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The Little Boy's Room.

If there was one central theme to last week, it would without question be: Potty Training. We began on Wednesday and stepped through quite a journey for the next couple of days. I wanted to document it so that I could look back on this one day when I go through it again with future children. And if I'm blessed with another little boy, it might be especially useful.

We were homebound Wednesday through Saturday, working intensely on potty training. I had a lunch date planned with a friend on Friday, so my gracious Mom volunteered to come stay at my house with Levi (Day 3), so that he wouldn't have any setbacks. We wanted at least three solid days at home to get it down. We ended up having four! Even better! So, let me recount those days - for myself and for whoever else may be going through this little adventure.

And boy is it an adventure. :)

We went straight to big-boy underwear all day, and diapers at bedtime.

Day 1. (Wednesday)

I set the potty watch for every 30 minutes. We were in the bathroom a LOT the first day. I took him every half hour and since he had no bladder control at this point, he went almost every time. We got used to sitting on the potty and waiting for something to happen, even if it took several minutes. He had several accidents in between potty times, and would always tell me. When we weren't in the bathroom, I was doing laundry. ;) This was a vital day, because it was his first real and consistent interaction with his potty and relating it to having to tinkle.

Day 2. (Thursday)

This was the hardest day. Levi woke up and had suddenly learned bladder control! I was NOT expecting that. He went when he woke up and then didn't go for a couple of hours. I still took him every 30 minutes, so I was having a difficult time trying to know when he needed to go, since he was now holding it. He had two accidents that day, and it was sort of frustrating for me because I was still taking him every 30 minutes and feeling like I just didn't time it right when he'd have an accident. I didn't show my frustration to Levi at all. I absolutely realized that this is all brand new, and accidents WILL happen. I felt like I was doing something wrong.

I talked it out with Mom on the phone, put Levi down for a nap, and wouldn't you know - HE WOKE UP DRY! I was floored. I took him to the potty and he did his business and had an awesome evening with all but one successful potties. While Husby was putting him to bed, Levi told him he needed to potty, so they got up and Levi pottied and went to bed. Again, we were thrilled!

Day 3. (Friday)

Levi woke up at 3am crying because he tinkled in his diaper. I thought nothing of it and went ahead and changed him to make him more comfortable. He woke up at 9am DRY. He went 6 hours through the night without going. We were so happy!!

He had an amazing day with only one accident the entire day, and it was right before bed.

Day 4. (Saturday)

Levi woke up completely dry. (10.5 hours through the night!) We were truly expecting night training to be a whole other animal that we would deal with when he got older. This was a total surprise to us. A nice, happy surprise.

Levi told us several times on his own that he needed to go potty and the rest of the day, he waited until his watch went off to go. He had an awesome day with no accidents! He also poo-poo'd for the first time in the potty. (Before, he was waiting until it was almost time to go to sleep and he had a diaper on.) Saturday was an awesome day!

***

And there you have it. Those were our four days of intense potty training. It took a lot of time, a lot of dedication, a lot of patience, a lot of encouragement, and a lot of stickers & treats. :)

We put a Pull-Up on Levi for Church on Sunday, just in case. We were glad we did because when we took him to a big (regular) potty, he would not go. When we went out to eat afterwards, I took him three times to the restroom and he held it until we got home. He seems to have it mastered at home with no accidents, but we haven't really tried the "out & about" training, yet. I guess we'll work on that more this week as we get out of the house ... finally. :)

This very big, very intimidating beast that is Potty Training has been confronted and conquered, y'all. I am so glad because the thought of doing it had my stomach in knots, for some reason. But with all things, we've got to face our fears and cover it in prayer. This was one of the most successful, most stressful, most rewarding weeks of my life.

I'm so very proud of our baby boy! He's our little champion.
I am a modern day homemaker with a passion for family, cooking, celebrating, decorating, travel, and memory making! The Lord has blessed me with the desires of my heart in my husband and our two sons. We recently built our dream home and cultivating a loving and happy haven for my family is where I find so much joy.

Comments

  1. I'm going to have to remember the potty watch idea! Good for you all! :)

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  2. Potty training scared me too, but I'm telling you once they get the hang of it, they really do fine. We had the same thing happen with night training, and Andrew started refusing to wear diapers at night or pull ups anywhere. That actually helped him to use the potty in public places. He did not like having accidents. It sounds like Levi is doing great!

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  3. I am getting ready to potty train a boy for the first time (two girls before this) and I'm scared to death! I don't even know the most basic things, like do they sit down first, rather than stand? And if so, how do you keep the tinkle in the potty and not spraying out everywhere???

    I am telling you, I'm clueless!

    Congrats on your success!!!

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  4. I'm not a parent, but potty training in only 4 days sounds REALLY fast! Levi is a little superstar :D

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  5. I'm so glad you're sharing what this is looking like for you. We are going to start Potty training in the very near future and I'm so dreading it. Always good to hear other's experiences with it and glean knowledge from someone else. Way to go Levi and Mommy!

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  6. Way to go, Levi! I am seriously dreading potty training, and it's still at least a year away!

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  7. Yay, Levi!!!

    http://breatheandhush.blogspot.com/

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  8. Congratulations- that's so exciting! And I'll have to remember that potty watch idea here in a couple of years, too!

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  9. So glad the boogey-man is out of the closet! Sounds like your first round of potty training was a complete success!

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  10. Aggh so jealous! We tried harper a couple weekends ago and did EXACTLY what you did. However, he didn't go a single time on the potty. As soon as we let him out of the bathroom, he'd pee in his underwear. :(

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  11. Way to go Levi! (and Whitney)

    For some reason trying to potty train with boys is so much harder than girls (so I've heard, since I have only had experience with my 2 year old son, Ryder), but it is so rewarding once they finally get it.

    We just now got the poops down pat too ha! (thank goodness!)

    I can't help but think of the scene from Look Who's Talking Too where Kirstie Alley and John Travolta do the poo poo in the potty dance ha!

    :) Glad that you had such success
    Laura
    laurasblondemoments.blogspot.com

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  12. Congratulations to Mr. Levi! What a big boy! So proud of him!!!

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  13. I am not there yet- we're still waiting for our little one to appear this month- but I just wanted to let you know I LOVED these posts so much that I recommended your blog to a friend who is going through the same thing right now.

    SO keep these tips/post coming!

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  14. Oh my goodness! You have such a good little boy! You give me hope for the future for when my five month old girl starts potty training! :)


    www.talesofayounghousewife.blogspot.com

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