The Truth about Potty Training

I think there are some parents in the world who just have it figured out, at least about potty training. I was not one of those people. I knew that I had NO idea what I was doing. A couple of months ago I tried to teach my son how to use the potty. We tried everything and nothing was working. I started asking everyone what worked for them. I found a lot of advice on using positive encouragement, and no pressure. But nothing was working. We tried sticker charts, m&ms, setting a timer, bribery, begging, and unfortunately punishment. Can I just say that Tanner filled up a whole sticker chart and he still didn't tell me when he needed to use the potty. So we stopped potty training for a couple of months. I know I needed a break.

But I knew it was time to try again. I was embarrassed that he was still wearing diapers at 3. I know that it is generally acceptable. But I always had the belief that kids could be taught a lot younger than that. I just didn't know how to teach him.

So last Tuesday it was official, Tanner was a big boy and we started training again. Halfway into the day we were right where we left off. Frustrated, Annoyed, Depressed, and Discouraged. I know I just expected it to happen in one day. Like magic. Like all those people who blog about it just taking their kids hours. Out of desperation I turned to the internet. Not for how to potty train but to see if I could pay someone to come in and do it. At that moment I was willing to give anything to just have it over with. I know some might be thinking "Its not that bad" well I thought it was.

I couldn't find anyone to pay to actually do it, but I found several "Potty train you kid in 3 days" programs. I figured I was desperate. As far as I could tell all the programs looked pretty much the same. Except one said that it trained the most stubborn of children, I decided that one was for us. I purchased the program off of 3 Day Potty Training by Lora Jensen. I am kind of embarrassed to admit that I bought it and that I needed help.

When I bought the program I downloaded an ebook. I read all 40 pages and felt a new determination that we could do it. The program is not rocket science. After reading it I thought ,"That's it, I should have thought of that, it is so simple."

So do you want to know if it really only took 3 days? It pretty much did. By day 4 he would pee a few drops and then tell us he had to go. A week after training begun Tanner has had NO accidents. He is able to hold it while we are out. I do have a potty in the back of my van for when public toilets are too scary for him. He has only used it once. We were having a harder time at night, so Justin started taking him to the bathroom when he wakes up at 5:30am. Tanner goes to the bathroom and goes right back down to sleep. Tanner is actually sleeping in later because he doesn't have to wake up to go to the bathroom.

The program suggest the earliest to start potty training is at 22 months. I am anxious for Lily to turn 22 months to try it out on her.

We are really happy with the results. If you are feeling desperate or confused like I was just go buy a program. I am not getting paid to tell you all this (I wish I was). I just am passing this along to help any desperate mothers like I was.