Nothing motivates a parent to potty train like the imminent arrival of another baby. So, with baby #2 expected, we figured we might as well get a move on!
Things are different the second time around. Before A was born, my hubby and I busied ourselves researching and purchasing the long list of “must-have” baby supplies provided by all of the different “must-read books” for new parents. This time, most of our preparation centres on preparing our oldest for the arrival of his baby brother. When little guy arrives, A will be two years and two months old.
The two main things we wanted to accomplish before our family gains a member were to move A out of his crib and into a big boy bed (check) and potty train. The former we tackled in December and actually went remarkably smoothly. The latter haunts my dreams.
Like most moms, I really don’t want to have two children in diapers at the same time. So, with me seven months pregnant and A one week shy of his second birthday, we are giving this potty training thing a shot! If we succeed, awesome; if not, we will probably wait other six months or so until (hopefully) we hit our stride with the new baby.
I start by Googling “potty training.” 11,900 results – perfect. I talk to friends – only slightly fewer opinions and tips than Google provided. After sifting through mountains of info on a dozen different methods, I settle on version of the “3-day potty training plan” recommended to me by a friend because it claims to work best with kids my sons age and, let’s be honest, because it’s supposed to take three days! Short term pain for long term gain, right? I sure hope so!
So, I begin to prepare for our three-day adventure. First, I read the 3-day manual from front to back. Easy enough and clear a three day stretch on the calendar. I pick up a few “potty books” and start inviting A to watch hubby and I do our business (parenting is not for the proud!) The little guy’s new fascination with all things toilet-related encourages me.
I feel pretty optimistic about this whole process as I head out to the store to pick up the essentials – a children’s potty seat for each floor of the house, a mound of raisins and stickers to use as a reward for successes, 20 pairs of “big boy underwear,” carpet cleaning supplies and all of the groceries we will need while holed up inside the house for three days Yep, totally housebound, connected at the hip to a pant-less almost-two-year-old, for 72 hours.
But, it’s only three days, right? Surely, we can handle anything for three days…
Stay tuned for an update on our progress…