Day 1-Potty Training

Carpet Cleaner – check

Paper Towels –check

Big Boy toilet seat (that after two stores we could only find in pink)- check

15 pairs of big boy underwear- check

Day 1 of potty training – check

IT’S POTTY TRAINING TIME

Potty Training- Day 1

Today we ventured into something you never knew could be so fun….Potty Training. Gunnar is 21 months old. We have thought about potty training him for a long time (Kyle has been thinking about it since birth), but never taken the plunge.  We read a lot on the 3 day potty training method, because, really who can argue with three days. With all our reading, people agree and disagree on a lot. So, Kyle and I took the ideas of all, and are doing things our way…what works for us, and hoping it works for Gunnar.

This morning when Gunnar got up, he got his big boy underwear on. We decided to try with underwear, rather than naked as some suggest.  By 10 o’clock he had gone pee in 4 pairs of underwear and gone on the potty ZERO times. So, we decided it was too hard to catch him with underwear on, and took them off. So now we have a naked wild man running through the house. However, it is much easier to catch him peeing . He is able to stop when we tell him, and then we rush him to the bathroom where he can finish.

At lunch time our stats were:

2 Successes with no prompting from mom or dad

5 Semi-Successes (started to pee on floor, and then finished in toilet)

9 accidents

Dad said: “This sucks!  But I’m excited not to have to change his diapers.”

Mom said: “I was ready to throw in the towel at 9am. This is taking more effort than I am sure I am willing to put forth.  I’m trying to stay positive and keep this a positive experience for Gunnar. Let’s just say, I really hope the 3-days is no lie.”

After lunch Gunnar stayed dry for his nap, but didn’t make it to the potty after the nap. Could have been that I was asleep on the couch and didn’t know he was up…oops.

By 3pm I was done. Gunnar had gone pee on the floor 3 times in less than 30 minutes. Does he seriously need to pee this much?

Kyle sensed my frustration, I was ready to get the diapers out (I just don’t think he is ready)  and he took over.  Gunnar did some more peeing on the floor for him. Each time he starts to pee we rush him to the bathroom, but he won’t pee in the toilet. He likes to wait until he gets two steps away from the toilet and pee there.

Before dinner we resorted to putting his hand in warm water to ensure we could make it through dinner without an accident (this is Kyle’s idea and he is very proud of it). Gunnar did awesome and went in the toilet. 30 minutes later we did the same thing, again, success.

Then right before bath he had one last accident before bed. Now he is asleep. Hoping tomorrow is a better day and praying I have the strength to persevere.

Day 1 Stats:

6 Successes with no prompting from mom or dad

6 Semi-Successes (started to pee on floor, and then finished in toilet)

15 accidents

Who pees 27 times a day??? Honestly  I am lucky if I find the time to go 3 times a day!
Notice no #2. Hmm...he usually goes at least a couple times a day.

Closing thoughts on the day:

Dad says: “ Never give up, never surrender. Eventually he WILL wipe his own butt.”

Beth says: “Why are we doing this? Are we really going through with this nonsense? Maybe he isn’t ready? Ahhh….I am definitely going to need a vacation when this is over.”

*Note: I post this with caution. I hope if I post our progress I am less likely to quit. Also in the end you can either laugh at us for trying with him so young and failing, or celebrate our success with us.