Unplanned...Potty Training

As we know I don't really stress about Eli's development, like he should be saying this many words at this age, but we were at an impasse with potty training. A year ago I noticed that if he didn't wear a diaper (or anything, actually) he would use his potty on his own and I'd save money/laundry. The practice couldn't hurt either. Every few months I would pull out some underwear and they were either immediately wet or on the floor. His toddler potty books weren't changing his mind. Who cares if Caillou wears undies.

Before the baby sounds good too. It sure would reduce the bulk of my mom bag if I didn't have to bring one or two extra outfits for each kid. Besides that, the seasons have been changing and I've been worried that my little hippie might always be cold at home, so I checked out some how-to potty training books the last time we were at the library for story time. Obviously I was tantalized by "How to Potty Train In One Day" and began reading that first. I was worried we'd been at the same stage so long Eli would never take to change and assumed I should read several books before trying, I'd rather be an expert than someone frantically trouble-shooting. He must've read it before me, because all the steps just happened.

In the middle of this week I was only 1/3 done with the first book when he ran up and let me know that he needs a green train (Percy, whom he calls "green pee pees"), he has never done this. We just kind of combined everything I'd read with what I remember my sister doing and things just fell into place. A few days earlier the dollar section at Target had Sesame Street incentive/progress charts. He even used his favorite stuffed animal as a potty buddy (one of the suggestions in the book) that would also go and wash hands and get a sticker. It was a little daunting for him, but he finally understood: successful potty trips following all the steps give you a sticker, once you fill up the chart, you can have Percy. The first couple of days involved some impatient whining and moaning about "green pee pees" while he laid on the floor, but it's gotten better.

In these 4 days all his awake hours have been in undies and there has only been one accident while I browsed Ikea water-proof matress protectors (for the bunk bed he's getting today!!). I have been worried since I feel like I always have to ask him to go while we're gone from home rather than waiting for him to tell me.

Last night was the most exciting step forward. During a baby-sitting swap he was in a playland with his friend when he ran to Brian saying he needed to go and "hurry." Other parents smiled and got out of the way when they saw Brian and Eli running to the back of the restaurant. It was even the last sticker. One more hour until the toy store opens...