Potty Training Resources

I am posting this as a resource to look back on when it's time to potty train again. 
It's totally not meant to be boastful. And hopefully none of it is an over-share, either.  In any case, maybe the resources could be helpful.
 

When it comes to potty training - I found the whole idea a little, ok a lot, overwhelming.  Until recently it was a mystery to me.  G had been asking to use the potty, but I delayed since I wanted to know more before starting the whole process - and I'd always assumed he'd be closer to 3 before we started.

Fast forward to today: we started potty training a month ago, when he turned 2.5 years old.  We used a 3-day plan found in a book that, surprisingly, worked very well.  In reality, he was just ready.  And the book served to help get me ready ; ) 

Here are some notes and links that helped me feel prepared to start.  And, really I get no credit here... because had it not been for Sweet David I may have never started... it just felt like too tall of a mountain to climb.

Resources/Tips-

* book
A friend recommended an online potty training guide by Lora Jensen (linked here). Jensen answered questions I had and questions that I had not thought of.  It is a quick read and comes with a 14 day guarantee, as well as 14 days of e-mailing questions to her and hearing back.

Jensen's method is a 3 day plan to train for day and night time.  Her approach is centered on training the child to self-initiate going to the restroom.  Since completing our 3 days - I've noticed there are other milestones to reach as well.  But, her 3 day approach was a great start for us.

My favorite tips Jensen offers: praising kiddo for dry undies randomly, and often.  Teaching them to initiate going to the bathroom, rather than sitting on the potty all day long.  We used the phrase, "Tell mommy when it's potty time".  A couple hours into training Gavin must have caught onto all the praising since he started praising me, "Mommy good job vacuuming!" and "Mommy good job dishwasher!"

* advance prep
I started lowering the volume of milk G was drinking, and increasing his water intake about 3 weeks before potty training.  Also, we tried to limit his liquid intake just prior to bedtime.  Since he is becoming a 'big boy' we haven't allowed any cups of water or last sips of milk to happen in his bed or during story time... Jensen's recommendation is to stop all drinking at least an hour before bedtime if you plan to potty train them through the night.

* child preparedness
So far our training has not been difficult.  It has required consistency and attention, but we have not needed to inspire or bribe him to want to try potty training.  Had we needed to, I think we may have delayed trying.

Our training has only focused on day-time.  I read that waking with dry diapers was a sign of readiness of potty training... I am glad we did not wait for that.  I'm not sure how long that will take...  I have read using pull-ups prior to potty training can delay a child's interest in the potty, so we skipped straight from diapers to underwear, but use pull-ups at bed time now.

About a week or so before we started training he was on a big kick of "I do it" or "Gavin help".  I think his jump in independence played a key role in him wanting to be 'big' and the potty was an extension of his growth.  We also started talking about big boy things - like sleeping in a twin bed, dressing himself, taking showers, not taking a drink to bed with him; I think all of these things helped mentally prepare him for potty training.

Jensen recommends potty training at 22 months. For us, G's communication skills AND interest in potty training were not strong until 26-28 months.  Examples of him showing an interest: he talked about his cousin who got to wear underwear, asked to use the potty, wanted to sit on it before bath time, asked if mommy and daddy wore diapers, was very upset when we changed him out of underwear and back into diapers when I was trying to see if what I bought would fit him, started referring to his diapers as stinky.

* juice
I planned to fill G up with water and juice on training days. This approach stemmed from wanting to give him as many chances to practice as possible. And, I knew he'd drink juice faster than water since it would be a rare treat. Friends of mine recommended the brand "Honest Kids" for natural juice (no sugar added). Considering I was concerned about all the sugar - I loved that tip! 

Additionally, filling him full of juice for the 3 days of training did not get him hooked on juice.  I left it on the counter for the training days, and moved it into the pantry after the 3 days.  Maybe because it is out of sight, but having lots of it for 3 days did not impact him requesting it daily afterwards.

* snacks
I bought a few special snacks for potty training days, like gummy fruit chews, oreos and popcorn. I used the fruit chews as his celebration and the other snacks as something special for afternoon snack time.  He does occasionally, maybe every other day, ask for a treat (fruit snack) after going potty.

* Carter's underwear
My sister loves their line of underwear. We picked up some packages for dude; they fit great.  I didn't realize how important a snug fit to the leg could be ; )  (I had also purchased some from Wal-mart and the difference is notable).

All in all, we needed eight pairs for day 1. Jensen's book recommends having 20 pairs ready.

* breathe...
I told myself that all day the first day, and some throughout day 2. On day 1, we made trips to the bathroom at least every 15 minutes. In 4 hours, he went 12 times plus a few teases to try and get more fruit snacks. By nap time on day 1 I felt less-stressed about the process. G seemed excited the whole time - so really, the obstacle was getting me ready :)

* Set everything up ahead of time.
I planned to focus exclusively on potty training for 3 days. So, I got everything ready the night before. I had juice options sitting on the counter with a basket of special snacks. I made a little poster for stickers to hang on the bathroom door and removed the rug in the bathroom. I set out a roll of paper towels, antibacterial wipes, carpet cleaning spray, and put a basket full of clean underwear on the bathroom counter.

* a timer
For day 1, I set a timer for every twenty minutes to remind me to praise him for dry undies and/or remind him to tell me when he felt it was "potty time". On day 1 he went almost like clock work every 15-20 minutes. The timer also gave me some freedom to get in a few household tasks without thinking I'd miss a chance to help remind him to go potty. By day 2 I didn't need a timer, but regularly reminded him to try to keep his undies dry and tell mommy when it was time to potty.

* preparing for errands
We purchased a travel/folding potty seat for use in public restrooms, link here. One reason I was delaying potty training was because of the public restroom gross factor. While I think this seat is an awesome idea, dude doesn't seem to care for it and waits to go potty at home. 

* treats
I like the idea of a little reward system built into the process. I'm not sure a young kiddo gets the whole incentives concept... we used more of a treat/celebration approach with G.  He is especially fond of stickers, so I bought a package of stickers for him to put on a "Yay Gavin" poster.  Other good motivators for him was getting to flush the toilet and wash his hands by himself.  Another treat he liked was getting fruit chews after successes (we very rarely have given them to him before).

I got out markers (a special treat here), crayons and play dough to rotate through all day. I found it easiest to remind him about the process if he was sitting in a chair, rather than running around.

We watched his favorite video a few times. To be safe, I sat him on a "special blanket" on top of the carpet. I allowed water and popcorn to be with him on the blanket too, especially since I was encouraging him to drink drink drink!

* big celebration 
(I'm not sure how universally popular this would be) - We set up G's big boy bed in a different room than his nursery.  The plan is to slowly move him into the new room in the weeks following our 3-day approach.  He was mega-excited about getting a big boy room and a big boy bed.  So, the week before potty training we set up the frame, talked lots about how he was growing up, and on day 3 we added the mattress since he was 'getting so big'.  He really loved that.  He has also loved other big boy treats like putting gel in his hair, taking showers, and dressing himself.

Also, when perusing a local toys store (Terra Toys) I found an adorable shaving kit. Any other day I would have walked right past it, but I bought it thinking it would be a fun treat to becoming a "big boy". Gavin likes to emulate David's morning routine, so I thought this could be a fun treat for G after many days of successful training - as a reinforcement of him becoming 'big'!

* preparing to train overnight
$4.95 sheets - my friend told me about a line of $4.95 fitted twin bed sheets at Wal-mart. They come in a whole range of color options. I loved this tip. (Not to mention waterproof mattress protectors that will also come in handy.)

---Thoughts on the 3 Day Approach---
I think Jensen's approach is an achievable goal for training a child to self-initiate the need to go to the bathroom. After completing 3 days, there are still more milestones that need to be reached, before I'd consider G fully "potty trained".  I feel like it's kind of like sleep training - in the sense 3 days of sleeping through the night is an achievement, but I'd be hesitant to assume all training was done.

--- Thoughts on Set-Back Days ---
I highlighted this section because it is something I had not read anytrhing about before training G, and it was perhaps the most challenging/surprising part of the process.

Jensen's book did not address this issue.  For me, after a week, or even 2 weeks of success I assumed G was fully trained.  I'm calling an accident, or a series of accidents in one day a set-back.  We had a set-back at the 2 week mark and again at the 3-week mark.  In the future I will know to expect these, rather than be surprised/frustrated/confused by them.  I didn't know I would need to continue to be diligent and still in training mode, even after weeks of no accidents -- now, I know.

Potty Training Milestones
I made these up - it is a list of milestones I'll look for G to reach to determine how "potty trained" he is/is becoming.
1) Sitting on the toilet and going potty.
b) Sitting on the toilet and going potty without complaining or sitting for a loooooong time.
c) Being able to do 1b many times.
d) Learning to use toilet paper, flush the toilet and wash his hands, independently.
2) Telling parent he needs to go potty, after reminders to "Let mommy know when you need to go potty".  Next, doing this many times in a few days.
3) Telling parent he needs to go potty, without any prompting by parents.  Next, doing this many times.
4) Continuing, for a week or more, to request to go potty without any prompting by parents.
5) Being able to travel in the car/go on short errands without accidents.

We are still working on these... my guess is that they will happen over the next few weeks...
6) Requesting to use the restroom and using the restroom in places other than home when with mommy.
7) Requesting to use the restroom and being comfortable using the restroom in places other than home AND with someone other than mommy.

and then somewhere along the line...
- being able to get onto the big toilet without assistance
- being able to undress and dress self in the bathroom

Ok - that's all I have.  Best wishes in your potty training adventures :) Be sure to let me know of awesome things that have worked out for you too.  This is a process, and tips are helpful!!