Potty Training

After a summer filled with fun and busy activities, we have decided it is time to try potty training again.  (We tried at the beginning of the summer when I first started staying home with Rylee, but decided after only a few days that neither of us were ready just yet.)  But this time I am more prepared and we have a whole plan to make us successful.

The first stage of our plan includes stickers, a potty chart, and prizes.  We made the chart on a big, yellow poster and taped it to the wall in the bathroom by the potty.  Each time she has a successful potty trip Rylee will get to put a sticker in one of the boxes.  As soon as there are stickers for each box she gets that prize.

Yesterday, Rylee and I went to Six Star to pick out her potty prizes.  She chose a yellow lei, a squishy caterpillar, a flashlight, a Barbie coloring book, a firetruck with a little people driver, some dress-up shoes, a bowling game, and a broom shaped like a frog.  As added incentive to get her going, she also got to pick some potty treats.  We will have to see how it goes, but my plan is to let her pick a little treat (m&m's) when she pees in the potty and a big potty treat (smarties or a piece of licorice) when she poops in the potty.  If she starts getting too frustrated, though, we will have to adjust so that maybe she gets a small treat for trying to go potty and big treat if she actually does something.  For now the potty treats are in jars on the bathroom counter where she can see them (for incentive).

We are also more prepared with our equipment this time around.  Rylee has her very own pink potty, a potty stool (so she can reach the sink and the light switch), a travel potty seat for when we are at the store or Grandma's house, and pink and purple training undies.  When she is doing well in the training pants she gets to wear her Tinkerbell and Minnie Mouse big girl undies.

Stage two will include another potty chart, more prizes, and stickers for whole days without accidents.  We start our adventure officially on Monday (giving her the rest of the week to get used to all the new stuff in the bathroom and allowing for multiple explanations about how the potty chart works, etc.)  Wish us luck!