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Home > Blogs > Adventures in Motherhood > Archives > 2008 > September > 19 > Entry
How to potty train in 3 years or less
Hubby and I decided to kick this potty training thing into high gear for our youngest, who turns 3 at the end of November.
He started showing signs of readiness before his second birthday, and we started coaxing him to try out his potty seat and stashed a few potty rings in our bathrooms.
It all seemed very promising at the outset, but our frequent weekend car trips always threw us off our rhythm. We’d get back home and have to start from scratch.
Now it’s a year later and his third birthday is looming, so it’s go-time. I had started feeling like we were holding him back by not pushing him harder to succeed. In my experience with our two older kids, I found that it takes parental diligence to potty train — something this perpetually tired working mom finds difficult to muster, especially on mornings after the late shift.
But I really, really want to buy that last pack of diapers — maybe then I can boost my coffee-shop allowance and become acquainted with Boston Stoker again.
So after our last trip of the summer (over Labor Day weekend), and after an especially stinky diaper change, I sat down with my son and suggested, “Isn’t it time to train?”
“Oh, yes, I wanna train,” he said excitedly. My heart skipped a beat, then he continued: “I want a big train, Mommy.”
Homonyms are always lost on the young …
Next day we went to the store and let him pick out big-boy underwear. He chose the Hulk, Spider-Man and Batman. Plus I pulled some backup pairs from the hand-me-down bin and we were set.
With lots of encouragement and praise from his family and a few malted milk balls as incentive (I know, disturbing analogy), he’s making real progress. He’s done so well in the last week that he doesn’t want to put on a diaper even at nap time.
Which brings me to the next phase: This weekend, I plan to buy a package of pull-up diapers for nighttime use only. Even though I think pull-ups are an inherently evil product created to prolong profits for diaper makers, I’m going to use them in this transition phase to make going to the potty easier for him at night and at preschool. (I’m not brave enough to send him in underwear yet!)
But that glorious day is now within sight. I can’t wait to celebrate with a sugar-free hazelnut latte with skim. And for my son? His usual: a small cup of whipped cream and a spoon. Here’s to being diaper-free!
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Helpful tips
Comments
By LucyB
September 25, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
Dear X: I hear you. Maybe I’m inherently evil as well ;) I agree that if used properly as a transition tool toward independence, pull-ups (or push-ups, as my tot calls them) can be rather handy. Cleaning up floors and furniture where accidents happen in regular underwear is no fun! But I’ve seen several of my mom-friends prolong the temporary inconveniences of potty training with push-ups by buying pack after pack after pack (I’m still on my first pack, thankfully). In my limited experience, I’ve found that while some children need that extra time to physically mature enough for proper training, most tend to be slower to “get it” while using pull-ups exclusively because, well, they work a bit too well at keeping pants dry. I think of it as similar to pacifier use. Yes, pacifiers perform their function of soothing infants, but sooner or later, those infants need to learn other coping mechanisms. And the later we as parents guide them toward a pacie-free life, the more difficult the situation becomes for everyone. So I’ll meet you halfway: it’s a little roasting and a little toasting for the diaper companies. Salute!
By X-Buck-Eye
September 25, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
Inherently evil?! Prolong profits?! A company produces a product that meets a market need (as evidenced by the fact you’re using them!) and this is the thanks they get?! How about toasting them when you’re enjoying that latte.