I am rather excited that Jersey #4 is potty trained now! She had a sudden boost of independence over the past two weeks, and started letting me know when she needed to potty. I like potty training independence! After she had an entire day of remaining dry and using her potty chair on her own, I started to see the light at the end of the potty train tunnel. I started encouraging her to use the toilet last week. As soon as she was comfortable with the toilet at home, I knew we were set to start going out in public (because she could use toilets in public, instead of preferring her potty chair). We both seem to have gained potty training confidence with our public outings over the weekend. Now, I hardly think twice about it. I've got a spare set of pants and underwear in the diaper bag, in case she has an accident. Otherwise, she is diaper-free all day long! Wahoo! (We still put in her in a diaper at night, as our kids sleep hard and do not wake to use the restroom on their own until around ages 4-6)
Jersey #4 had the most entertaining struggle while she was potty training. After she learned the concept, the process, and how to use her potty chair, she started to question if she really wanted to grow up like this. For 3 days in a row, she would use her potty chair once....we would high-5, praise, cheer, and reward with a few chocolate chips.....and then she would request a diaper. She would specifically tell me she wanted a "baby one," meaning a diaper, not a pink Princess Pull-up, like she had previously been using. She would not use her potty chair again for the rest of the day. She even had a couple moments of joking about using one of her brother's pacifiers. She was exploring life as a baby, before she decided it would be more fun to be a big girl. On the 4th day, she refused to use her potty chair at all. On the 5th day of this struggle, she decided she was a big girl, not to be confused with Jersey #5 who was clearly a baby! It was then that she started to use her potty chair every time, even if she was wearing a diaper or a Pull-up. It was then that I saw a glimpse of her strong will working to my advantage!
Jersey #4 had the most entertaining struggle while she was potty training. After she learned the concept, the process, and how to use her potty chair, she started to question if she really wanted to grow up like this. For 3 days in a row, she would use her potty chair once....we would high-5, praise, cheer, and reward with a few chocolate chips.....and then she would request a diaper. She would specifically tell me she wanted a "baby one," meaning a diaper, not a pink Princess Pull-up, like she had previously been using. She would not use her potty chair again for the rest of the day. She even had a couple moments of joking about using one of her brother's pacifiers. She was exploring life as a baby, before she decided it would be more fun to be a big girl. On the 4th day, she refused to use her potty chair at all. On the 5th day of this struggle, she decided she was a big girl, not to be confused with Jersey #5 who was clearly a baby! It was then that she started to use her potty chair every time, even if she was wearing a diaper or a Pull-up. It was then that I saw a glimpse of her strong will working to my advantage!
Here is our Jersey #4, who has decided to use the potty like a big girl...
She gained this independence an entire month earlier in age than her two older sisters (and a full year earlier than her older brother.) She has been our quickest, easiest, and cleanest potty training child by far!
Apparently, she made potty training look like a lot of fun, because Jersey #5 tried out the potty chair a few times himself... (yes, he is sitting on the potty chair while wearing a diaper)
But, I don't think he is quite ready to start potty training just yet....
Okay, at least Jersey $5 will sit on the thing! We are battling AJU5 to just get her to sit on the potty chair right now. Once we get over that hurdle, I don't think the whole potty training thing will be too terrible. But, if she refuses to sit on the potty, there will never be potty training...
ReplyDeleteWay to go Jersey #4!
Hang in there...as soon as it is HER idea, she will run with it!
ReplyDeleteFYI..I do not recommend this potty chair in the picture. It is real awkward at first, due to its width. I really liked the Fisher Price "Royal Potty" we had for the older 2 girls because they could sit more comfortably (Jersey #3 didn't use a potty chair--he preferred a kid seat on the toilet). We learned the hard way this time that all potty chairs are NOT the same!