Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Not the "P" Word!!!

Yes people. You know what I'm talking about. Potty Training!

Mateo has been showing all the "readiness signs" for a while now, but I've been too scared/lazy to do anything about it. But since he's having "transition issues", which is a nice way of saying he's being a pain in the butt, I am now frustrated enough to give it a try. So I sent Dave to the store to pick up the essential potty training kit. Namely: pull-ups, candy, and entertainment (for sitting on the potty). He did a pretty good job. He came back with skittles, potty putty (which is a disturbing blob of goo inside a plastic toilet seat. Mateo loves it of course), and princess pull-ups. That's right, princess pull-ups. Apparently, that's all that Walmart had in stock. But it's okay. Mateo is secure in his manhood.

And we officially began potty training 101 yesterday. The first step: getting him to sit on the potty for more than 5 seconds at a time. This is where the potty putty came in handy. That was as far as we got on the first day, although he did pee in the potty twice. Not bad for a first time! I'm calling it beginners luck, just because I don't want to get my hopes up that this will be at all easy. Nothing is ever easy with Mateo. But I'm optimistic. He is obsessed with potty. He talks about it all the time. That's a boy thing, right? He thinks farts are funny. And he hates getting his diaper changed. That's why I'm hopeful potty training will go well for him.

Well, I'll update as I go along. I'm sure this will be quite an adventure. If you have any tips, please let me know. Thanks!

4 comments:

Rachel said...

Good luck! I'm terrified of potty training, as Elizabeth acts like I'm trying to sit her atop a black hole every time I put her on her little potty. Its going to be a long road.

JonesEthiopia said...

I don't envy you at all. I'm SO not looking forward to that with R. At least it seems like you've gotten off to a good start.

And, yeah, Ethiopia again for us. Can't wait to really get started.

janiece said...

My hint--wait until summer and then let him go naked. Yep--that's what I said. Easier to clean up afterwards and seriously--Julia was completely trained in less then a week. She was in a sundress and nothing else. Didn't like the feeling of pee on her legs. Rauan--once we got the giradia cleared up (a nightmare in itself)--3 days and he was trained. Didn't like that wet feeling either. Chewie was already pottie trained. Stock up on paper towels too.
Don't worry too much. It will eventually come to him--as it has for us all. Those pull-ups do get expensive though. Rauan still isn't potty trained at night. I'm not too worried--boys take longer and he it totally dry during the day.

Gwyneth Paltrow said...

Potty Training book saved my Sanity!!
________________________________________
Men’s Health Magazine (Sept. issue) recommends Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro by Teri Crane. My husband picked us up a copy after reading the article. IT REALLY WORKS!!

Everyone is talking about throwing a "potty party" to potty train a child. I was so desperate; I was willing to do anything. Her book outlines 10 themed parties. What kid doesn't love to play and pretend? All my mommy friends have successfully potty trained their kids with her book too.

Honestly, when I first learned of this book, I thought NO WAY! Maybe this would work on a little girl, but NOT a BOSSY, 2-1/2 year old BOY. NO WAY! Guess what? It REALLY WORKED!!! Teri Crane SAVED MY SANITY!!! Her book was easy to read, funny and extremely helpful. I can't thank Teri enough. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to EVERY parent. It will save you much grief and frustration. Potty training shouldn't be difficult, we as parents make it difficult because we don't know what to do. Teri teaches you. Buy the book, it's the best money you will ever spend

Most amazingly, I had some questions, so I called the author, and she CALLED ME BACK!!