How I Potty Trained my Son in 3 Days
C was 2 and we were expecting our daughter in a few weeks and I just couldn't wait any longer for my Husband to start his vacation to begin C's potty training. I was on maternity leave and going through the motions of "nesting". I wanted everything, especially potty training my Son to be DONE and so like all modern Mums, I sought some advice from Pinterest!
I researched for days until I thought I was mentally ready because God knows, I wasn't at all ready physically. Side note: I was 197 pounds and very pregnant.
At the time, I laughed at the pins stating that it only took them 3 days to potty train their children but here I am, writing this post about how I potty trained C in 3 short days.
C with his prize!
What you'll need:
- A Potty: We started off by buying the potty below (Ikea) but found that C's legs were too long to sit comfortably on it. I bought him a potty seat that would lay right on top of the toilet and that worked much better for him. Also, make sure to buy at least 2 of the same potties. It made things easier for us when I had to move potty training upstairs.
- Underwear: I didn't take C shopping to choose his own underwear like some of the how-to's suggested. I did however, choose underwear that I knew he would love and surprised him instead! Buy 1 or 2 packages (usually comes with 4) and expect to do lots and lots of laundry.
- Prizes: I chose to give C his favourite fruit and vegetable squeezies as treats. You can offer anything your child likes, they wont know the difference between something that's made out of sugar or fruits. All they know is they're getting something they LOVE!
- Potty Training Video/Book: Youtube has some awesome potty training cartoons! Choose a video or book and narrate what's happening to your child.
- Cleaning supplies: There will be accidents and a clean environment is a much happier space for both you and your toddler.
- Most importantly, PATIENCE. There will be accidents and there will be crying, please understand that patience and being as helpful and supportive as you can towards your child is key to being successful at potty training.
1st Day
The first day we started potty training, I told C he wouldn't be wearing his diaper and that he would be wearing the brand new Ninja Turtles underwear instead! This was an exciting moment for the both of us because he loved TMNT and he was wearing his first pair of underwear. I went nuts!
About 15-20 minutes later I asked him if he needed to go to the potty. I had him step on his stool and assisted him with sitting on his brand new potty seat. He sat down but he was busy playing with the cars he had in his hands. After a while he got a bit bored, stood up from his seat and asked to leave. Side note: I started his potty training off with him sitting as opposed to standing because at this time it's hard for them to distinguish wanting to peepee or poopoo.
The first accident happened shortly after the above happened. I guess he realized his new underwear wasn't as absorbant as his diapers and he cried. I don't blame him, it must feel cold and gross to be wet down there! I quickly bathed him, changed him and put on another new pair of underwear. This time, I took him to the toilet and explained to him that he needed to "peepee in there".
I found a really great cartoon video about going to the potty on Youtube, which they've taken down for some strange reason but I suggest finding one, sitting your child down on the toilet and having the video loop over and over again. C would sit on the toilet while watching this video and pee! He was confused at first and thought he would get into trouble but I praised him like a mad woman and he gave me the biggest, most happiest smile ever!
On day 1, I spent a lot of time cleaning the washroom and changing his wet and even one soiled new underwear but it was truly a successful day for the both of us! I was so incredibly proud of him for peeing in the toilet.
2nd Day
So another day of no diapers and both C and I were ready to start our second day of potty training. This time, we spent most of our day hanging around the washroom. I would show C the video and he would go potty in the toilet and guess what, he made his first poopoo on this day! Poor guy was desperate and he was on the brink of crying until I stuck him on the toilet and he just went. I was a very excited Mum and praised him! Day 2 was different because after using the potty, I gave him a treat. C loves the Organic Squeezies from Superstore, so I gave this to him everytime he peepeed or poopood in the potty.
3rd Day
I swear, the third day was the most surprising day for me. I was ready to train C for weeks but I finally understood what the how-to's meant when they would say that their child just "got it". I left C to take care of his potty duties with little to no assistance. To be honest, I just wanted to see what he would do and it worked out for the best because C started going to the potty by himself with the exception of no. 2 (I had to clean him of course!). There were no accidents on this day and because he did so well, my Husband and I took him to Toys R Us to pick out a toy.
Present Day
C is now 3 and fully potty trained. He uses no night-time nappies during nap time (1-2 hours) however we still use nappies for night time. I am planning to stop that once he is 3.5 years old but I feel like he's ready to go without because his night-time nappy is almost always dry.
I'm really thrilled that I didn't wait too long to potty train C. I recieved a lot of unwanted advice when I told people I was potty training him. Someone even mentioned that I shouldn't be the one training him, not because I was heavily pregnant but because I was a Woman with no "peepee" to show C how it was done! Well, I definitely proved them wrong and now C is where he is today. Also, buying just one box of diapers has been such a money saver for us!
If you feel like your child is ready to start potty training, give it a go and if you have any questions, feel free to email me! Here's to hoping Baby H is as easy as C was!
Photo credits:
Green potty: www.ikea.com
Superstore Organic Squeezie: www.superstore.ca