24 Responses to "Potty Training Fears"

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  This will be fine. There will be a point, unless she wears diapers forever, where you’ll have to face these fears, and it might as well be now, while she’s ready, and then it will be over and you’ll hardly remember what it was like. Plus, she’s READY. So the accidents will be few and far between. And soon you won’t be scared because it won’t be unknown anymore.

  Good luck! I say do it this weekend!

  1 Jess said this (July 9, 2009 at 10:13 am)

  
  
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  That is exactly what we did – undies only during the day, or better yet, she was completely pants-less for the first two days. We did lots of reminders and made sure to call everyone in the family every potty trip because we were so proud. By the time the weekend was over, we were so used to it.

  Best thing about going potty training – not having to change poopie diapers that she has been sitting in and smashing around, etc. and all that clean up. Now its just a couple of quick butt wipes on the toilet and voila – all done! Let that little perk carry you through your fear of the unknown.

  2 Diana said this (July 9, 2009 at 10:20 am)

  
  
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  Yay Maddie! The thing about potty training is that it is a total pain in the ass, but the darn kids are so proud of themselves when they go in the potty. So you can look forward to that. I’m sure she will be a total perfect peach to train.

  3 Mimi said this (July 9, 2009 at 10:32 am)

  
  
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  Good times. Having a potty-trained kid is mostly awesome, except when she has to go at an inconvenient time. But, whatevs. We all have to go at inconvenient times every now and again. The BEST is when she starts to go, ON HER OWN, WITHOUT YOU. Ah, another step towards sweet freedom, aka not having to get up from the couch.

  4 Tess said this (July 9, 2009 at 10:42 am)

  
  
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  You can do it! We just started with Owen last weekend and he’s doing great and I love not having to change any more diapers than I have to. I don’t like potty training at all, but when it’s done? Awesome!

  5 Devan said this (July 9, 2009 at 11:43 am)

  
  
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  Yay for Maddie! She’s ready! Unfortunately that means you have to be ready too, as scary as that may be! So just take a deep breath and jump in with both feet! (Not into the potty, that would be icky.) Will also be sending you good calming vibes

  Good luck!!!

  6 Suzy Voices said this (July 9, 2009 at 12:09 pm)

  
  
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  I totally feel ya on this one. I was reluctant to potty train due to my own profound laziness- not wanting to have to help her with the pottying or deal with the fact that little kids pee about every ten minutes. But it’s totally worth it. And now Addy mostly goes without needing any help at all, which is Teh Awesome.

  7 Sarah said this (July 9, 2009 at 12:30 pm)

  
  
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  If she’s really ready for it, it won’t be too bad, right? You can do it!!!

  8 donna said this (July 9, 2009 at 1:37 pm)

  
  
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  Oh, man, do I know the “but _I’m_ not ready” feeling. I’m dealing with that right now too. Good luck!

  9 Marie Green said this (July 9, 2009 at 2:35 pm)

  
  
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  Once you make the switch you will wonder what you were so worried about. And you will learn where all the potties are in every store you ever go to.

  Hang in there!

  10 Jodi said this (July 9, 2009 at 2:58 pm)

  
  
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  You can do it and might I recommend a potty for the car. It seems crazy but you would be surprised how much you will use that darn thing. Also lysol to disinfect said potty.

  11 Domestic Extraordinaire said this (July 9, 2009 at 3:08 pm)

  
  
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  I waited so long for ME, not her. Diapers are a convenience for ME, but gross for her. & honey, if I can do it, anyone can. PLUS – you start this weekend, then Gerald has to deal with it solo when you’re in Chicago in a couple week. TWO WEEKS FROM TODAY, BABY!!!!

  12 Shelly said this (July 9, 2009 at 3:39 pm)

  
  
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  You can do it!! It actually isn’t that bad once things get going – I potty trained my daughter in about two hours, literally – and she has only had one accident in public in over two years now (Just stay away from parks with porta-potties!) Potty training ranks right up there with sleeping through the night – hard to get there, but once it happens it’s like you can actually HEAR the hallelujas!!

  Yay Maddie!

  13 Lauren said this (July 9, 2009 at 4:55 pm)

  
  
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  I totally get how you feel. My kid was also ready way before I was.

  Here are my tips (FWIW):

  1) go totally nakie-butt for the first few days.

  [At first (like, the first day, really) I reminded TLNG every half hour. On day two, she KIRKED THE EFF OUT re: the constant asking and so I stopped. I would offer now and again but I after watching her like a hawk, I could also tell when she had to go (fiddling.) After that was just undies (no pants) in the house and undies under pull-ups when out. Then to undies and pants in the house and pull-ups over undies when we're out--that's where we are still...I've taken two or three short trips in just undies and pants, thus far.]

  2) Chocolate covered raisins after pee/poo/dry undies + a pee, etc.

  3) When in public restrooms, screech ‘HANDS ON YOUR TUMMY, PLEASE!’ Otherwise..eeerrrggg.

  I haven’t changed a poopy diaper in a long time, dude and let me tell you…I DON’T MISS IT. Although, it’s RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER for me again. *sigh*

  Good luck!

  14 the new girl said this (July 9, 2009 at 7:12 pm)

  
  
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  You can do it girl! It’s a great thing she’s ready. If she’s leading the way it will be SO MUCH easier. Strike while the iron (or the potty!) is hot!

  15 Jenna said this (July 9, 2009 at 9:58 pm)

  
  
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  It is a big change. And it’s challenging at first, but EVENTUALLY it will totally pay off. We’re FINALLY at that point. And I love it! You can do it. It’s all about consistency as hard as that may be. And follow her lead in certain areas. Sometimes you just can’t make them do things. Good luck!

  16 Mommy Daisy said this (July 10, 2009 at 9:35 am)

  
  
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  You can do it, and the accidents aren’t nearly as bad as you think. we tried pull-ups when out for awhile, but they rarely got used. Stay close to home until you know her schedule, and then you’ll be free. And for the love of god, never let her know about autoflush toilets. Carry post-its with you and cover them suckers up. Otherwise you will severely traumatize your poor child. I will never quite regretting that one.

  17 Amelia Sprout said this (July 10, 2009 at 4:07 pm)

  
  
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  Each kid is different, but once P was potty-trained she was more or less accident free. I say more or less because the one time in five or six months since she’s been potty-trained that she DID have an accident in public was because in a string of 10 stores no one had a bathroom. I think the US has more available bathrooms than here, so I think you’ll be fine.

  I’m consistently amazed that if I ask P to hold it, she can. How do they know what that even means and how to actually do it??

  18 MsPrufrock said this (July 10, 2009 at 5:18 pm)

  
  
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  I haven’t read all the comments, but I’ll share what I did with my boys.

  Keep a change or two of clothing with you at all times. Put it in a backpack in the car and leave it there. Just in case.

  Don’t freak out at accidents. Keep a cool head. It’s only laundry. And she’s learning to figure out when she has to go, not just to go when it’s an emergency.

  If you are out driving and she needs to go, pull over to the side of the road, and hold her over the ground (hold her under her knees and let her “sit” over the ground). Let her pee outside. My boys love it.

  Know that it may take days/weeks for her to get it down. That’s ok too. It won’t mean you are a failure.

  Take pics of her on the potty. They will be fun to share later on.

  peace…

  19 Monkey said this (July 10, 2009 at 6:58 pm)

  
  
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  I hate potty-training so! much! but then it’s done. I love The New Girl’s comment.

  20 Swistle said this (July 10, 2009 at 7:43 pm)

  
  
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  We stayed home all weekend when I potty-trained so the kids could run around with just a shirt on, bottom half “naked-time” so I could see if they started to go on the floor. By the end of the weekend, they were done and never had an accident afterwards that I remember, although they probably did, I just don’t remember it now.

  I just remember it was fast for both of them. They both did wear a diaper at night for awhile but even that stopped within a few months.

  21 Amber said this (July 11, 2009 at 8:53 am)

  
  
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  I TOTALLY hear you on this. I have made peace with the diaper and it is my friend. No diaper is too troublesome for me. Oh, how I do NOT look forward to the potty. I am trying to be brave, but it’s hard.

  22 Maia said this (July 24, 2009 at 10:50 am)

  
  
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  I had 4 children, all within 7 years of each other, and I am happy to report that each mastered the skill, in spite of my best, or sometimes, my worst efforts. But I must admit, it’s a period of childrearing about which I’ve probably developed selective amnesia. Here’s a post I wrote a while back about the whole process. It’s listed under the heading, “Potty Training is overrated–I like to call it ‘Survival of the Fittest.’”

  http://tadpolesandteacups.blogspot.com/2008/05/queen-for-day.html

  The best piece of advice came from a pediatrician who told me that honestly, there is nothing the mom can do to force compliance–he said to give it time, keep a sense of humor and don’t sweat the “set backs,” and always, always, ALWAYS keep a change of clothes (or two) in the car.

  Best of luck to you!

  Cathy

  P.S. 3 of my kids have now entered college and none are in diapers, if that makes you feel better.

  23 cathy ~Tadpoles and Teacups said this (July 25, 2009 at 11:53 am)

  
  
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  My son is 2.5 now and I am convinced he’ll be in diapers for.ever. Or at least until his younger brother (1) is potty trained, then he’ll see how uncool diapers are and potty train himself in five minutes. He is stubborn like that.
  =)

  I am with you on the scariness of potty training a child in public – yikes!! I don’t want to lose my place in the grocery store line (um, or my cart in a random aisle!!). I don’t want to jump up a million times in the middle of a meal or get out of the pool and dry him off enough to pull down a wet swim suit.
  Or have an accident at the public pool! YIKES!!
  I think I’ll keep him in diapers til swimming season is over

  24 Jessica said this (July 27, 2009 at 10:54 pm)