Potty Training – Days 1 & 2

You may have gathered from my Silent Sunday photograph that Burton has started potty training. It kind of just happened really after weeks of uhming and aaaring over whether or not to start, we just did after he successfully used the potty four times in succession Friday night during his bath and bedtime routine.

We have tried to get him to use the potty every now and then to do a wee and he has sometimes done so. His cousin, who is 5 months older, has been potty training for about a month now and we spend time with him every Wednesday, so again Burton has been watching him use a potty and has sometimes asked to use it after seeing Ben go on one. I have thought for some time that Burton was ready, I think it has been me stalling it if I am honest. I have been a little worried about starting it, almost dreading it really which was probably silly of me.

Anyway, Saturday morning after I took his night time pull up pant nappy off, I put him straight into pants and we haven’t looked back. He has been brilliant and I haven’t even had to use any type of bribery be it chocolate buttons or stickers. Even though we are asking him every 10 minutes or so, he chooses to use the potty when HE is ready and so far he has been very good at realising when he needs to wee. He suddenly says “wee” and puts his hands over his crutch area and runs off to find the potty!

We even braved going out for lunch today, a notion which I wasn’t sure if he was up to. I am not really sure of the correct potty etiquette when you are out in a restaurant environment, but as his travel potty has not arrived yet we had to take the normal potty covered in a carrier bag with us! We asked to be seated in a corner of the dining room and when he needed to wee Burton just used the potty as normal. We only had one wee accident while we were out which I think was good going really. I am grateful that he didn’t decide I do a poo as I felt bad to the other diners as it was having to walk to the toilet with a carrier bag covered potty a few times!! I think that next time we venture out like that I will take Burton to the toilet to use the potty, but being only his second day of using a potty we thought we should try and adopt a familiar routine to help him avoid having an accident.

Since we started his potty training, Burton has only had 2 wet accidents and 1 poo incident which daddy and I think is brilliant.

Talking of poo (sorry!) he hasn’t done one in the potty yet. Yesterday morning he was caught hiding under the stairs with his back to us and Daddy said “I really hope that is little Iggle Piggle he has smuggled down his pants!” . Well, of course, it wasn’t it was a deposit! Since then he hasn’t done a poo on the potty – I don’t know if he just hasn’t felt the need or if he can’t or doesn’t feel he can. I know from reading other people’s potty training exploits, that some children feel they can’t poo on a potty and refuse to go. I guess if this is what Burton is experiencing I am hoping it is a phase that will pass. Not that I am looking forward to having to deal with poo in a potty or in pants! I am a but squeamish of poo if truth be told!

We are still putting a nappy (pull up pant type one) on him at bedtime. I must remember to get a waterproof cover for the mattress too for when he does stop wearing a nappy at night. I must also get a toddler seat for the toilet too. oh and some toddler wipes which can be flushed down the toilet as I only have baby wipes at the moment.

We will see what happens over the next few days, but if he carries on as well as he is, then I think Burton will crack potty training much quicker and better than I had hoped which would be great. I guess it is true that if you wait until they are ready, it is easier to get them potty trained.

He has done so well , for now anyway . Long may it continue I say!

Well done that boy.