Potty Training update & tips:

Today we awoke and got ready to go to the babysitters -- we leave (or attempt to leave) at 7:15AM on the days that I work -- I'm finding out that as my daughter gets older, I need to allow more morning time.

This morning we did our normal routine, but she wanted to wear her underwear!! WHAT? You want to wear underwear to the babysitters? I thought this was a crazy idea -- I mean, we've really only focused on potty training for 2 days now. But, I thought -- what the heck -- we'll give it a whirl. So, I made her sit on the potty before we left (hence, needing more time in the morning now). She picked out which Diego undies she wanted.

{sidenote: yes -- she picked out Diego undies, and yes, they are boys underwear, but that's okay with me -- I'm one of those moms that doesn't push the princess stuff nor put her hair in all those sparkly bows -- I'm a tom-boy mom and proud of it -- so, if she wants underwear with a little flap in the front, that's fine with me and we're not telling her that they are boys underwear. I had to stop my husband from telling her they were for boys -- he ACTUALLY said, "aren't those boys underwear?" I shot him the glare and he got the picture!}

Back to the story -- so we head to the babysitters in underwear and I warn the babysitter that we have underwear on and there are extra clothes in her bag. I go to work, all is good. I return to the sitter's house -- MY DAUGTER HAS THE SAME CLOTHES ON THAT I DROPPED HER OFF IN!!!!

She went potty 7 times at the sitter's and had NO accidents!! :) Now, that's what I call CRAZY...

I've had several people ask me what are my 'tricks' for the success (knock on wood) with our training process. Why are people asking me? I mean, I really don't know what I'm doing in this whole parenting department, but here is goes:

The We Are Reilly tips for potty training:

1. we waited until the toddler daughter was good and ready -- she's 34 months old, so by some people's standard in the potty training world, she's too old! I've been asking her for ~6 months now, "do you want to go potty", when I can tell she's going in her diaper. I've invited her to go potty with me or watch me go potty for, well, about 2 years now -- I'm a very open potty-person when it comes to my own house with no guests.

2. the above 'tip' was rarely successful in our house -- she said "no" 100% of the time to my question of "do you want to go potty". I have been letting her run around without a diaper, what we like to call here 'nakey-butts', for probably the same ~6 month time frame. When she was without a diaper, we had NO accidents -- she was very good at running to the potty.

3. rewards worked well for our daughter -- yes, I gave her chocolate to go potty -- I know a 'no-no' in the aforementioned potty training world. You shouldn't give your child food as a reward, it will teach them to eat, eat, and over eat -- blah, blah, blah. It worked for us, so there!

4. recently, which has aided to much of our success, if not 100% of the reason for having success -- WE STAYED HOME! I work part-time outside of the house, so on my days off of work we run to the grocery store, the post office, to the park district, playdates, mom's group, etc. So, for the first Monday and Wednesday (my days off of work) in ~6 months, we stayed put and focused on potty training. I cleared my agenda for the day and focused 100% of my attention on my daughter and her undies, potty chair and potty chart. We moved the potty chair into the living room (another 'no-no' in the potty training world), made a tent, read books and went to business.

5. I also gave her lots of milk, water and juice -- a real treat! I am not a juice-mom, we just don't have it at our house. I have mixed emotions on juice and I'd rather not have it around, but for this special event in our lives, I broke out the sugar free pink lemonade -- and she LOVES it!

6. we have a potty chart with a known reward once the chart is filled. She gets one sticker for each pee-pee or poopie in the potty. Once the chart is filled, she gets a Wiggles book (bought them on e-bay for $1). It's been a huge incentive for her!

So, there you have it -- my 'tips'. Now, I really don't think I've done anything different or have any sort of magic wand to help, but one thing I am also a firm believer in -- DON'T READ THE BOOKS -- there are so many books out there written by 'experts' in one area of parenting or another -- but, those experts are not the parent of your child. Your child is unique and you just really need to clear your agenda and focus a little time on your child and follow your heart and your gut and your stomach! :) It also helps to have a good support of experienced moms in your life -- this is where I get most of my education -- not those silly books.