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| Lounging on her throne last winter |
I'm here today, after nearly an entire year of casual encounters with the potty, to let everyone know that Charlotte is potty trained! And she did it, in true Charlotte form, all by herself.
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| Buying big girl undies a few months ago |
About 2 weeks before her birthday, we went to visit my Aunt Carol & I told her how Charlotte had lost all interest in the potty, but was telling me to change her diaper. Aunt Carol gave her a pep talk & showed her how to do the Potty Dance, which she'd used with her grand kids. I went back to the store, let C pick out a new potty, since she was refusing the original, and she picked out some new Hello Kitty undies. Within the next couple of days, she went potty on her new ladybug potty! I clapped and congratulated her & was so enthusiastic. I said, "We'll have to call Aunt Carol to tell her!" to which Charlotte replied, "I can do the Potty Dance!" and she started dancing. I sent the video to Aunt Carol and she called right back to tell Charlotte how proud she was!
The next day, she held up her Hello Kitty panties and promised to keep them dry. She literally said, "I will keep you dry. I will not get you wet." She had 2 minor accidents that day, but has only had one accident since then (the evening of her birthday party - just couldn't pry herself away from all of her new toys) - and it's been a month!
For the first couple of weeks, I put her in a diaper anytime we left the house & any time she was sleeping. After the first time I forgot to change her before a nap & she woke up dry, I decided to go with it. She has napped in undies and stayed dry every day since then. Same thing happened the first time I forgot to put her in a diaper before leaving to go shopping. We were in the middle of getting groceries at Meijer when she suddenly asked, "Do they have bathrooms here, Mommy?" and I bee-lined to the bathroom! Had to struggle getting her situated while Natalie was in the carrier on my chest, but we managed! And I kept being brave and Charlotte kept dry - asking to use the bathroom in all sorts of places - Walmart, Target, a local toy store, her grandparents' houses! She doesn't mind the large public potties, but is always sure to tell me "I don't like the hand dryer. Can we use towels?" when washing her hands.
She does still sleep in a diaper overnight, as she has woken up wet a few times this month. Also, we have plenty of diapers for one/day! One of the bummers of her being potty trained is that she no longer plays quietly in her room after nap or first thing in the morning. She's been waking up earlier than usual (6:06 this morning, folks) and immediately turning on her light (using a book or wall hanger to flip on the switch - clever little thing) & knocking at her door to be let out to go to the bathroom. Oh well!
Our next step is to teach her how to use a step stool to get up on her own & how to manage her pants on her own, too. It always seems like she has to go (and needs my help) at inopportune times (while cooking, nursing, or showering...). It will be nice when she can go independently. But for now, I'm just happy she's not in diapers and it wasn't stressful for any of us! :o)
The next day, she held up her Hello Kitty panties and promised to keep them dry. She literally said, "I will keep you dry. I will not get you wet." She had 2 minor accidents that day, but has only had one accident since then (the evening of her birthday party - just couldn't pry herself away from all of her new toys) - and it's been a month!
For the first couple of weeks, I put her in a diaper anytime we left the house & any time she was sleeping. After the first time I forgot to change her before a nap & she woke up dry, I decided to go with it. She has napped in undies and stayed dry every day since then. Same thing happened the first time I forgot to put her in a diaper before leaving to go shopping. We were in the middle of getting groceries at Meijer when she suddenly asked, "Do they have bathrooms here, Mommy?" and I bee-lined to the bathroom! Had to struggle getting her situated while Natalie was in the carrier on my chest, but we managed! And I kept being brave and Charlotte kept dry - asking to use the bathroom in all sorts of places - Walmart, Target, a local toy store, her grandparents' houses! She doesn't mind the large public potties, but is always sure to tell me "I don't like the hand dryer. Can we use towels?" when washing her hands.
She does still sleep in a diaper overnight, as she has woken up wet a few times this month. Also, we have plenty of diapers for one/day! One of the bummers of her being potty trained is that she no longer plays quietly in her room after nap or first thing in the morning. She's been waking up earlier than usual (6:06 this morning, folks) and immediately turning on her light (using a book or wall hanger to flip on the switch - clever little thing) & knocking at her door to be let out to go to the bathroom. Oh well!
Our next step is to teach her how to use a step stool to get up on her own & how to manage her pants on her own, too. It always seems like she has to go (and needs my help) at inopportune times (while cooking, nursing, or showering...). It will be nice when she can go independently. But for now, I'm just happy she's not in diapers and it wasn't stressful for any of us! :o)
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