Potty Training Success !!! Yippee !

Well, most children are physically ready to potty train by the time they are 2 and 1/2 years old. With Shawna, she showed interest on and off. Knowing she physically is healthy and turning 3 in about 3 weeks, we decided now was the time. We got her some fancy undies, and use candy and stickers for rewards to encourage her to sit on the potty. The hardest part was waiting for her to realize that it really is not hard. She kept telling us it was too hard, and that she liked being a baby. We all told her how proud of her we were. We rewarded sitting on the potty with stickers, chocolate milk, watching movies and candy which worked really really well. The first day was hard. Lots of clothing changes, lots of accidents, but she did make #1 and 2 in the toilet !! Yeah !! Day 2 was better, but still lots of accidents. After making it in the potty a few times, she started saying she was a big girl rather proudly. Tuesday, she figured it out. She came out and jumping up and down and squealing with delight said "I went peepee in the potty. I went peepee in the potty !!" From that moment forward, Shawna said that it wasn't hard and starting telling us that she had to go. Every 10 minutes, but only had 2 accidents the whole day. Wednesday only 1. Today Fri, no accidents the whole day at all. She only wears a pullup at night, and I am excited to say is evening starting to keep that dry for longer periods. I am surprised, thrilled and proud that she figured it out so quickly. We really knew that she was making huge progress, when she could hold it in the car until we got to a restroom, when she could go on a potty other than at home, and when she can hold it in the store all the way to the restroom. Now, she earns a sticker and candy when she remembers to ask. She doesn't always need one, and more and more just goes of to play. So while the diet was not the greatest, it was short lived and really helped accomplish the goal of dry underwear. She is so good at telling us.

At first, I was concerned that I perhaps should have started earlier. I am so so very glad though that we waited. Waiting allowed Shawna to be physically ready, emotionally ready, and to not feel pressured either. The main problem was helping her see how special being a big girl was, and that big girls got special priviledges. She is really enjoying that now.

From, the proudest mommy ever, Jennifer