It Can Be Done.

Goodbye guilt, goodbye comments, goodbye pressure; Evie is potty trained!  And it only took a few days to get her to be completely dry all day in panties.

I am so proud of Evie for showing me "potty train in a weekend" can be done.  

Everyone has an opinion on potty training and trust me, I heard it enough times "well ____ was potty trained by 18 months",  "you really should put her on the potty every night before bath", blah, blah, blah.  I would vent to Jason about the potty training comments then brush them off.  

Here's what worked for Evie and I am thrilled it was so darn easy. 

1.  Evie showed slight interest around 2, but I didn't take her bait.  She only sat on the potty a handful of times and nothing happened.  I was frustrated already because I had to take off her diaper, pull down her pants, sit there and encourage pee-pees, then put back on a diaper to do it all again 5 minutes later.  Oh yeah, I had another child too.  No. Thank. You.  

2.  I did not follow other's advice with putting her on the potty before bath.  I tried it a few times.  Again, she was off and on and it made the nightly routine more frustrating for all parties involved.  No. Thank. You

3.  I waited until she turned three.  Plain and simple.  Evie can completely dress and undress herself, she knows when she has to pee or poop, she has a full vocabulary, and I knew she would be mortified to pee her pants.

4.  I only used pull-ups for naps and bed.  

5.  I didn't really talk about using the potty until about 4 days before I wanted to start.  I decided to start at G and Poppop's house since I would have extra hands to help with Braylen and more rears to take turns sitting on the potty to encourage her.

6.  I used M & Ms as her reward.

7.  I have various different potty set ups in the bathrooms- some are little seats on the toilet, little potties on the floor, and the best invention ever- a regular toilet seat with a pull down little seat built into it.  I wanted Evie to experience different potties and only pee and poop in a bathroom, not in my living room.

I want to toot Evie's horn a little for her.  She started potty training last Sunday (Father's Day) and here's what she's accomplished in a little over 1 week:

1.  Only one big accident, which happened right by the potty

2.  Stopped wearing a pull-up for nap after 5 days and has been dry since.

3.  Went on the potty while at school  (Huge step since she held it the first day and doesn't seem very keen on using the potty without Mommy)

4.  Went on her little potty by mommy's car after our visit to the farm. (another huge thing since we are heading to Ocean City this weekend)

5.  Zero accidents with poop and has been a regular every other day pooper.  

6.  After 2 days of me forcing her on the potty, Evie is in charge.  She tells me she has to go, walks to the bathroom, pulls over her stool, turns on the light & fan (kind of cracks me up that she turns on the fan), takes off her panties and shorts (I've kept her in elastic waist pants to make this step easier.  No buttons yet), does her thing, then calls for me to check on her, wipes, flush, everything back on, stool over to the sink, wash hands, dry hands, light off, and door shut.  I don't know why anyone would want to potty train at 18 months when your child can't do any of this stuff alone.  This is mommy bliss!

I am so, so proud of Evie for her amazingly easy transition to the potty!  Three cheers for Evie!