If you read my first post on potty training then you will know that this is NOT a “how-to” guide. Following the response to my last one, here is a follow-up to let you know about our progress. For reasons that will become clear I was toying with the idea of calling this post:
“Happy Hippos, High Fives, and a Hell of a Lot of Toilet Roll”
Our previous potty training sessions had gone quite well. We had a few one step forward two-steps back moments but nothing too bad to put me off in the Pursuit of Nappyless (see what I did there). I work (practically) full-time Monday to Friday so I only have the weekends to try to master potty training. The last few I have been house-bound, and following my semi naked little boy’s peachy bum run around the house, for when he felt the need to empty his bladder and/or bowels.
Last weekend he seemed as keen as me to crack this potty training business. Perhaps the trigger was being cooped up inside whilst the weather was good. As I sat at my laptop penning my latest post Harry parked up in front of me and sat on the potty and did a wee. (I must clarify that the potty was in the kitchen with me – I don’t sit in the bathroom to blog). I was elated! Up he got and we high-fived and he requested a Kinder Happy Hippo which I duly handed over. OK, it was before 10am, but a promise is a promise. Both of us marched off to the toilet and tipped it down, I gave him a wipe, he flushed the chain, we both washed our hands and the job was done.
I resumed my position at the laptop – with a massive smile on my face – and he wandered off in to the lounge to continue creating Jurassic Park. Five minutes later he returned and once again sat on the potty and produced a wee. YYEEAAHH, more high-fiving and a request for a Happy Hippo, but this time I declined. He looked confused. A few minutes after that he re-appeared and the routine started again. Once again he looked confused when we reached the end of it and I said no to his request for more chocolate. I would like to say that this was the end of it, however he returned 5 more times for a wee, and all within the space of an hour. Where the hell was he storing it! I was tired from walking up and down the stairs to the loo to tip it away. One bonus was the number of steps I was racking up on my Fitbit.
Later on in the day – when he usually needs a poo – he announced he needed to go – he is like clockwork. He sat on the potty and produced. The look of pride on his face was mirrored in my own. We high-fived, wiped, flushed, washed and this time I did give him another Happy Hippo. After all, this was another major step forward. But once again we struck up the same routine as in the morning. He returned numerous times to the potty in the space of an hour to have a poo. I honestly think he thought he was going to get a Happy Hippo after every bowel movement. All in all I recorded 20% more steps on my Fitbit that day; and together we mastered potty training.
There have been a few accidents – such as sitting on the potty whilst still wearing his underpants, and not directing his flow properly – but he has been dry for the last 3 days. He even wakes up in the morning and shouts through to tell me he needs a wee. My approach might not be the conventional way to potty train but it has worked for us.
OK, so he likes to take his socks off when he goes, he yanks up his crown jewels to look under and check the progress of a number 2, and he also sits backwards, but I am willing to go with it for now. Whatever works I say.
Love
Harry’s Honest Mummy x
Oh that’s brilliant – well done Harry and sounds like he has done really well with the potty training – so good when they finally get the idea!
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My girl who’s now 3 potty trained easily but I have a 4 month old boy and I’ve been told it’ll quite different so I’m sure choccy will be involved at some point!
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oh this brings back memories, we are past this now, but is great to remember all the ups and downs we went through. Thank you for sharing lovely #mg
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Yaaay!!! Well done!! That is fantastic news!! And you know that coming from me that have just mastered the training at nights after 5 years I really mean it!! I like the idea of the chocolate!! I will have to use this idea with Sienna although she is only 19 months so still too young. But I think I will try to train her during the summer as we have a potty around and she kind of is interested in the idea and Bella has been showing her what she needs to do which is funny so let’s see how it goes. I still think she will be too young but my mother insist I should try earlier. So I will give it a go! Thanks so much for sharing this at #KCACOLS. I would love to see you again on Sunday! x
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Whatever works – absolutely! Potty training Tin Box Tot took us quite a while. We decided to wait until the summer holidays so we had a good two week run at it. We still have the odd accident now but we are mostly there. It’s a journey! Thanks so much for linking up with #KCACOLS and I hope you can make it back next week x
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Sounds brilliant. Our first attempts were a bit disastrous. Will give bribery a go, although maybe with small chocolates like MnMs- I could deal with him eating four of those an hour
#fartglitter
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Thanks for sharing this, we are just about to start potty training our two youngest and having already potty trained two others, I’m really not looking forward to it!! Chocolate is the answer….#fartglitter
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It has been the absolute key for me. Good luck.
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He’s doing really well. We aren’t at the training stage yet but I’ll be rereading your posts once we are. Thanks for sharing!
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It is all down to bribery!
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Aha, so this is the secret-chocolate bribery! My little one is only 19 months so we are not at this stage yet, but I appreciate any tips! #KCACOLS
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Thanks for sharing your story. Keep it up and it will all work out! Best of luck.
https://leviandlaura.wordpress.com/2016/02/16/potty-training-by-the-book/
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congratulations to both of you. I’m not sure why the image of a kid sitting on the john facing the wrong way is so funny, but that cracked me up. #KCOCOLS
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Aw, bless – still, when it comes to Happy Hippos, it’s worth a try! I’m dreading potty training, I may have a baby but I’m still no good with bodily fluids… Lol. x #KCACOLS
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