Journey to being diaper free

Two weeks ago we bid an elated adieu to diapers during the day. The girls have been potty trained at home for well over six months. We still employed pull ups for school, running errands and other things outside of the house. This was partly because all of our attempts at going out in underwear were failures but also because they just weren't ready in my opinion. There are certain things with my kids that I know I have to push them to do. There are others that I just don't feel are that big a hurry. Why can't they tell me when THEY are ready?

With potty training that is the model we chose and it worked for us. Potty training was stress free for the most part. We didn't start until they were very ready, we never pushed and it was never a big source of stress for the girls. A couple weeks back the girls and I discussed going to school in underwear and they were gung ho. So it was settled.

We talked about it for a few days to be fully prepped and on Monday the girls went to school in underwear. I am happy to say that since that day neither of the girls has worn a diaper or pull up (except for at bedtime or nap) since. The best part is we have only had three accidents. Not too shabby!

I know that a lot of people like to do the cold turkey, drop the diaper methods that last only a few days. Because my kiddos are very resistant to change I didn't feel like that was going to be best for us. I think I was right.

Bye-bye diapers!

More on potty training

We continue to make small strides with potty training. The girls are now completely potty trained at home AS LONG AS they have no bottoms on. We have been working very hard on wearing panties but something about having something on their bottoms makes their brain think 'diaper'. Therefore we have had several accidents in panties. They are still wearing diapers at naps and overnight but we are noticing that we have many dry diapers at naps. I am completely okay with them wearing overnights for a good long while. Makes my life easier than changing sheets so we aren't pushing that issue. I really would love to be making more progress with no diapers when we are out of the house. Because we are on the go a lot I would like to get them used to no diapers. The problem is that with two of them someone inevitably has an accident in whatever store we go to. So for now they wear pull ups when we go out. They are starting to ask to go to the potty in public but I would say that is about 25% of the time.

All in all I am blown away by how easily they trained at home. It was a lightbulb moment for both of them and it was done. The rest of it will be much slower progress but I am willing to be patient. I didn't have to force the issue to train them at home so I don't want to do that for the rest of the process. When they're ready, they're ready.

Potty Training 101

Things with potty training are going very well. Accidents are at a minimum. They are even getting through some naps with dry diapers. We are still using diapers during sleep and pull ups while we are out. I am about ready to start training them while we are out. This is the first step towards being trained enough for school to go without diapers. Because it is a disabled class they do not have to be trained.

Potty training was such a weird experience for me. It's like one day they weren't ready and the next they were. I didn't do anything different. There was not huge incentive (other than chocolate). They were just ready. I guess I just lucked out. I was afraid that my low pressure style was going to lead to kindergartners in diapers but I guess not. ;D

Now if we can only tackle the pacie and milk at bed time...

She's gonna hate me for this someday. :D

Tales from the potty

All I have to say today is potty training sucks! We've got the nice shiny potties. We've got the treats and incentives and chocolate. We have the cute panties and training pants. What we don't have are kids who are ready to go on the potty yet.

Pting Update

So we are on day 3 of potty training and our progress has been minimal if any. Abby is wearing panties at home and Gracie refuses to progress past a pull up. Today Abby tried to poop on the potty for the first time. It was a messy and unsuccessful attempt but at least it WAS an attempt. There have been many accidents. I am looking at those as an excuse to replace my couch in a few months. :D

For now we'll keep plugging along in hopes that we have some lightbulb moments in the near future.

PTing

To start the dreaded, feared, loathed, avoided "P word". Potty training. Two little words that mean so much change. I know I should have a more positive attitude about it but frankly I don't. My kids want nothing to do with potties or panties or even the treats that come along with it. I decided a couple weeks ago that it couldn't hurt to try. What's the worst that happens? Some wet floors and panties and a little frustration.

So we have talked and talked about training. About panties. About potties. About getting chocolate when you go. About getting a big treat if you do a whole week of training and trying. We were ready. Monday was our "D Day". We woke up and I brought in the panties. Now these were not your ordinary panties. These were expensive, adorable, organic (yes, I know kids don't care about that), comfy, cozy panties. I took Abby out of her bed, got her dressed and put on her big girl panties. She was fine. I went to get Grace out of bed and she had a complete and utter meltdown. She screamed "I don't want to go potty" and "I don't want panties". She got herself so worked up she was choking and gagging. Ok, not the best start.

I decided I would let Abby do her first day and put Gracie in a diaper and really play it up for Abby. Abby started off fine. No accidents. She did about three drops of piddle (sorry if it's too cutesy, I hate when the kids say pee) in her potty. We made a fuss and gave her chocolate. Grace ignored the whole exchange. We had to go to the store so we went to Target and the girls looked through the toys to big a big treat they could come back and get if they did PTing all week. I put Abby in a pull up when we went out because she still doesn't know when her body has to pee. For her it is the general 3-year-old learning PLUS she has VERY poor body awareness. She only went in her pull up once. Then she went in her little potty when we got home. Gracie still ignored the whole issue.

In the afternoon there were several accidents (after having sat on the potty for a while). I was frustrated but we persisted with panties. By the end of the day I had myself convinced that we might need to put the potties away for another week or so and do some more talking.

That's where I was until Abby woke up this morning and insisted on having panties on. Gracie, of course, refused as she is stubborn as a mule. Abby came downstairs and immediately went in her potty.

So for now we are coasting. Panties at home for Abby. Pull Ups when we are out. Diapers at nap and bed. Gracie is still not budging and I am not in a place when I want to really force the issue and "make it an issue". Must be the psychologist in me but I don't want to make it a stumbling block.

This is going to be an interesting ride...