Potty Training.. In Two Days!

As I mentioned in this earlier post Calleigh is now potty trained. We had tried this before a few weeks back but had little success. This time however it too just two days and was real easy! I couldn't believe it myself, I really expected it to be much harder. Actually when I say she is potty trained, shes not but actually toilet trained.

After talking to some friends whilst out for a few drinks we mentioned that we were planning on starting potty training soon. He told us that he had both his kids potty trained in two days- something I didn't really believe straight away- I can understand one but for both of his kids in just two days seemed a little unreal. 

"How" we asked. 

He explained to us his foolproof method. It was simply to stay in the house for two days straight, don't go out, don't go anywhere for the full two days.... And leave your child completely naked the whole time (not including bedtime). I had my reservations but we decided to give it a go, after all it couldn't hurt to try. I also decided that instead of using a stand alone potty I would use a potty seat on the downstairs toilet. In our previous attempt I found that Calleigh would just not sit still on her potty and always wanted off. I thought this would be better as it would seem more like a toilet than just a seat to sit and eat your dinner on whilst watching telly. 

Well the first day came around, we picked a Thursday as she had no daycare and we didn't have anywhere to go for the whole weekend so we had plenty of time.

After breakfast I stripped her down to her birthday suit, she didn't like it at first and kept asking for the diaper back on but I didn't give in. I explained to her that we were potty training and showed her the toilet with her very own seat, stepping stool and special potty books. The night before I also put together a reward chart and told her she would get a very special sticker to put on it when she goes potty. 

I was feeling pretty good about this. That was until we had the first accident... and then the second. Hope was fading fast and I was left wondering how to get the stains out of my carpet (or the house owners carpet!). But then as I was sat down watching Calleigh play she suddenly ran off really quick. I didn't think much of it, in fact I just thought she had remembered something she wanted to play with. The I heard it, the unmistakable sound of someone on the toilet. I ran in to find Calleigh sat there with a big smile on her facing shouting "I did it!"

We celebrated by singing and dancing and then I gave her a sticker to put on her chart. She loved it and was so happy and excited. 

Finally a success, my faith had been restored. 

Turns out it was just a one off and we had two more accidents that day before we put her in a pull up ready for bed. As much as I was disappointed at least she did it once so she does know what to do and when to go. 

The next morning, once again, after breakfast I stripped Calleigh naked. Paul went off to work and I was left to help Calleigh get her head around this potty training business. 

To my surprise she said to me "Mommy, I need to go wee wee" so I took her to the toilet and she did her business no problem. I was so proud, this day was already going better than the last and it was still early. We celebrated and I let her stick another sticker on her chart. 

Not long after I saw her wander into the bathroom. I went in after her and she was sat there on the toilet. She told me that she need to go poo poo this time... And she did! Once again we celebrated and I sent a celebratory text to Daddy telling him how well she was doing. He replied with a video message congratulating her and she loved it. She would watch it over and over again saying "Thank you, thank you". 

The rest of the day went pretty much the same way, she would either tell me she needed to go or just go by herself and we had absolutely no accidents! Not one! 

As I write this now she has been toilet trained for over a week and we haven't had any accidents since that first day. 

I must admit that this has to be one of my proudest moments as a parent. The transition from diaper to toilet must be difficult for a child but she did amazingly well and in just two days!

I will be doing another post sharing some of my top tips and some things that we found really helpful and that worked for us so that is definitely worth a read if you are thinking of, or already have started potty training.