Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Princess2 Was Potty Trained in "Less" than a Day!!


Okay, well...sorta...but I am NOT joking! She really is potty trained! Let me just answer, because I know what you're all thinking..."No I'm not "Super Mom"" lol...I wish... Actually, I can take no claim for success other than I know how to follow a recipe. So, how, might you ask, was I able to do this? Sit back and I'll tell ya!

 Here's what happened. A long time ago I was directed to an excellent book called Toilet Training in Less Than a Day by Nathan H. Azrin and Richard M. Foxx. Apparently it's been around since before I was born and a friend's husband's mother (ha ha) used it on him (he's my age). Well, I don't know about you but when I saw it, I  didn't believe it was a bit skeptical. Could this really work? Seriously? In one day? (note the sarcasm) Even with all the questions, I soo wanted to believe the hype so I went out and bought the book. I read it through and figured it's worth a shot. Well, when I read it, I figured out that it was a little outdated so I decided that there were some parts I would choose to ignore or adapt...Well, low and behold, the method really worked! I first used this on Princess8 and Princess5.  Don't get me wrong now...every child is different. So things may not work exactly perfect. There are certain readiness signs and if you rush your little one, then it won't work. I tried to rush Princess8 so when it didn't work, I just went back to normal diapers until I was ready to try again. Then when I did it again when she was ready, she never had an accident after Day 1 until a year or so later when she was sick. When I tried with my Princess5...she was not as easy peasy (but she never is..it's in her personality). She had a quite few accidents afterwards and especially when her baby sister was born. BUT for the most part it worked pretty well.
SO, over this past weekend...actually Sunday afternoon I decide to begin the process. If you want to try it out yourself, then you'll need a few supplies. What you'll need is a potty chair, a doll that pees (got this from Toys R Us), the book, a bunch of treats (sweet and salty), and plenty of juices or drinks. Basically, you are using bribery. Actually, they are rewards. You begin by training the doll and showing the child how the doll pees in the potty. You have several "pants inspections" praising for dry pants and chastising (no punishment) for wet ones. Show the doll how to pull their underwear down, sit on the potty, pee, pull its pants up and wash their hands. Meanwhile, you are actually teaching the child at the same time...sneaky sneaky... Then you move on...checking pants every 5 minutes at first, gradually increasing. You also have them sit on the potty every 15 minutes for 10 minutes at a time decreasing as they progress. There are accident "fire drills" for when accidents occur as well. It is pretty well laid out in the book. I don't want to give all the details because I didn't create this method. But pretty much you have a Potty Training Boot camp weekend when using this method...however I must say...I never had to buy pull-ups this go-round. We went from diapers straight to panties for Princess2. And for the other two, I bought one pack each and never went through the whole package for either if that tells you anything.
So the gist of it is, the child will be potty trained in less than a day. Yes. But that doesn't mean that accidents won't occur, because the full learning process may take longer for some. Typically, they've learned the fundamentals on Day 1 but they just need more practice with bladder control. I still put a diaper on her at sleeping times. The first night she woke up completely dry! I thought I had another little prodigy on my hands!...ha ha...but the next day at nap time the diaper was wet and the 3rd day she woke up wet. BUT nap time Day3 she stayed dry. SO, what does this mean? It is just a case by case thing. Like I mentioned previously...every child is different. Have patience. Princess2 had two wet accidents and two poopy accidents, but she's poopied on the potty 4 times in 3 days which is the most challenging aspect of the process...I should know, I teach 2 year olds for a living :)...


Currently we are on Day3 and she remained dry ALL day and asked to go potty numerous times and actually went. She even poopied today on the potty too! (btw I must mention, we did the potty chair just for the first day. The second day we put the seat on the big toilet so she can at least get used to the height because they need to learn to use the bigger potties for the times when you are out of the house.If they don't it's a whole other learning process, and honestly..what's the point of training at home if they won't go and you have to put pull-ups on when you're out. Plus, as far as I know, most daycares don't like potty chairs for sanitary reasons. I've worked at two and neither had them.

Addendum**Now it is Day4 and she has not had an accident for two days and she stops what she's doing to ask to go potty...even in our basement playroom! (Oh and now she is using the regular toilet seat without crying...baby steps...but these are quick baby steps!) Seriously one proud Momma here!

So, my advice to all you moms out there. GET THIS BOOK! You won't regret it (I hope). If anything else it gives you a starting point so you don't feel like you're going at this blind. My Dad always said "You girls didn't come with instruction manuals!" Well, I beg to differ...here's one instruction manual that we DO have! I believe it's less than 10 bucks. A deal if you think of the diapers and pull-ups you'll not have to buy. Good Luck!!

4 comments:

  1. Wow congrats! One day potty training means some serious kuddos for mom. Great job mom and princess 2!

    http://www.practicallyperfectprincess.com/

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  2. Thanks, Jen! It's definitely tough work, but worth it...I don't like prolonging things if I can help it :) I love your book idea! The graphics are adorable! Thanks for stopping by :)

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  3. That's amazing, what a brilliant idea! Hope it's available in the UK ;) Thanks for linking up with oldies but goodies

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  4. Thanks, Suzanne! You should be able to get it there. It's on Amazon..so if they ship there hopefully you can get it :) Thanks for stopping by!

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