Potty Training Stuff

I decided to write a post on this again, because I'm starting with a new approach. Ethan is definitely not the potty boot camp kind where you do it in a short amount of time. We're still in Pull-Ups, but that's okay. He'll learn it eventually. I mean, I just started doing "Potty Time" yesterday and he's already come to me twice to tell me that there is poopy in his Pull-Up and we need to put it in the toilet and he already peed once yesterday. That's progress and we're both happy with it. It's important for us both to be relaxed and happy about this or it won't go well for either of us.

I called my pediatrician's office yesterday for some ideas, since Ethan is my first child and I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. They referred me to a doctor who specializes in child development. I left a message for him and he was gracious enough to call me back with some ideas. They seem to be working.

This is our plan so far:

1. Scheduled potty times throughout the day, about once an hour or so, or whenever he wants to go.

2. Putting the poopy in the toilet and flushing it down so he knows where it goes.

3. Using the potty box and getting a treat for trying to go.

4. Positive reinforcement. Positive correction for accidents by saying, "Uh oh, you got poopy and pee pee in your underwear, it goes in the toilet."

5. Doing all potty related stuff, like cleaning him up, etc., in the bathroom.

Anyway, I know a lot of moms out there stress about potty training their kids. These were just some ideas that I thought were good and they're working for us. I get the best of both worlds. I'm teaching Ethan to do something grown up, but I'm not cleaning up human waste every five minutes.

My mantra to myself is, "Don't worry. He'll get it eventually." I know he will, and we're both happier now that I'm comfortable with what I'm doing.