The Bare Bottom Method

WARNING: Bragging to begin in 3, 2, 1...My daughters are potty training ROCK STARS!  A few of you asked me to share the potty training method I used with the girls.  Em is on day 2 and didn't have any accidents today. ** Ok, so I wrote that first part too soon.  Em had an accident, a MAJOR accident.  She POOPED in the playroom!  Of course, reading all things potty training will tell you that pooping is always the hardest part of potty training. Jenna had issues too so I am not worried about this little set back.** 

Ok, back to the method.  It's called the bare bottom method and in three days, your child can be potty trained.  It's simple...no diapers or underpants or tight pants or pull-ups or anything....just your baby's bare bottom.  Also, plan on being home for at least 2-3 days.  You will have accidents the first half of day #1 and you will most likely want to give up...DON'T...it will get better.  The first day at nap, I put the girls in a diaper which I took off as soon as they woke up and put them on the potty.  The first night at bed, I put them in a diaper as well.  The 2nd day you will see less accidents and at nap, I didn't put a diaper on the girls and I moved the potty seat up into their rooms for nap so it was there if they needed it.  At bedtime on day #2 I still put them in a diaper but they are less wet than before we started potty training.  Now, the method I read about says to use bare bottom for at least 3 months but I feel like you don't need to do it for that long.  Plus, I usually just put the girls in nightgowns or dresses and if we want to leave the house, that's not appropriate.  By day #3 you should be accident free and having a wonderful time not changing diapers!  :)  

A few other tips:
*Give treats for going on the potty.  Jenna got M&Ms and Em gets chocolate chips (I didn't have M&Ms)

*Do a dance and sing a song when they go potty. Pee Pee on the Potty! Pee Pee on the Potty! :)  It works!

*Don't punish for accidents...just correct.  You don't want them to be afraid to go potty.

*If you have wall to wall carpeting, hang out in a room without carpeting. :) Makes accidents less stressful. We hung out in the kitchen and we baked cookies!  

*Like Freddy says, RELAX!  If you are stressed, your child will be stressed.  

Good luck and enjoy the wonderful world of no more diapers!!

Potty Training Begins Again

And here we go again...


We are half way through day #1 and I can tell it's going to be a success.  Em is doing fantastic and gets so excited after going on the potty. Of course, it could be the chocolate chips she gets when she goes on the potty.  She has gone on the potty 6 times and has had 2 accidents.  I shouldn't be counting her 2nd accident because she caught herself and finished on the potty. Let's call is 1 1/2 accidents then. :) She is taking a nap right now with a diaper on and when she wakes up she will continue kicking potty training's butt! <fingers crossed>

Potty Training...FAIL

Emily - 1, Mommy - BIG FAT ZERO!
We were doing so well!  Emily went on the potty 4 times yesterday morning and we were rocking and rolling!  Well, I made the mistake of letting the kids go into the playroom and she had 2 accidents in there.  I put a diaper on her for nap and was hoping for a fresh start after nap.  She didn't go on the potty once after nap...she went on the floor 9 times and on me 3 times! 10 times of that was within a matter of 10 minutes.  I totally thought I was being punked!  I decided to take a break and start fresh this am.  When I put a diaper on her, it was FULL within a matter of minutes.  She woke up with a FULL diaper and went on the potty. YAY!! We were off to a great start.  We hunkered down in the kitchen again ready for a full day of going on the potty.  I had to leave to take J & C to school so my uncle came to sit with Em.  She had an accident but ran right to the potty to finish.  Ok, I can handle that.  She went one more time on the potty and I was convinced we were going to get it right today.  Well, egg on my face.  She proceeded to have 3 accidents within minutes of each other and that was it.  I think she still might be a bit young and I don't want to push her to do it.  She will be ready when she is ready and, I know, she will let me know when that is. 

Potty Training time for Emily

The time has come for Emily to be potty trained...at least that is what I am telling myself.  I am SO done with diapers.  Yes, I know R is still in diapers but I only have to change her 2-3 times a day...that I can handle.  :)  Plus, we got the wrong overnight diapers and Em is soaking through her clothes every night (2 times last night) and I am done with all the extra laundry too. I know, that doesn't seem like a reason to potty train an almost 2 year old but I am giving it a shot.  I am using the same method with Emily that I used with Jenna.  It's the bare bottom method and it worked wonders for Jenna.  The first day was HELL but the 2nd day was heaven (she even took a nap without a diaper) and she was fully potty trained in 3 days! (no diapers for nap or bedtime!) :)  Matt's sister-in-law had trained our niece and was my go to mom with potty training.  I remember calling her after only 2 hours of training Jenna, ready to give up.  She assured me it would get better and it did! :)  Ok, so we are less than 2 hours in with Emily and she has gone on the potty 2 times already!!  WOO HOO!! My only concern  is the whole keeping her bare bottom for at least 3 months.  It's cold out there! We will see how it goes. So far, so good..keeping fingers crossed!