Daniel and the Potty, The True Hollywood Story

A couple weeks ago, kind of unexpectedly, Jeff and I decided to start potty training Daniel. Actually, I wasn't really ready for it because Allison was very difficult to potty train and I was dreading going through that process again (and Daniel isn't even 2 1/2 yet). However, we had a weekend where we didn't have to be anywhere and so we decided to give it a try. I really didn't want to use pull-ups because I think that's what made it so hard for Allison to be trained so I decided to go straight to underwear.

Allison was quite excited to teach her little brother how to use a big potty too. She sat with him while he was on the potty, read him books, sang to him and even made him a special potty training box filled with handmade coloring book and toys. The difficult part was that a couple months ago we replaced all the carpet in our house. I know, you're probably saying "What were you thinking? You know you still have a kid to potty train!" but I was so sick of looking at our dirty old carpet I just had to have it replaced. I tried to keep Daniel on the tile floor area but that wasn't too easy since most of the toys were in the carpeted areas of our house. So Allison came up with the idea of putting the changing pad on the floor so Daniel could sit on it.

The first day went as expected - several accidents (all on tile thank goodness!) but he also managed to go on the potty a couple times. The second day was a little better - still a few accidents but also some hits. The third day is when things started to turn sour. It probably didn't help that I wasn't able to stay home that day. After two days straight at home, Daniel and I were going batty, so I took Daniel to his My Gym class, in underwear (and shirt and shorts too) all the while a nervous wreck! Amazingly, he actually went on the potty while we were there and did not have an accident. However, once we came home, even after sitting on the potty every 15 min or so, it was just miss after miss. We were both starting to get frustrated but I kept with it. The next day was more of the same. The funny thing was that he never really had a problem going poop on the potty. Sometimes it took 5-10 trips before it came out, but he always managed to get it on the potty. It was the pee that he couldn't figure out. By the end of the week, after MANY accidents and underwear changes, I was beyond tired and frustrated and was completely stressed out. Every time we went somewhere I couldn't relax because I was worried he would have an accident. On Saturday, he had his first accident out of the house. We were dining at Subway and in the middle of eating he peed all over the seat. This is the point I gave up. With Jeff in school all weekend, I just couldn't handle it anymore. The minute I made that decision I felt 100% better. I could relax again. I figured we would try again in a month or so which I was perfectly fine with, so I put him back in diapers.

A couple days later, Daniel asked to use the potty again. I decided that since he was asking, I'd just go with it. I really didn't think anything would come of it. I put him on the potty and right away he peed on it. I couldn't believe it but I figured it was probably just a fluke. A couple hours later he asked to go again, and wouldn't you know it - he peed again. I started to think that maybe it wasn't a fluke. The rest of the day he told me every time he had to go and his diaper was completely dry. The next day (yesterday) he did the same thing - told me each time he had to go and his diaper was once again completely dry. Here's the kicker - last night I also put him in a diaper but when he woke up this morning he was dry once again! I put him on the potty and he went right away. Given he went a full day with no accidents I decided he could wear underwear today (i know, a little daring). He even went to a birthday party wearing underwear (and shirt and shorts too) and I wasn't nervous at all. I had enough confidence that he had actually figured it all out and he did great! I know it's only been a couple days but I think Daniel is completely potty trained. I'm still shocked by this turn of events since Allison was the complete opposite and boys are supposed to be more difficult than girls. To that I say Boo-ya. It seems Daniel made the decision on his own that he was ready - he wanted to be a big boy! I'll probably still put him in diapers at nighttime for a few more nights just to make sure he's got that part down. But if it's true that I don't have to buy any more diapers, or even pull-ups, I will be dancing in the streets. So long Pampers, thank you for your products but I won't be missing you!!!