We are currently in the midst of potty training boot camp. We had actually started potty training Ben last year, but we didn’t want to push him. We got him his own little potty to use, and some really awesome cartoon themed underwear (which he calls “underpants”, thanks to the Mickey Mouse Club). He wasn’t really fond of the potty, often stating that he wanted diapers. We went a couple days last year with no pants or diapers, but I just ended up getting peed on.

This time around, Dave was around to help out, and we decided to ditch the little potty and move up to the big person toilet. Ben really enjoyed flushing it, so we thought we could use that to our advantage. Once again, we went pantless (well, not us, but Ben). I also bought some Reese’s Pieces (I know it’s wrong to give them food as a reward, but we were desperate), as well as printed out a Dora the Explorer potty chart and stickers. We followed him around the whole day, asking him every now and then if he had to potty. There were many false alarms, where he would say he had to potty, but we just ended up going to the bathroom holding him on his stepstool with no pee to be seen. Finally, we had a successful potty - though it was when my dad was watching him. He was so proud as he came down into the basement as I was working and announced, “I peed in the toilet!”

Over the next couple days he was at about 50% with peeing in the toilet…though he refused to do a #2. (Too much information? Too bad!) Finally, we made a breakthrough yesterday - we had less false alarms and he would actually pee when he announced it. He’s been delighted to get his Reese’s Pieces and put a sticker on his chart. And finally, right before bedtime, he stated to Dave that he had to poop, and agreed to go on the toilet.

You know you’re a mom when you’re ecstatic and totally psyched when your kid poops on a toilet for the first time.

We had a mini celebration where we hugged and jumped around, as Ben said, “That was easy” and agreed to do it again (riiiight!). He got a new car out of his massive car-holding truck that we had put away after Christmas. We’ll give him a new car every time he’s successful, and he’s determined to get all the cars AND the truck.

Just wanted to share!

Tags: Ben //