Monday, August 04, 2008

Wish Me Luck

Tomorrow I am planning on starting potty-training. Again. We tried several months ago- I want to say just before or after Christmas, maybe? It lasted for 3 days before it was quite apparent that Bella was not ready. She couldn't even make it for the 15 minute durations I set the timer for, and during those 3 days we pretty much had zero success. She still shows no initiative, which is maddening since she is 3 years and 2 months old, but we're going ahead anyway! I don't want to force it, but I am running out of time if I want to do it before the baby comes in just about 7 weeks. She doesn't seem opposed, just...indifferent. With maybe a slight leaning towards diapers. I pretty much have no idea what I'm doing. I talked about it with Hannah a lot the last time I endeavored this, but other than that I'm pretty much just going for it. For now I am not using a little potty (added expense and mess) but am just using a potty seat for the toilet. I have various treats and small toys and trinkets to bribe her with, but I am expecting this to be a battle. I don't think it will be easy, but I do hope that we have some measure of success. She hasn't napped in 4, count them, 4 days- we have unexplained bedtime battles that we've never before encountered, and I'm on my own for 2 weeks. It's a good thing I'm being steadily medicated again. So- I need any helps, tips, and advice anyone has to offer! Help! I'll take anything!

5 comments:

michelle said...

Oh dear, oh dear. I'm thinking of starting that very soon as well. My only hope right now is that the promise of going to preschool will be motivating to Eva. (That is, if I can get her enrolled in one!) GOOD LUCK!

Tasha said...

I got a book called something like "Potty Training in One Day" or something like that. I am sure you could find it at your library or find the general tips on line. You spend the morning having a party for a dolly that you are potty training, then the afternoonwas spent potty training the child. We tried it, it took more effort than the one day, but it was a good start to training.

rmt said...

Ug, potty training. I'm glad that stage is over.
It sounds funny, but we LOVED the children's book "Time to Pee" by Mo Willems (Daniel's and my fav children's author.) It just makes going potty seem really exciting and something to be proud of. If you don't like the word "pee" you could always just insert your own word-she'll never know.
Good luck!

j said...

ok, so i'm fessing up that i occasionally stalk your blog, linking from jill's! i so feel your pain on this. my little boy is FINALLY done with the training (with some #2 exceptions) and he totally resisted until April of this year (seriously- he turned 4 last month). patience. and time. kellen would SCREAM bloody murder on the toilet and you just had to wait it out. i read a lot of books to him just sitting there getting him used to it. peer pressure helped- friends who were potty trained would come play and "demonstrate" their skills. kellen really liked earning stickers for just sitting, too. we worked our way up to earning them for the actual deed.
good luck!!
ps- i really like your blog and your perspectives.

Thomas Family said...

I felt the same way when I started with my little boy. I heard the "potty training in less than a day" was an amazing book as well. But I didn't read it, I just went for it! To be perfectly honest, with Morgan, I just gave him the best treats ever, stuff he would do anything for! And I would have "potty time" every 30 minutes (whether he needed to go or not) and even if the tiniest little tinkle came out, I would make the biggest deal out of it and give him a treat! It totally worked with Morgan. And I eventually as the weeks went on I lessened the treat more and more, and now he doesn't even car if he gets one. It took a lot longer than I though it would to completely train him, but it worked! Hang in there, it'll happen!

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