Miss Independent

Wednesday, August 26,2009

Melissa has become miss independent. I haven't posted about potty training in awhile so for those who don't care to read about potty training well this is good news. Melissa has had some moments where she didn't want to go potty and would not tell me. I have had days that I thought what was I thinking I wish I had kept her in diapers! I guess over the last 4 months with me on my knees asking God please help Melissa understand and for me to get through potty training. Last week Melissa surprised me and told me "no mommy I can do it" and shut the bathroom door. I was talking to her telling her "pull your panties down and get on the potty and go pee pee". As I'm saying this I'm thinking big mess to clean up. I hear the sound of pee going in the potty and I started screaming "Good Job Melissa" She did it on her own. It has been a week and yes she has had some accidents in the bathroom, but at least she is trying to do this on her own so I can't get upset. What a difference it makes in 4 months. I can't wait to see how she is doing when she is 2 1/2 in December.
Melissa is also doing well at nap time. She is keeping her bed dry during nap time. She is still having problems with nighttime, but I have gone to waterproof panties I found and it is helping us get some sleep. Melissa will wake up when her panties are wet and still go potty at night. I gave up on getting up three times at night. We both need our sleep. I know with age the nighttime potty training will get better.

It's been a month

Friday, May 22, 2009

It has been a month since we started potty training. I have to say I didn't think I was going to make it passed the first 3 days, but every day gets better and better. She is getting so good at telling when she has to go potty. We took our first trip last week out of town and she did great. I didn't know what to expect flying on a the plan, but she did great. She is having night time training, but I know it's getting better because she is crying out at night and that's her way of saying "hey I need to potty". She has at least one pee pee accident at night. That's better than three.
Yes, Melissa still has some accidents during the day, but I know that is normal for a 23 month old. It's not going to be 100 % everyday.

Potty Training update

Saturday, May 9, 2009
I just thought I would share that Melissa has been accident free during the day for 2 weeks. She is even doing so well going to the bathroom in public places. I can't tell you how proud I am of her.
Nighttime potty training isn't going that well. Last weekend she went two nights with out an accident, but then that stopped. She did have one dry night this past week and then this morning she woke up dry. I think this is going to take a little longer. I'm really tired getting up two or three times at night checking on her and taking her to the potty. I feel like I did when she was a newborn not sleep all night. Melissa is doing great going back to sleep.

Traci

Q&A on potty training

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Here are the the questions I got.

Like I said on my first post about potty training my friend told me about the 3 day potting training. I believe it helps to stick to one program. You also have to have Love, Consistency, Patience, Dedication, Positive Reinforcement and Focus. Here is the link to the 3 day potty training http://www.3daypottytraining.com

Question #1
Does she still sleep in a crib? That's got to be a pain changing sheets if she does.
Yes, Melissa is still in her crib. We don't have any reason to move Melissa in to a big bed yet. She still sleeps well in her bed and loves it. It was a pain to change, but it has all been worth it.

Question #2
I've been thinking of training Lil' Chris to sleep in his toddler bed first before I start potty training him. What do you think?
Well this is your personal choice. Is Lil' Chris climbing out of bed? Do you need him out of the crib? Are you seeing any signs of Lil' Chris ready for potty training? I really don't know how to answer this one. Just know that both are going to take time! I will need help when we do move Melissa in to a big bed.

Question #3
Do you use a training potty or the or the big potty?
I used the little seat on the big potty. I saw how Melissa was interested in the big potty that I thought she would do better on it. I also didn't want to have to retrain her to sit on the big potty. The little potty that goes on the big potty has handles and it has her favorite on it ELMO!

Question #4
What kind of potty seat do you have in the car?
I just bought a cheap potty chair from Target. I let Melissa know that it's in the car and if she needs to go potty not to potty in the carseat. This is also in the 3 day potty training program. The potty chair came in handy yesterday at the Great Strides Walk.

Question #5
How many pairs of underwear did you buy?
I had on hand at least 20 pairs. I'm so glad I bought that many because the first three days we went through a lot.

I hope those who are welling to give this a try have a positive experience. Please let me know if you do end up using the 3 day potty training program.

Traci

It clicked!!!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

I'm having computer problems so I'm using Paul's laptop to write this post.
On Tuesday it clicked, Melissa was holding it and telling my mom and I she had to go potty. She had one small accident that day. On Wednesday she did good until we went out to eat with family. She had a pee pee accident in the car seat. I wasn't up set, but did tell her we don't pee pee in the car seat. After changing her and getting cleaned up we went out to eat. This was our first time going out to eat since we started potty training. Melissa did great, she told me she had to go potty. Yes had to go and went in the restaurant restroom. I was so proud of her. Also on Wednesday afternoon Melissa woke up from her nap with a dry bed. She had had a dry bed the last three afternoons. Melissa will tell us "No pee pee in bed"! She is so proud off herself. On Thursday Melissa didn't have one accident the whole day. She stayed in the same pair of panties all day. Same thing on Friday and today accident free!
The best news of all is that Melissa didn't wet her bed at all last night. My mom got her up around 11:30pm and she was dry, but she still put her on the potty just in case. Melissa didn't need to pee pee so back to bed. Around 3:00am I went in to check on her and her bed was still dry. I got her up to potty and she went. She told me "No pee pee in bed"! I told her I was proud of her and back to bed she went. I had to get her up early today for her Great Strides walk and her bed was still dry. She went all night with out peeing in her bed! I know it was only one night, but I'm so proud of her.

Today at the Great Strides Walk I didn't know how it would go with us walking 3 miles, but Melissa did great. She held it until we finished the walk. I took her to the SUV to the car potty and she went. That was her first time to pee in the car potty. Melissa is learning to control her bladder.

Since my computer isn't working, I will try my best to do the Q&A tomorrow! I just wanted to share with you all that it took a week for her to get the potty training down.

Update on Potty Training

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

For those who care to know how potty training is going, I’m sorry I haven’t’ posted since Saturday. Things have been crazy around here not just with potty training.

I was able to e-mail the lady who wrote 3 day potty training, this is part of her package when you buy her e-book. She has been helping me come up with a new reward program for Melissa when she goes pee pee and poop in the potty. I have to say that Melissa is doing better since my last post on Saturday. I told you Melissa was constipated, well not any more and she is telling us when she needs to go poop. She has mastered that before the peeing. On Monday she still wasn’t getting the concept of going pee pee before it’s too late. After the advice from the lady, I started a new reward program on Monday. I won’t go in to details because this is part of the e-book and I’m not suppose to be sharing too much. Fast forward to yesterday (Tuesday) and things are way different. Melissa is telling us when she needs to potty. It just clicked yesterday. I even took Melissa to the park and she played for an hour. I kept telling we don’t pee pee at the park, if you need to go pee pee tell me and we will go to the big girl potty. She waited until we got home to go pee pee.

The night time isn’t going as well, but I also started an award program for that and I have to say last night was the first night that I didn’t have to change sheets. My mom went in around 11:00 to see if she needed to pee and she was dry, so my mom put her on the potty but she didn’t go. Around 12:00 Melissa started crying out so I thought maybe she has to go or is wet. I got her up and she was dry. I also put her on the potty, but she didn’t need to go. Around 4:00 I went back in because I thought she had to be wet by this point and again she was dry. Took her to the potty and she went like a big girl. She is even going back to sleep with out a problem. When she woke up this morning her bed was wet, but that is big improvement.

Yes, it’s been a week since we started this and I still think the program is good. This lady isn’t a doctor, but she is a mom of five and has helped so many moms and dads out. I also have to remember that every child is different and Melissa is 22 months old. If I can have her completely potty training in two weeks, I feel it’s better than 2 months. I will be answering questions for those who have asked by the end of the week.

4th night of nighttime potty training and 5th day of daytime potty training

Saturday, April 25, 2009

The 4th night of potty training went a little better. I woke Melissa up around 10:00pm about 2 hours after she had gone to sleep. I took her to the potty and she went pee pee. The hard part is that she didn’t want to go back to sleep. She cried for almost and hour until she finally fell asleep. I felt so bad for her that I didn’t go in earlier that morning because I wanted her to get some sleep. Well when I went to get her she was really wet. I guess I need to make sure she goes at least twice during the night.

The 5th day went good, but I wasn’t around most of the day. Paul and I had a class to attend so it was up to my mom to make sure she went potty in the girl potty. Melissa is constipated so I have been giving her prune juice. I heard that constipation is a problem when potty training. My mom didn’t catch her in time so she pooped in her panties. Melissa had only one pee accident today at home. So I felt that was progress. The only thing that worries me is that she stills won’t tell me when she needs to go, it’s always “Oh No” that means she has started but will finish in the potty. When I say accident that means all over the floor. Most of the time her panties are a little wet because she didn’t tell me before she starts.

We took her to the park tonight after dinner; I wanted to see how she would do. Unfortunately most parks don’t have bathrooms so I was hopping she would not go pee or poop until we got back home. We had been there for almost 30 minutes when she started to pee. I picked her up and told her to hold it. I didn’t want her peeing in front of all the parents and kids. I thought that maybe she could hold it until we got home. It’s part of the learning that when you don’t have a bathroom you have to hold it. She did good and held it until we got home about 3 minutes from our apartment. I thought that was a good sign. One thing I need to do is get a potty seat for the car. Yes, the 3 day potty training suggest this. Also other friends have done this and it had helped.

For those who are thinking what happened to the 3-day potty training! Paul asked the same question. I feel Melissa has come a long way in the daytime, but not night. I have been e-mailing the Author of the 3-day potty training for advice. She does agree Melissa has come a long ways but I have some things to work on. I won’t get in to that at this time.

3rd night of nighttime potty training and 4th day of daytime potty training

Friday, April 24, 2009

The 3rd night of potty training was very interesting. I went in about a 1 ½ after Melissa went to sleep and woke up her to go potty. Well she didn’t need to go so I put her back to bed. Around 1:00am she woke up crying and I went in and she had gone pee pee in her bed and also had gone poop. I was shocked, but after I thought about it Melissa usually had at least two poopy diapers a day. Thursday she only had one. I hope she isn’t afraid to poop during the day. So after getting her all cleaned up she went back to bed. Around 4:30am she started crying out again and this time she had caught herself and we made it to the potty just in time. She did have a little accident in the bed, but it wasn’t that bad. I don’t know if she is getting the hang of it or not.

The 4th day of potty training went well. The morning was accident free. As she was eating breakfast Melissa told me “Mommy potty”, so down from the highchair and off to the potty. She went pee pee in the potty with out getting her panties wet. Today was our first day to get out of the apartment and go some place. Melissa and I went to the airport to pick up my mom who is staying with us for a week. I was hoping Melissa would go pee pee before we headed out. I took her to the potty and told her to try and go pee pee and she did. Off to the airport we went. I did put a towel down in her car seat just in case she had an accident. The trip took about an hour total. Melissa did great! We got home and it was time for lunch, since my mom is her I have to make sure she follows our pattern and makes sure Melissa continues the potty training the way I started.
After lunch it was time for her Melissa’s afternoon nap and again she went to the potty before going down for her nap. When she woke up from her nap she said told me “mommy potty”. Are you seeing the pattern here? Melissa is getting it! I’m still giving her the same amount of liquids that we started with on Tuesday. We had company come over this afternoon so that was challenging keeping an eye on her and visit with company, but she didn’t have any accidents while they where here. Melissa did go poop in the potty. After our company left Melissa and my mom headed out to the patio to play. I can hear my mom saying “oh lets hurry”, but it was too late Melissa had gone pee pee. It was a big accident. I think she got so busy playing outside that she just could not hold it. That was her first accident for the day.
I left to run some errands later that afternoon and my mom said she went pee pee twice while I was gone. Then after dinners he had a small accident, but still went pee pee in the potty. Then right before bed she went again. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

Let’s see what tonight brings with the nighttime potty training.

2nd night of potty training and the 3rd full day of potty training

Thursday, April 23, 2009

The second night of potty training was a little better, but she still had two accidents. I really think this is going to more challenging then the daytime because I can be with Melissa all day and at night will I to busy sleeping. Melissa went potty before bedtime so I thought that was good. Around 2:00am she was up crying out. Sure enough she had wet the bed and was peeing when I walked in. I scooped her out of bed and ran to the bathroom, which is not far at all. She went pee pee in the potty. I was proud of her. She still woke up this morning with a wet bed again! I did get her up an hour earlier but it was to late. It’s just going to take time with the nighttime. I just don’t want it to become a habit.
My mom is coming in and staying a week with us so maybe she can help me at night.

The third day of potty training went well! After waking up and getting our day started Melissa didn’t have but one accident, but it was very small amount in her panties, we made it to the bathroom in time. That was her only time to pee in the morning. I was giving her the same amount of liquid I had been giving her the last two days. It makes me wonder can she really hold it! So lunchtime came around and we ate outside on the patio. We needed some fresh air. It’s killing me not to be outside playing at the park or just running errands in the beautiful weather. Well Melissa had her first poop accident. If I would had been right by her side she would not have had it. She was heading to the bathroom, but just could not hold it. It might have been good that she had the poop accident because she saw the mess and I had to explain to her that we don’t poop in our panties. So I guess time will tell with that as well.

Time for nap and I put Melissa on the potty because it had been awhile before going in the morning. She was a pro she went pee pee in the potty! Melissa woke up from her nap with a dry bed. I was so proud of her. The afternoon and evening was busy running to the potty. Yes, she has caught on that she is going pee pee and just can’t seem to hold it. She did have small accidents in her panties about 7 but it was nothing like the first day with puddles of pee every where. Every time she was on the potty she would pee. I know that the days to come will even get better so I really feel Melissa is about 70% day time potty trained.

I will continue to blog about this for the rest of the weekend and then give my personal thoughts and share with you more about the 3-day potty training. I know most of my readers are mom with small kids so I hope the other readers will hang in there. It won’t always be about potty training!

First night with potty training and Second full day of potty training

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Melissa did not do to well with the nighttime potty training, but I didn’t expect it to go well the first night. After she had been down for about an hour I went and had her go pee pee, but she had already gone in the bed. I was supposed to go in an hour before she normally wakes up, but I over slept. I guess I will be setting the alarm tonight.

The day started out with about 3 accidents I was thinking oh here we go again, but she was getting it. She was having small accidents, but by the time we got to the potty she really needed to go. Melissa was catching on. She did pee in her bed at naptime. I’m hoping as she gets the potty training down that she won’t have any more accidents during naptime. After her nap she stayed dry for about 2 hours before going potty. I guess three accidents are better than the 12 from yesterday. Melissa did go pee pee in the potty 7 times today and the last two times she told me Mommy go pee pee and sure enough she had to go. She didn’t even get her panties wet. Wow was I shocked how she had already caught on. She also went poop in the potty again today. Catching her go poop is easier for me than going pee pee. Like I said last night I know her signs when she needs to poop.
I know not to get my hopes up to high, but the 3-day potty training did say that by the end of the second night you would see some headway. I look forward to seeing what tomorrow brings. I will update with the nighttime and what goes on tomorrow.

First Day of Potty Training

Tuesday, April 21, 2009



Today was our first day of potty training. I said a long prayer to God that he would give me patience and not get stressed out. The morning went well for the first day. Melissa woke up and I put her last diaper on her. After breakfast she had a dirty diaper and off to change the last diaper. I told her she was becoming a big girl and it's time to put on big girl panties. I let Melissa throw the left over diapers away and say I'm a big girl! She didn't seem to have any problems.



Once she was in her panties I made sure I stayed with her every move. One thing on this program it says to give lots of fluid so I was trying to pump it in her. Melissa isn't a drinker so I try not to force it on her. It was about an hour after putting on the panties that she had her first accident. I turned my back for a second and she was saying oh no mommy. I think could see and hear her going pee pee. I scooped her up and off the the potty we went. Knowing she probably had already finished I still made sure I put on the potty. I told her it was OK that she got her panties wet, but to make sure she told me next time she had to go pee pee or poop.



Lunch time came and went and I knew I had a chance to catch her before she had to poop. I think her going poop in the potty is going to be easier to catch because she goes to her spot. I caught her and off to the potty we went. I stood outside the bathroom to give her privacy and I could her her going poop. I was so happy. She told me she was all done. I went in and praised her . She was clapping. I told her what a big girl she was.

When Melissa woke up from her nap the bed was wet. The rest of the afternoon was a busy one. I bet she had in total of 12 accidents. She is doing good and letting me know that something is going on, but by the time we get to the potty she doesn't need to go. She had one time when she did pee pee in the potty and again I praised her.

I'll update you tomorrow on how the night time potty training goes.

Traci

Saying good bye to diapers

Monday, April 20, 2009

I wasn't sure if I was going to blog about this or not. I guess I didn't want to hear all the negative comments about potty training. As I talk to other moms about potty training I was finding that you have to come up with what is best for your child. Potty Training can almost be one of those conversations that you don't want to bring up.

A very dear friend of mine was telling me about her problems with potty training her first daughter and how hard it was. Once she got potty training down it was getting close to potty training her second daughter. She didn't want a repeat of what happen with the first. She found out from some of her friends about 3 Day Potty Training

Some of you are wondering is Melissa even old enough to be potty trained? Well that's the million dollar question. I think she is and so does the lady who wrote 3 Day Potty Training. How do I know Melissa is ready, well for one she is showing signs. Over the last month Melissa has started hiding when she is having a BM. She needs her privacy. If you read up on potty training almost all books, or what ever you find tell you that is one of the signs.
Melissa turned 22 months last Friday. My goal was to have her trained by her 2nd Birthday. I know some of you are say it could back fire on you. Well I'm hoping it doesn't or should I say praying it doesn't. I'm going to blog each day about how it went or didn't go so well. This is a 3 Day Potty Training day and night. I won't blog until the end of each night.

Remember I'm a 1st time mom and I hope that this works and I can share this with those who are getting ready to potty train our child.

Traci