The Work Has (Mostly) Stopped: Potty Training Part 3
I’ve written twice about starting the potty-training process with my toddler, who will be turning 3 next month.
We pulled out the potty chair at around Christmas time because he was always telling us when he went in his diaper. And he did well for the first few weeks as far as telling us he had to go or trying to go by sitting on the potty at certain times.
Then he had a turnaround, where he didn’t want to even try anymore. That’s when I asked for some help. You guys gave me some great ideas about different things to try, some of which I did try, like the stickers for a reward and using underwear instead of diapers or pull-ups.
My goal was to be done changing diapers by the time he turned 3. Ha! We have only one month remaining, and things aren’t looking good.
Anyway, none of the suggestions or my own ideas were working, so we continued just putting him on the potty at intervals, which he fought so hard against that I eventually just gave up, mostly. Now we just talk about the potty and I ask if he has to go. Sometimes he says yes and goes, but most of the time, he yells no, and I have stopped pushing it. He even loves this book called “Caillou: Potty Time,” and often will want to go potty after he reads it. So I know he’s getting close.
Several parents who have been through this process have told me, “one day, she just got it” or “suddenly, he just decided he didn’t want to go in his diaper anymore.” So, I’ve decided to go the relaxed route instead. No more pushing so hard to get him trained right away.
Now my goal is to be done changing diapers by the time he’s 4, which will be just in time for preschool next August. There’s nothing like barely making the deadline.
As always, let me know if you have any advice, or if you can relate, in the comments section.
My other blog posts on potty training:
The Work Continues: Potty Training Part 2
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