Two Days In
Posted on December 6, 2009 - Filed Under Kids, Mom Stuff | 2 Comments
So, we are now officially potty training. We took Dorian to town the other day, bought him pull ups (Buzz Lightyear was all we could find and he was disappointed since he wanted Mickey Mouse). He also picked out a potty, which is in the shape of a race car. Not the most practical thing to sit on, but he said he wanted that one and they had no normal chairs.
When we got home, however, he wanted nothing to do with any of it. I was so disappointed. I’ve been really trying to just leave this and let him go at his own speed, but the kid is going to be FOUR in a week! So I got online and looked up “Four year old refuses to potty train” and felt much better because I was far from the only mom who has an older boy using diapers! Then I decided to have a real heart to heart with my son.
I told him that I realize he is comfortable in diapers, but it’s a lot of work for Mama and Papa to change him all day. I reminded him that it’s almost his birthday and suggested that he might be ready to take that step toward being a big boy. He agreed to try the pull ups. He was a little nervous about them, but then Irving came in and showed him how to pull them down by pulling his own pants down a couple times to show Dorian how easy it was. Well, Dorian realized that his pull ups looked a LOT like Papa’s underwear and he was all gung-ho to use them.
I also resorted to food as a reward, at least for these first days. He’s scrawny and can stand to be fattened up, so I got a fairly healthy chocolate cereal and he gets a few pieces if he goes. He promptly began to run to the toilet whenever he had to go and had two “accidents” throughout the course of the afternoon. We praised him up and down for his accomplishment.
This morning, I woke up long enough to groggily get the boys something to eat and put on a movie, then I fell back into bed. About fifteen minutes later, Dorian ran in, naked from the waist down and yelled, “I peed in the potty! Come see!” And he had. All by himself. No reminders or anything. I told him how proud I was of him and he was pretty proud of himself, too.
Today, he’s been doing quite well and has used his new potty many times. He’s gone through three pull ups, which is really not much, and mostly because he was out helping his papa wash the car and didn’t get back here on time. I suggested he use the in-laws’ bathroom, but he told me it was disgusting. 
I’m not going to complain if he wants to stick to the car potty for now, I’m just happy that he’s trying to do it!
Dante is a little jealous about the praise and treats that Dorian is getting, so he’s been trying to go potty, too. He doesn’t really try when he needs to go, though, just when he sees his brother has something special. I don’t mind, though, he’s had three successes just today! I’m dreaming of a day when we have no more diapers to change . . . and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to miss them at all.
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2 Responses to “Two Days In”
Talk to Me, People!
Wow!! Very good!! I believe that kids will and should potty train when they are ready and there will be less trauma about it. Some kids are early, some not so – and I believe the whole process goes faster when they choose the time. I just showed my kids the potty, we talked about it, I gave them underpants, and said there it is when you are ready. Brian chose one day (his choice) when he was 2.5 – he was ready, and one day was all it took. I believe that if I’d tried to force him earlier, it would have been harder and with accidents. Dorian has had tummy issues and it makes sense that he has more worries to overcome. He’s a smart kiddo though
… now, how do I train a kitten to STAY.OUT.OF.MY.COFFEE?!?! (as if he needs caffeine?!)
Kittens and coffee?! LOL! I have no idea. We’ve only ever had outside cats. I would love it if it only took a day to potty train, you were very lucky. Dorian has it down, but he forgets when he gets playing.
Dante is not ready. We let him pretend to go, but he often just waits til we put the diaper back on . . . he is just doing it because Dorian is, but we aren’t pressuring him at all, so if he wants to he can, if not, no biggie.