Potty Training!

I have wonderful news! At two years and 5 months old, Canaan is potty training! Actually, he is almost completely potty trained now. We are SO proud! Up until this point, he was not interested in going in the potty, though he would occasionally at bathtime. Most of the time if we asked him if he wanted to go, he would say, "No!" So, once we got over the initial hump of not wanting to do this (this took the whole first day and some strong persuasion), we were doing great!

Semi-Method- We did a loose method of full blown potty training as suggested in the book on Potty Training by the people who put out the Babywise books. They say that once big boy underwear goes on, there are no more diapers! (We let Canaan sleep in diapers for now b/c we don't have a matress protector yet.) We set aside about 3 days where we weren't going anywhere (Canaan, Max and I) or doing anything except potty training. I fed Canaan crackers all day so that he would drink all day, thus making him need to "go" more and get extra practice. The premise is to encourage "dry-ness" rather than going in the potty. We encouraged both. I would ask him every 5 minutes if he was dry. We would feel his underwear and give high fives and "good jobs" when he was dry. When he peed in the potty, he got an M&M or a sticker on his potty chart. If he started going in his underwear but stopped and finished in the potty, he still got an M&M. The first two days, we hung out only in his bedroom. I turned the heater on and dressed him in a shirt and his underwear with no pants or socks (no socks b/c they just got wet when he had an accident in his underwear). Oh, we had a kid training potty too that was in his bedroom for easy access!

DAY ONE- The first day, we put on "big boy underwear" and read our potty book that we have been reading the past few months. We talked about going in the potty. I would ask him if he was dry. Whenever I asked him if he needed to pee in his potty, he invariable said, "no." After two accidents, I stopped asking if he wanted to pee, but rather told him that he needed to try to pee in the potty. This was accompanied with much crying. The first time, we waited on the potty for a little bit, but as soon as he got up and pulled up his underwear, he went in them. Ummm. The next time, we waited at the potty for 10 minutes, while he cried the whole time. But it all ended when he finally peed! Yeah. Success at last! The next time I told him he needed to try, the time was halved (for crying and how long it took him to go). After that, there was just a little complaining each time, but he usually would go quickly. Asking him if he was dry every few minutes helped remind him that he was in big boy underwear and not in a diaper any more. He had about 7 accidents and about 10 full success that day. Some of the accidents were just half accidents- he would start in his underwear, but stop and finish in the potty. We quickly figured out that Canaan prefered to stand when he used the potty- which is fine, just a bit messy if done without a bit of help!

DAY TWO- Only two accidents! Mommy and Daddy are so proud and so hopeful! Is it really going to be this easy?

DAYS THREE and FOUR- Things were going so well, we transitioned to the big boy potty. Canaan stands on a step stool to pee. Only one accident each day! AND, to top it off, Canaan started asking to go the potty regularly without being reminded!!! We had church at David and Livia's and he even went at their house. This meant a new environment and a friend to play with- but he still stopped to ask to potty! Mommy and Daddy can't believe he is being such a big boy and that this is going so well!

DAY FIVE- We took our first extended outing: to the mall! I was a bit worried and put on plastic underwear over his regular underwear and packed an extra pair of EVERYTHING for him. He asked twice to go the bathroom and we made it to the bathroom each time! Mommy and Daddy are ecstatic!

DAY SIX- Today we are on day six. His accidents the past few days have only been involving "#2." He will start to go in his underwear, realize what is happening, and then go to the potty to finish. He still needs help getting his underwear and pants fully off and on, though he does the majority by himself. We are about to finish our pack of M&M's, and that will probably be the end of gift rewards. Of course we will probably continue praising him and telling him what a big boy he is! He will sometimes tell me, "I am so proud of ME!" when he goes in the potty! What a funny boy I have! Mommy and Daddy feel SOOO blessed!

SIDE NOTE- Canaan loved picking out his M&M's. He ate first all the yellow and brown ones. Those are his favorite colors! :) And, Canaan has woken up from almost all his naps completely dry, and occasionally completely dry in the mornings too!