Next week, as Little Bean begins the Easter break from preschool, I decided that we would start potty training in earnest. In preparation, I decided to lay a little bit of groundwork with Little Bean and told her that the Nappy Fairy would be visiting her over the weekend and would be taking away her daytime nappies to give them to the babies who needed them.
Conversations with a preschooler
She responded as I expected by saying that she didn’t want to do her wees on the potty. I have suggested it a couple of times, but each time, she comes up with an excuse as to why she doesn’t want to do her wees on the potty.
The following conversation took place:
Mummy: All big girls and boys do their wees on the potty or toilet don’t they? Where does Mummy do her wees?
Little Bean: On the toilet.
Mummy: That’s right, and what about Daddy?
Little Bean: On the toilet.
Mummy: That’s right, and where does Bro do his wees?
Little Bean: In the shower!
Mummy: He better not do his wees in the shower!
You’ve got to love kids, haven’t you!!
Baby steps
The following afternoon she asked if she could take her nappy off and “have a runaround and maybe sit on the potty”. Of course, we were quick to allow her and so she ran around the house naked for about an hour before bedtime but no potty action. However, more importantly, no accidents!
Success!!
Today (Friday), when we returned home from Little Bean’s first school trip, she asked again if she could take her nappy off and use the potty, so again, I agreed. Within 10 minutes, she had done her first wee on the potty and was quickly rewarded with much “whooping” from me, followed by hugs, kisses, high fives, and finally, a white chocolate button!
Such a clever girl
Over the course of the next 90 minutes, she did a wee eight times on the potty!! All quite substantial, too, and I have to say that I was shocked that she had that much in her as her nappies are usually quite dry. I had been planning on just taking her to the toilet every 15-30 minutes, but clearly, this isn’t going to be enough.
Accidents will happen
At tea time, I asked her if she wanted to put a nappy back on, and she said she wanted to wear big girl pants instead, so we put some on. She decided that she needed to do a wee on the potty but forgot to pull her pants down. I just said, “Oh dear, never mind,” and brushed over the accident. Then, about 10 minutes later (with a clean pair of big girl pants on), she had an accident all over her chair and the kitchen floor. She seemed quite upset by this, but again I just said: “Don’t worry, it’s just an accident”.
We have been sent some potty training pants to try and a My Carry Potty for when we are out and about, so I will let you know how we get on with those.
Do you have any tips for potty training?
Am I going about this the right way? What potty training tips would you suggest I do next week with regards to offering drinks and how often to take her to the toilet? I’m not planning on straying too far away from home though if I do I think she will have to wear a Nappy because of accidents in the car despite me saying the Nappy Fairy was coming?