Potty Training

I'm no expert on anything and potty training five children definitely doesn't give me bragging rights. This lady has some great stories and ideas on how to potty train. I agree with most of what she says. I don't necessarily think it's a good idea to give treats for going potty, but if that's what it takes I'll try it.

Baby #1- I was the one potty trained by the time she was two! I knew to pick her up and take her to the potty every few minutes. After #2 came along she regressed to wetting the bed every night for six months.

Baby #2- potty trained at three, completely with very little problem.

Baby #3 and 4- I have no idea how old or how hard! I don't even remember potty training them.

Baby#5- trained at 27 months in less the three hours. She was ready long before that but we were in the middle of remodeling our house and I could hardly find a potty for the grown ups to use, much less train her.

And then there's baby #6- she's been ready for months! She knows when she is about to go, tells me when she wants her diaper changed, she does all of the "readiness" signals that it's time, but she won't do it. I wrote this post weeks ago when I was wondering how to get Abigail potty trained. I decided that after Christmas I would buckle down a day and do it, but the day didn't seem to come. Abigail hit a phase of temper tantrums and I took some of my own advice. 

I brought in the "village." I told Hannah and Sarah that potty camp was about to start and they were the camp counselors.They took to the job with a lot of enthusiasm. It's a good thing, because it lasted for four days. I'm not kidding, for four days of undivided attention and "potty-talk." We all worked to train this girl. 

Yes, the "experts" say wait until they're three to worry, but it had become a battle of wills with Abigail. She was in control of that issue and it had to be taken over. So, thankfully, while Hannah was singing potty songs and Sarah chasing our bare bottom girl to the potty, something clicked. Abigail woke up on Sunday morning and refused to let me put a diaper on her to go to church. She has done great too, even if we did have to give in and let her have chocolate for rewards. We've made several very long car rides without accidents and are considering how to take away the pacifier now. If I could just convince Hannah and Sarah to never go back to school or their own lives.

This is what potty camp looks like at our house. They were having so much fun that sometimes that I wanted to go.