I decided that I wasn't going back to diapers except for naps and bedtime. And let's face it, Pull-ups are just diapers in disguise.
So here we are, a week later, and let me tell you, I am SO glad I decided to stick with it. My girl is doing great and hasn't had an accident in two days! That's two whole days I have gone without changing a single diaper!
And since I know many of you actually do your research instead of depending on dumb luck like me, I thought I'd share with you what has worked for us. Please note, however, that I have a little girl and don't know the tiniest bit on how to potty train a boy. Also, every child is different so I recommend not sticking to some stringent potty training regimen. Be flexible, experiment with different techniques and find out what works for your child.
1. Make sure your child is ready.
Before I actually became a parent I was pretty sure that I knew everything. I'm sure you've been there too and then someone hands you a tiny infant and suddenly you know nothing! Absolutely nothing! Well, I used to think that all that "wait until the child is ready" stuff was a load of poo. I mean, aren't we just teaching our kids to use the bathroom in their pants by keeping them in diapers until they are 3-years old? And around the world, children are potty trained years earlier than they are in the U.S. What are we doing wrong?
Thinking along those lines, I first introduced my gal to the potty when she was a little over a year old. She would sit and sit on it but didn't have the bladder control to actually go and she couldn't identify when she needed to. I've always left the potty chair out for her in the event she wanted to use it but I stopped forcing it.
Just in the past few months, my gal has been alerting us to her wet/dirty diapers (she turned 2 a few months ago). I knew we were getting close. Then a few weeks ago she started peeing as soon as I put her in the bath at night. And she was obviously doing it on purpose. Bingo! She was ready.
2. Make it fun.
Get your kiddo some cartoon-covered panties and use them to your advantage, mama! Your kiddo won't want to get them messy if they really love them. You can even let her pick them out herself. Some parents have reward charts and potty songs but we didn't have to resort to those (yet). And while I'm not an advocate of bribing your child, this is one situation where I think it won't harm them. My daughter will do anything for a gummy bear so all I had to do was tell her she could have a gummy bear if she went on the potty for me. And success! She doesn't get one every time she goes now - I don't want her to end up ten years old and expecting a gummy bear every time she pees.
We also moved her potty chair smack dab in the middle of the living room. We did this for a few reasons. First of all, many children have potty training accidents because they don't want to miss out on what is happening. Since most of what is "happening" at our house takes place in and around the living room I knew this was where her potty needed to be. Secondly, kids can't always make their potty time quick and to the point, especially in the beginning. I wanted her to be able to sit on the potty and watch cartoons and not feel rushed. It seems to be working well right now but obviously she can't relieve herself in the living room forever.
3. Make the switch to Big Kid Underwear and don't go back.
Training pants and underwear have a completely different feel from diapers. Diapers are made to draw the moisture away so your tot doesn't feel the wetness. In training pants, your child will immediately feel any accidents and you can use that discomfort to your advantage. You want your child to dislike the feeling and be motivated to go to the toilet.
Right now we use pull-ups (hate them) for naps and bedtime but all other times my girl is in either training pants or underwear which brings us to number 4.
4. Be prepared for accidents
They are going to happen and they will happen at inopportune times like in the middle of making dinner. You will get peed on. So will your floor, your couch, your dining room chairs, and the car seat. It's going to happen so just prepare yourself. Puppy piddle pads are great for lining chairs and carseats. Stock up. I recommend starting potty training at a time when you are able to stay home for a few days. If you do have to go out bring a change of clothes for your toddler and maybe even for yourself.
5. Praise your child when they succeed and encourage them when they fail
That should just be a blanket statement for all of parenting not just in regard to potty training but I think it's especially important here. Your child will not potty train any faster if you scold them when they have an accident. In fact, that is one sure way to ensure your child has more accidents and even medical complications. Give your child hugs and kisses and clap for them when they make it to the potty. They will love seeing how happy they make you and will want to continue to bring your joy. When they fail, reassure them of your love and that you are still proud of them. Your toddler is not trying to purposefully hurt your or disappoint you. Give her love and grace and she will learn so much more than just how to pee in the potty.
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