Another accident-free day today for Katie! That's 2 of three. She did have a pee accident yesterday, so that was a bummer. Regardless, she is doing so much better than I expected!
We've stuck with our schedule. The accident happened yesterday because I didn't work hard enough to keep her on the potty after her nap. I should have read her another book or something, but I let her get up and sure enough, a few minutes later she had an accident.
Today, though, she told me twice when she had to go. We went out for lunch, and she asked for three trips to the bathroom. One was successful. I think she likes public restrooms, much to my chagrin. I'm a bit of a germaphobe. Maybe she likes to see how uptight I get. Whatever the reason, I'll deal with extra bathroom trips if the end result is dry underwear. Hooray!
A big motivator that I've used the past few days is ice cream. Whenever we talk about it her eyes get so big and round. The first few days I offered it for waking up dry from her nap. Today, I had a discussion with her when she woke up and said she'd need to stay clean and dry all day to get the ice cream. I kept reminding her about it, and she was always so excited. After dinner she got a little bowl of ice cream with sprinkles. She loved it!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Potty Trained - Day 1
Today was the day Katie graduated from pull-ups to "big-kid" underwear all day. It's been 111 days since we began the potty-training process.
Yesterday she was sitting on the couch and said randomly, "My teacher called my underwear a diaper." We have been calling her pull-up underwear, to try to cheat the process, I guess. The thought of underwear without the mess. Well, one of the nursery workers at church must have called it a diaper. So from that point on, except at night, she's been wearing big-kid underwear.
It's a good thing (I have to keep reminding myself of that,) since it's directed by her and a necessary step in the process. It does keep me on my toes all day!
My key to sanity is having her wear jeans and socks. I am so thankful that my aunt just sent a batch of my cousin's clothes - with two new sets of jeans for Katie! Yay! She loves new clothes, and so will gladly wear them even though it's still pretty warm outside.
Yesterday she had one accident, but today was accident-free. Hooray! It's all very exciting, but I wonder when I will consider the process actually completed. I'm not really ready to rest until then.
Yesterday she was sitting on the couch and said randomly, "My teacher called my underwear a diaper." We have been calling her pull-up underwear, to try to cheat the process, I guess. The thought of underwear without the mess. Well, one of the nursery workers at church must have called it a diaper. So from that point on, except at night, she's been wearing big-kid underwear.
It's a good thing (I have to keep reminding myself of that,) since it's directed by her and a necessary step in the process. It does keep me on my toes all day!
My key to sanity is having her wear jeans and socks. I am so thankful that my aunt just sent a batch of my cousin's clothes - with two new sets of jeans for Katie! Yay! She loves new clothes, and so will gladly wear them even though it's still pretty warm outside.
Yesterday she had one accident, but today was accident-free. Hooray! It's all very exciting, but I wonder when I will consider the process actually completed. I'm not really ready to rest until then.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Potty Dance and Travel Tales
Katie began to do the Potty Dance today. Hooray! Now we have a visible way of identifying when she has to go. Up until now there's been no warning. She still says "no" when we ask her if she needs to go, but at least now we know when to press it.
She has not been doing great since we got back from vacation, nor did she do well while we were on vacation. The only part of the trip where she did well was when we were actually traveling in the airport and on the airplane, joy of joys.
I finally figured out a better way to do the airplane bathroom. I brought our little travel potty and took it in the bathroom with us when she had to go. I set it on the fold-down changing table and put her on it. It worked really well, except that I left the travel potty on the airplane.
Writing this blog is very helpful for processing the whole ordeal. I feel like we've been stuck in this state forever, where she gets it but isn't consistent. As I look back at my posts, I realize that we are making progress, she is learning, and it gives me hope and reminds me that I just need to be patient.
She has not been doing great since we got back from vacation, nor did she do well while we were on vacation. The only part of the trip where she did well was when we were actually traveling in the airport and on the airplane, joy of joys.
I finally figured out a better way to do the airplane bathroom. I brought our little travel potty and took it in the bathroom with us when she had to go. I set it on the fold-down changing table and put her on it. It worked really well, except that I left the travel potty on the airplane.
Writing this blog is very helpful for processing the whole ordeal. I feel like we've been stuck in this state forever, where she gets it but isn't consistent. As I look back at my posts, I realize that we are making progress, she is learning, and it gives me hope and reminds me that I just need to be patient.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Ellie at the Doctor
Today Ellie had her 6-month checkup. At her four-month checkup, she arrived with a dry diaper and let loose as soon as the nurse took it off to weigh her. I was a little anxious about the whole thing. The nurse, however, had completely forgotten. Maybe it happens more than I'd like to think.
I took Ellie to the bathroom when we got there, but since the appointment lasted two hours (!!) she had to go twice more before we were done. I'm so proud of her! Her diaper was removed twice with the medical staff and she didn't go either time. She only went where and when I cued her. Infant potty training is so exciting.
I took Ellie to the bathroom when we got there, but since the appointment lasted two hours (!!) she had to go twice more before we were done. I'm so proud of her! Her diaper was removed twice with the medical staff and she didn't go either time. She only went where and when I cued her. Infant potty training is so exciting.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Book Review - The Diaper-Free Baby
The Diaper-Free Baby: The Natural Toilet Training Alternative
by Christine Gross-Loh
My Rating: 4 1/2 stars
"Believe it or not, your child was born not wanting to go the bathroom in a diaper." After reading this book and putting the suggestions into practice, I believe it.
This is what I loved about the book:
*the author has a PhD from Harvard
*the cover is cute and professional (as opposed to Infant Potty Training)
*it is comprehensive and easy to read
Gross-Loh talks about her own journey to infant potty training and some of her challenges in using this method. She includes dozen of quotes from other parents as well.
"Diaper-free" is a scary phrase; Gross-Loh explains at the beginning of the book that it doesn't mean your baby must be without anything to catch her eliminations. It means "freedom from an exclusive reliance on diapers." I can get on board with that.
The book is very helpful, including advice on starting at different ages, charts of "frequent miss situations," signs to look for, and common questions.
A compelling read.
by Christine Gross-Loh
My Rating: 4 1/2 stars
"Believe it or not, your child was born not wanting to go the bathroom in a diaper." After reading this book and putting the suggestions into practice, I believe it.
This is what I loved about the book:
*the author has a PhD from Harvard
*the cover is cute and professional (as opposed to Infant Potty Training)
*it is comprehensive and easy to read
Gross-Loh talks about her own journey to infant potty training and some of her challenges in using this method. She includes dozen of quotes from other parents as well.
"Diaper-free" is a scary phrase; Gross-Loh explains at the beginning of the book that it doesn't mean your baby must be without anything to catch her eliminations. It means "freedom from an exclusive reliance on diapers." I can get on board with that.
The book is very helpful, including advice on starting at different ages, charts of "frequent miss situations," signs to look for, and common questions.
A compelling read.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Product Review - Potty Power (DVD)
Potty Power - For Boys & Girls
Rating: 5 stars
Potty Power kept Katie's interest for the entire 30 minutes. It seems like it would be a perfect way to kick off potty training. The host, Jessica, explains every step in the potty process in detail. There are many examples of happy boys and girls completing each step as it is described, and a song to shake things up a bit. At the end, there is a story of a princess deciding to use the potty.
The princess story and the fact that the host is female may make it more appealing to girls than to boys. Also, it could be redundant if a child has already started down the path to independent toileting.
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