That being said, I'm still going to continue this post. Why? Because a few of my mommy friends have messaged me ever since I potty trained my sweet, easy going, child, Brody **insert lots and lots of sarcasm into that last phrase** wondering how I did it, and if I had any tips.
I have learned, through my extensive time of parenting for three years, that all kids are different. But maybe, just maybe, my perspective and gained experience will help another first time momma out there that is trying to feel her way through the depths of potty training madness.
Potty Training Mommas out there: I have two words of advice for you.
Just wait.
Before Brody was deemed potty trained, I tried two times before. And when I say I tried, I really really tried. I tried salty snacks, lots of liquids, potty seat, potty chair, cool underwear, candy, different choices of candy, different flavors of candy, bribes, toys, ten minute intervals, stories on the potty, songs on the potty, music on the potty... standing in headstand position doing the potty dance for the little sweetie sitting on the potty, I tried lots and lots of utterly waste of time things, all having to do with the potty. And what did I get? Wet floor, wet couch, wet clothes, wet towels, poopy underwear, poopy hands, poopy poopy wet wet.... you get it.
It was gross. It was awful. And it honestly made me second guess my decision to ever become a parent in the first place.
Each time I attempted to potty train, I was ready to let go of those diapers. I was ready to save some money and I was definitely ready to end having to change huge, messy, toddler poops. I was so ready.
BUT after three days of potty training, on those first two trials, those diapers ended up becoming heaven sent. I would finally give in, stick that diaper back on Brody's little butt, and would literally feel like I could fly around the house and live my life once again. The weight that was lifted from me was simply incredible.
Oh diapers, they really do hold such a great purpose here on this earth.
A couple months before Brody turned three, I was ready to face the potty training trial once again. And actually, Brody had started wanting to be potty trained about a month before that. This time felt definitely different. I didn't question for a second whether he was ready. I knew he was ready.
Brody would do some things that just made me know. For example, many days I'd walk into his room and his floor would have little opened diapers all over it. After closer examination of these diapers, I would find that each would just be a little bit wet. Therefore, I knew that he must just not like the feeling of being wet anymore. So, he would pee, then go to his room, take his diaper off, and put a new one on, all by himself.
Other times, I would hear a. "Mommmaaaaa!!!!" I would enter the room that Brody was in, and see him laying on his back, legs in the air, diaper undone, with the poopiest little butt ready to be wiped. Yeah, gross. And yeah, this little scene made me urgently want potty training to happen. I'd exclaim, "Ah!!!! Brody! Don't move, keep your butt up!" And I'd run around the house, trying to find the closest box of wipes, to hopefully save my carpet's life.
Anyway, back to potty training. I knew he was ready. I know that the experiences that make you know your child is ready will be different than mine. (You probably are hoping this as well.) But my point is, just wait. Just wait until you know, without a doubt, that they are ready. If you are even questioning it a little bit, that means that you don't truly know.
I thought I knew on the first two tries. I would think to myself, spurred by things I had read and heard, "Oh, he can say the word potty now." That does not mean that they are ready. I would think to myself, "Oh, he tells me when he went potty." That does not mean that they are ready. I would think to myself, "Oh, he is two years old now." That does not mean that they are ready. I would think to myself, "Oh, he is kind of dry after his nap." That does not mean that they are ready.
Basically, nothing really means that they are ready until you just wait it out until you know that they are ready. No check list of things you read online is going to tell you if your child is ready. and honestly, if you are searching out those check lists, like I was, then your child is not ready.
The third time that we tried with Brody, when I knew he was ready, was.. dare I say it... easy. It was EASY! We went to storytime at the library on DAY ONE! I'm telling you. I didn't buy a single treat for that boy. He just started using the potty like a POTTY EXPERT. I'm serious guys. It was so easy. And all of those little tricks and schedules and programs are a waste of time, because if you just wait, it will be so easy.
Did he ever have an accident? Well, duh. He still does sometimes. But he gets it, and it was so freaking easy after we waited until he was ready.
Just wait. That's all I really have to say.
Potty Training Exhaustion
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