Potty Training 101

After being anxious about delivery, the next thing I was dreading as a parent was potty training. We are one week into potty training and with some advice from a friend who has potty trained two  girls (http://maryannhudson.blogspot.com) I think it is going well. Wes and I still don't know if we are doing it right but we are trying! We weren't planning on starting the training now because of the new baby coming, but we knew Leighton was ready when she said "dont like diapers" and shoved them back in the drawer! She pushed us instead of us pushing her. People have told us you have to stay totally positive, never punish, be patient, dont push them or they will want to stop playing your little game! 

This is basically what we have done and we usually have 0-2 accidents a day (including during naptime) which isn't bad... I dont think. Thanks to Leighton who has helped us out on saving money on diapers! 

• implemented ABSOLUTELY NO diapers during the day including nap time or when we leave the house (Go All In!). Leighton only wears a diaper at night due to still waking up with a full diaper in the morning told us she is not ready to hold it for that long 
• reward each pee in the potty with one M&M and each poop in the potty with two M&Ms
• reward each attempt/sitting on potty or "trying"with a goldfish cracker
• offer a lot of water during the day
• celebrate every poop and pee with our "Peed/Pooped in the Potty Dance" ... its pretty funny and involves us all dancing with hands in the thumbs up position
• established a routine to sit on the potty as soon as she wakes up in the morning, after every nap, before bed, before we leave the house, as soon as we arrive home from being out, everytime we park the car, and every 45min - 1hour at home since last potty break (we spend a lot of time in the bathroom!)
• watch for Leighton's signs that she needs to go if she doesnt tell us such as doing a little pee dance and saying her belly is full or that her bottom hurts means she is about to poop
• keep 1 potty in the bathroom at home
• keep 1 potty in the back of the car with wipes, change of clothes, M&Ms, and clorox wipes
• let her pick out big girl panties.... she first chose Thomas the Train and recently added Minnie Mouse to her collection 

Our little girl is growing up on us! Thumbs up! (there are no boo-boo under those band-aids... they are just for style) 

Anywhere ...anytime we have to try! 

Everytime the car stops...

No diapers at friend's houses ... they are supportive and wear their panties too 

 or napping... (she moved into big girl bed/out of crib about 1 month ago and next step is to rid the passy from sleep time... we are trying it tonight for first time... wish us luck!)