Here we go again, round two of potty training. We started early, perhaps, too early and it was a giant failure. Wesleigh had started expressing interest in the potty and I took advantage of the opportunity while we were in quarantine. I read the Oh Crap potty training book, tried to follow it and thought things were clicking until one day, Wes went into full protest mode and I was doing laundry 10 times a day, every day. For someone that loves laundry, even for me, it was excessive.
So, we paused. We both needed the break, because at the time, potty training was not working, for my child, or for me. It was a constant struggle.
Recently though, we started potty training again and it’s been a much more pleasant experience. I took the pressure off, knowing in the back of my mind, my child will not be in diapers forever, it will eventually click.
A few tips I have found to be helpful include:
Scheduled potty breaks
Half the time, my child needs to be prompted, the other half, she’s completely proactive and knows when she needs to use the bathroom. We have two toilets, this one from Summer Infant and this Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck travel one.
Hygiene
We don’t shelter Wesleigh in terms of words. We are direct and clear, using terms of body parts and functions. Although, we do use one, that I am grateful for, especially when we are in public. My Nana coined the word ‘jobby’ to be used in place of ‘doody’ and candidly, I’d much rather my child say she needs to make a jobby than scream the latter at dinner or at the park.
Dump the diapers
Instead of going from diapers straight to underwear, this time, we transitioned to training pants. I was recently introduced to Nest’s plant-based training pants and have quickly converted to a huge fan.
I’m eco-minded and always try to support and introduce brands that are family-owned, whose mission I can truly get behind; “Nest aims to redefine the ‘eco-friendly’ baby diapers category by developing a line that truly reduces the long-term impact on the environment while meeting the highest safety standards”.
Nest’s training pants are composed of plant based, sustainable materials, free from harmful chemicals, and are even compostable. We have not yet tackled overnights sans training pants, but Wes (and I) can rest easy knowing the plant-based fibers are soft, breathable and super absorbent.
In addition to Nest Training Pants, we use a few other helpful items:
These vegan friendly Bamboo wet wipes from Public Goods
Made with aloe, vitamin E and cucumber extract, the scent is clean and not too strong. The wipes are sturdy without being too thick and never leave a sticky residue.
This perfectly proportioned Summer Infant My Size Potty
It has a storage area for wipes and flushes with a realistic sound. Great for positive reinforcement.
A Stool
We received this adorable WESLEIGH personalized stool as a birth gift and it has come in very handy. It’s perfect for Wesleigh to climb up and access the sink to wash her hands.
OXO Tot 2-in-1 Go Potty for Travel
This travel potty opens quickly and easily for any bathroom emergency and folds compactly to fit under your stroller. OXO also makes these potty refill bags for ‘jobbies’ on the go.
With appropriate gear, a positive mindset and a lot of patience, potty training does not have to be so messy.
