Three keys to success: M&M incentive, get rid of the diapers, don't cave in :)
It's harder for parents, trust me! We first tried potty training when Xavier was around 2 and a half. He was really excited to do it, we got him an elmo potty with musical flusher, and a Boon potty seat that goes on the regular toilet. He caught on to peeing really quickly, but we didn't do away with the diaper just yet. We mainly wanted to just introduce the potty to him to see how he'd take it.
It's harder for parents, trust me! We first tried potty training when Xavier was around 2 and a half. He was really excited to do it, we got him an elmo potty with musical flusher, and a Boon potty seat that goes on the regular toilet. He caught on to peeing really quickly, but we didn't do away with the diaper just yet. We mainly wanted to just introduce the potty to him to see how he'd take it.
(note the puppy pads underneath the small potty!)
After a few weeks, the newness wore off and he refused to sit on the toilet. It became a fight between us. We knew it wasn't the right time and held off for a few months.
Right before his third birthday, Xavier's babysitter held a "potty training boot camp" and all the kids were asked to show up on a Monday in underwear. I was incredibly new to this. What size underwear is he? Am I supposed to buy Pull Ups? What if he pees on the way to the babysitter's house on Monday?
When we dropped him off to the babysitter's house, he stripped down to only his undies, so he'd have easy access to the toilet. He did pretty well the first couple days, only a couple accidents at the sitter's house. He still wore a naptime diaper, so he saved him pooping for nap time :) We took him home with underwear underneath a diaper in case of any accidents. Then removed the diaper when we got home. We asked every hour if he had to pee. After a week, he started going on his own.
After a week, he started going all on his own! ;)
And it helps that he had fun underwear to show off!
He started holding his poo pretty badly, to the point where we had a major panic attack one night where he couldn't get anything to come out. So we started him on a half-cap full of Miralax each morning in his milk. He had a major accident in the tub one night, but the 15 inch piece of poo came out so easily, it cured his fear of it hurting! From that point forward, he always went in the toilet.
He was on night time/nap time diapers for about 6 weeks, then one night we ran out. He had been dry in the mornings, so we gave it a shot. He woke up dry and he hasn't worn a diaper since that night!
One of the last pictures I have of Xavier wearing a diaper!
After a week, he started going all on his own! ;)
And it helps that he had fun underwear to show off!
He started holding his poo pretty badly, to the point where we had a major panic attack one night where he couldn't get anything to come out. So we started him on a half-cap full of Miralax each morning in his milk. He had a major accident in the tub one night, but the 15 inch piece of poo came out so easily, it cured his fear of it hurting! From that point forward, he always went in the toilet.
He was on night time/nap time diapers for about 6 weeks, then one night we ran out. He had been dry in the mornings, so we gave it a shot. He woke up dry and he hasn't worn a diaper since that night!
One of the last pictures I have of Xavier wearing a diaper!
We had it easy compared to some stories I hear from other parents, but there were some days it was so rough and I wanted to throw in the towel! But with time, he turned out to be a pro!
