Madeleine started using the potty about once or twice a day when she was about 16 months. I encouraged this behavior, especially several months later before John Paul came along. The problem was, if she wasn't naked, she would just go. No matter where she was or what she was wearing, diaper, pull up, big girl underwear - she'd go. For awhile there, she was perfect when I let her run around with just a shirt. Then she started having all kinds of accidents when I was doing that. I got tired of cleaning up, so I put her back in diapers for awhile. THEN I happened to catch this classic Dr. Phil episode that told about a "sure-fire" potty training technique. It involved having the child teach a doll to go to the potty. So found a hollow, rubber doll and rigged it up. I poked a hole in it and filled it with water so it could go "peep" as Madeleine calls it. Then I sewed her a loose pair of big girl underwear out of a t-shirt sleeve. Oh yes, I can be creative when the need arises. We named the baby "Amy" and Madeleine taught her go to the potty. About 1000 times. She LOVED it. But she didn't get the connection that SHE was supposed to go. She has never told me she has to go, but will sit on the potty and go when I ask her to.
Then the other day, she started totally fighting going to the potty. She would not even go to the bathroom, even when it was obvious she had to go. So I didn't mention it at all for a few days. Today, she decided that she wanted to go in the potty! Several times today, she told me she had to go and went! Even with her pullup on. This has never happened. She even called after she woke up from her nap that she had to go potty, and went willingly! I was amazed and I hope this continues! I know she can do it if she wants to. Maybe she just needed to decide for herself. If this is not "it" that's ok too. We'll just wait till she's ready. But boy would I like to just have one kid in diapers!
5 comments:
I can't wait until Mary decides to start using the potty. Good for you and M though :)
Isn't it exciting, to have these potty breakthroughs? I thought I'd forever have children in diapers, since that's obviously all we know from the start of their lives. But then, miraculously, it gets easier!
I hope the potty streak continues for Madeleine!
It sounds like she's really ready this time... most of mine have been right at 35 months... but Ava took a whole 3.5 years, and Leo is partially trained at 2. He only goes when he wants to, and it's more of a competition thing with Ava. 'Oh, she needs to go? Well I'm first then!' Good luck M!
It took a toy for us to get consistent #2 in the potty. For some reason he didn't mind it in his pants so much. Yuck I say! We started with a small brand new toy placed within view on top of the fridge. After one week of going every single time no accidents he got the toy. Then we moved up to a bigger toy that he had picked out at Target and placed that on top of the fridge too, and made the goal 2 weeks. Worked like a charm. I now have a wonderfully potty trained little man. Using the same technique to get him to sleep in his bed. Working great!!!
We went through a lot of that with my oldest. Our doctor finally told me to put her in diapers until she told us she was ready to go potty. She would go to Mother's Day Out in underwear, and have no accidents, but also not go to the bathroom for over five hours! She was holding it! It was all about control for her, and when she finally decided she was ready we were accident free.
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