the potty training post :updated on bottom

I don't know when it ok to actually declare a child "potty trained."

I assume when the accidents stop. But on day 1 of no accidents? week 1 of no accidents.

eh. I have no clue.

All I know is that in the middle of June, Daughter was down to only wearing a diaper when we left the house and one at night. She'd been having dry naps for a few months already.

So, after one week of dry nighttime diapers, I decided we were finished with diapers for Daughter. We went to wal-mart so she could pick out more panties. At this point she only had three pair of "Manny panties" (handy manny boys' underwear). I was pretty certain she'd pick the buzz lightyear boys briefs or the sesame street girls panties. but she shocked me by picking a large pack of pink, purple, white and orange panties of various designs. (this led Husband and I to have a very long discussion about gender identifying)

Anyway, the first night she was confused about why she wasn't wearing a diaper to bed even though I'd been telling her most of the day, she wasn't going to wear diapers anymore.

It's been close to two months now and she's only had one accident. At the very beginning on the way to the grocery store when she'd just told me five minutes before that she didn't have any teetee in her body. (one of her favorite urine related phrases)

She still has trouble putting shorts back on and she always wants to take off dresses when it's time to use the toilet. But she's doing really great.

At 18 months, we first introduced her to the little potty and she got a hershey kiss every time she used it. We didn't make a big deal about it. Just started talking about using the toilet instead of diapers and started letting her go around without a diaper sometimes. It went well. Then at about 2 she told me she needed to use the potty at Lowe's. It was the first time she ever used a regular sized toilet and after that, Daughter did not want to use her little baby bjorn potty anymore.

I really worried about how to break her of the hershey kiss treat. But that's gone well too. We just stopped offering it to her and only giving her one if she asks. And that's down to less than once a day at this point.

Yes, leaving the house is a bigger hassle. There's the "go use the potty before you get dressed" argument. There's the "I have to go use the potty," but really she just wants to go to the bathroom and wash her hands situation. There's the "I need help pulling up my pan-ties" time waster.

But it's really nice to have her in underwear.

So what about all our cloth?

At the time we had a dozen prefolds, 9 pockets with snaps and 26 pockets with velcro. too many for one little boy. seemed wasteful to me to have that many.

Cottonbabies.com (where we buy most of our cloth diapers) has a program called "Growing up in Cloth" where you can trade in your old diapers toward store credit for new diapers.

Now, most of my diapers are in such shape that I would be embarrassed to give them to a cloth diapering friend. It's true. After a year and a half and two kids, elastic needs repair, velcro needs replacing. They look shabby and very well worn. I couldn't in good faith give those to a friend.

But I can mail then to cotton babies and ask for money. I mailed in 13 bumGenius3.0 and they offered me $65. My mom offered to buy me 6 bumGenius4.0 for Son. So, subtract $65 from the price of 6 new ... my mom saves some money and Son gets some better fitting diapers and I don't have as many diapers taking up room. (I'm getting all snaps this time so hopefully when Son is potty trained I CAN pass those on to friends.) win, win, win, win.

I'm excited to order the new ones.

now before I go. A picture of Daughter walking to the bathroom. She's not about to go ... I just asked her to walk down the hall so I could take her picture.

UPDATE: February 8, 2013.

My original post was written years ago and still it's one of my most views posts.  I assume it's because parents are looking for advice, tricks, tips, SANITY when potty training their kids. I am no expert.  I am just a mom.  My Daughter was super easy and super fast to potty train. My Son ... not at all.  He would poop in the floor for awhile.  He'd pee on anything.  It was much more a test of my patience.  And really, years later that's my advice.  Patience.  Your kid is still a baby. (the definition of baby in our house is someone who doesn't wear underwear and has to get their butt wiped by mom or dad.)  Give encouragement, praise and bribes, if necessary.  but, just be patient. Chances are they won't be wearing a diaper to kindergarten.

If it's not Daughter, then it's Son (or Me)

How THIS happened:

Tuesday: I just posted yesterday's garden update. Complete with Daughter's squash.

We spent today's garden check pointing out what Daughter calls "baby tomatoes." She counted them. She kept telling me the babies were green and "no touch"

great. perfect. She listens.

Then I spot a RED one. And I lean in to examine it ... ya know, check for bugs/bird bites. I barely swipe it with the back of my hand and ACK. It falls off!

The first 'picked' Juliet. Much much better looking than last year's first Arkansas Traveler.

Then as I'm quickly slipping my picked tomato in my my pocket (so Daughter doesn't see it and get some crazy idea about picking her own tomato) Son comes toddling up to me with three.THREE.THREE green Juliets in his fat little hands.

Son's tomato fist (and blueberry juice stomach)

Here he is putting the tomatoes on the porch.

he enjoyed it. and is not allowed back in the yard for 2 days ... nah. He's allowed in.

play-doh is more fun when you don't eat it

I'm so glad Daughter doesn't try to eat (much) play-doh anymore.

It makes playing with it a lot more fun. (I like not having to say, 'get that out of your mouth' and 'we do not eat play-doh. we play with it,' OVER and OVER again)

black, white, yellow, pink, green = fun times with Daughter.

not everyone loves the beach

I love the beach.

Husband loves the beach.

Daughter loves the beach.

Son thinks the beach is trying to kill him.

We were in Mobile Friday and at about 6:00pm we decided we should go to the beach (We didn't actually leave Mobile until almost 7). (In the likely event that we decided to do this, I packed the kids' suits and towels) It only takes about 45 minutes to an hour (depending on ridiculous traffic) to get from Mobile to Gulf Shores. We were on our way.

As soon as we told Daughter, she starts going on and on about sand castles and building them "up, up, up, up and up." To make this precious child's dream of sand sky scrapers come true, we needed to stop by Wal-Mart. (and we figured at least one of us should have a swimsuit on too. Husband won, and got a swimsuit)

We got on the beach at 8.

She had the time of her life. running, dancing, building sand castles, letting the waves touch her toes and then running away from them. squealing and laughing.

Son, not so much.

sifting sand.

the surf. I only got in to about my knees, but it was fabulous.

Son got in to his knees too and he thought the water was actually fire trying to kill him. Even little Manny couldn't help him. Bless his heart.

Son is not shrieking here, but he's certainly not happy.

Daughter built sand castles.

and built.

Husband enjoyed the water.

These are Son's footprints. He walked around a little on his own, but mostly he just wanted to be held and protected from the beach that was trying to kill him.

Daughter enlisted Husband's help in the sand castle building.

Son finally started believing us when we kept telling him that he was ok and the beach was fun. Or at least he stopped believing that the beach was trying to kill him.

Daughter danced. There was a band playing in the bar next to the public beach and Daughter loved it.

More dancing. This is when we made it back up to the pier.

We lasted a little longer than an hour. (Husband and I wanted to just sleep on the beach). Daughter was horribly upset that she couldn't stay and dance and run in the sand. Luckily, she believed us when we kept reassuring her that we'd come back to the beach 'later.' Son was so happy/relieved to be in a clean diaper and onesie, he was asleep before we passed Lambert's.

In Son's defense: it was dark and his bedtime. (sure, he slept for 6 hours in the car, but his 'normal' bedtime is 8) I think his next beach trip will be better.

our best family photo e.v.e.r.

seriously, this is the 5th family photo we've successfully taken since becoming a family of 4 over a year ago. (And I have to admit, I try about once a week)

We even accidentally match. Husband dressed himself and Daughter without knowing what I was wearing and Son is wearing a different outfit than he started the day in because of an unfortunate nutella accident (if you ask him he'll tell you there was nothing unfortunate about it).

We stopped last minute to visit a friend Husband hasn't seen in months and I haven't seen since her baby shower a month or so ago. And she snapped the picture as we were leaving. hurray.

A Benefit of Buying in Bulk ...

... Daughter always has a toy in the kitchen when I'm trying to distract her from "helping."

Not My Child

my child did not accompany me to wal-mart and sam's club a mere 2 minutes after finishing that bowl of peaches, dressed just like that AND covered in peach juice.

And she certainly hasn't refused to take that necklace off for a record 3 days. even wearing it in the shower.

nope. not my girl.

The Adventures of Daughter

Seriously, of everyone alive on the planet, I think Daughter has the most fun. Last night, after I finished folding and putting away three baskets of laundry, she claimed the baskets as her own. her own bed, that is.

She got Husband's pillow, three of her stuffed animals, and her Manny blanket and settled in for the night. we really thought she was going to sleep in there. When it actually came time for bed though, she opted for her own bed.


It may seem like she wears this diaper a lot because this is the second time she's been wearing it in a post, but she only wears it every few days or so. maybe this diaper just makes her more creative and inventive in the things she does. also notice the filthy Manny shirt and dirty yogurt face.

the race: Husband's first 5k

YaY! I was so proud of Husband. He finished in record time (about 30 seconds faster than his practice time) AND he never walked. He did great. The guy that won finished right at 18 minutes. Yes. someone ran over 3 miles in 18 minutes. that just blows my mind. I told Husband he was probably a marathoner that decided to take it easy for the day and enter a 5k. before the race, ready to go!

what daughter did during the race. Handy Manny came along.

What son did during the race. What I did during the race (sweat!)

The prize table. all proceeds went to the downtown YMCA.

Husband finishing. He looks better than the hunched over guy in yellow, but not as good as that woman in front of him!


He did great. I was really proud of all his hard work.
The banner at the Y.


Son and Husband in his race shirt.

(almost) wordless Wednesday: here, play with Manny

Daughter gave Handy Manny to Son to play with.