Potty Training

WHEW. Where do I begin on the subject of potty training? When we took Ronan to his 18 month checkup, our pediatrician suggested we buy a little potty and just have it in the bathroom, start talking about it, ask him if he wants to sit on it, etc. She said basically kids will give you this little window of opportunity where they are ready to train and if you don't grab onto it....it could be a long road.

Fast forward to his 2 year appointment, she didn't really bring it up and again just said that we would know when he was ready. Well, our stubborn child NEVER wanted to sit on the potty. We would ask, and the answer was always no. Sometimes, while waiting for his bath water to run, he would exclaim "I want to sit on the potty!!". So, he would sit, and nothing would happen. I really didn't think much of it, let's face it - those diapers are pretty darn convenient, especially since we spend most of our free time running errands, eating out, taking walks and going to the playground because these are things we just can't get done during the work week.

I honestly didn't think he was quite mature enough to be potty trained. There are some women in my Mommy group that have had terrible luck with regressing after training....and I partly believed it was because some of them pushed it too soon (but seriously, I could be totally wrong here, obviously). Plus, I read the average age for a boy to potty train is 3 years and 4 months old. Well, Ro is quickly approaching this age and was still showing NO signs of being more interested, so we just decided to go for it. He has been in the same class at school since he turned 2, so he is now one of the oldest kids in the class and I think he may be getting a bit bored. All his best buds have moved up to the Pre-K class since they are potty trained, and we want to get him there ASAP - plus, the move will save Mom & Dad about $20 a week! Not to mention all the saved cash from not having to buy diapers!

The problem with being two working parents is, there just isn't a whole lot of time to dedicate to potty training. Rob did some research and found the "Toilet Training in One Day or Less" book. He read that thing backwards and forwards. Took notes, the works. We got a doll that Ronan could "teach" to go pee pee. This doll is a bit creepy....it doesn't actually look like a baby, and it's not supposed to according to the book. His face when he saw it was very cute. And he named the doll "Ghost". :)

Well, last week was THE week. Rob took off two days of work. The first to train, the second to just keep him going and get him used to it. The book says it's best to only have one other person there....the less distractions, the better. Well, it was probably the most frustrating two days of his life, and the most frustrating week for ALL of us. But, it worked. The peeing he had down in definitely less than a day. The poop? The is a whole other issue. BUT, I'm happy to say that by last weekend, he was pooping on the potty and the accidents were less and less and this week he has continued to get even better. I couldn't be more proud! The first time he actually pooped in the potty, I couldn't believe I was actually happy to see poop. That's a first.

That's not to say he doesn't have an accident here and there. Sometimes he gets too distracted with his toys and if we don't ask him if he's dry (which is a "trigger" so-to-speak), he will sometimes wet himself a bit but then realizes it and finishes peeing in the potty.

It's the little things, right? I'm hopeful he's got this down and we are down to only one training pant a day at night time only. Hallelujah!

Reading on the potty

Ro and Ghost (yes, the paci is the next battle!)