Dread. I did not want to do this again. I got this sick feeling in my stomach just thinking about it. I would rather clean the bathroom for months than potty train. I think I have been traumatized by the potty training experience of my first child that I didn’t want to do it at all with my second child.
And I have to be honest. Potty training with Kaye, the oldest, wasn’t too bad considering many other horror stories I have heard from other moms. She pretty much “got it” by the first week. Minor incidents of accidents after that first week. But that first week of potty training was the most gruesome and challenging.
Since we traveled quite a bit this past summer and then the birth of our third baby, I postponed potty training Elle until now. And now I totally regret not doing it before the baby came. But oh well. That was my fault. To prepare myself, I reread Toilet Training in Less Than A Day
So Saturday Nathan and I cleared our entire schedule and tossed aside our to do lists. We were focusing on potty training and that was it. Nathan hid upstairs with the baby and the oldest spending some daddy time. All the while I was downstairs doing the potty training and dealing with accidents. Not fun at all.
Elle is completely different from her sister. First of all, she is older (will be 3 in 2 months) than when we potty trained her sister who was a little older than 2. Elle is strong willed if she wants to do something she will wholeheartedly do it. If she doesn’t, then forget about it. It won’t happen. She has always been the one to initiate being too old to do something… sitting in the high chair, sitting in a booster seat, wearing bibs, being fed at meal times and so forth. You would think this would be to my advantage. The trick is to get her in on it and convince her she is too old for diapers.
Come to find out, convincing her was the easy part. But to get her to actually pee and poop in the toilet was another thing. Day 1 was rough… 5 accidents and 1 success. I just keep telling myself to be patient, consistent and encouraging. It can only get better from here right? I am just glad that Kaye is out of school this entire week so we can stay put at home and work on this potty training thing. Wish me luck.
Here are some previous posts I had written for potty training… 22 Potty Training Tips for Modern Moms, 5 Potty Books for Children, Potty Training Q&A and a printable Potty Training Chart.
» Tell me… Did you have a harder time or easier time potty training your second child? What is your potty training tip or trick?
wow good luck!!! i only have one and i have a boy but he is strong willed and stubborn just like me
but he has one weakness, chocolate. so i bribed him with M&M’s and he was potty trained during the day in a few days. i wish you the best of luck, i have a friend with a 2 month old trying to potty train and she is having a really bad time, she will be 3 soon too.
I’m hoping to get my oldest, a boy, potty-trained before the second one comes along. He’ll only be 2yrs 2mos when the second one is born, so I’m preparing myself that he may not be ready, but hoping for the best! He’s already used the potty once at a friend’s house after seeing the older boys using the potty. He actually asked to use it so maybe he will be ready! Good luck with Elle. I’m definitely going to look up the book you mentioned. Be sure to let us know how it goes!
Good Luck! I’m in the midst of potty training my headstrong almost 3-year-old and can empathize with you. Thanks for the book recommendation I’ve reserved it at my local bookstore.
I have a feeling I’ll be going through the same thing with my second in the next few weeks…the first one was a breeze, but her little sister is how you say…strong willed as well! Should be interesting. Good luck!!!
It requires alot of your time but it worked. I had to prompt my kid hourly for at least 2 weeks and finally, she got it. Good luck!
Good luck! I’m still potty training 20 days later. My Ansley is a stubborn little thing and is currently fighting me about the potty, nap time, bed time, and anything else she doesn’t want to do. It can’t go on forever though.
Tiffany, unfortunately I am with all the other commentors who are one step behind you on this. My oldest is 2 and sounds like she is so much like Elle! I wish I could offer some helpful advice, but I am definitely asking that you keep sharing what does and doesn’t work for you guys!! I hope today and tomorrow are markedly better!