Ethan is Potty Trained!!!!

Woo-hoo!!! Ethan is oficially potty trained! I can't believe it! Before last Monday, 1/17 he wouldn't even sit on the potty! The last time he sat on the potty for me was before he turned 2. I tried everything in the book. I tried stickers and prizes and charts and movies and everything else under the sun. He still refused to sit on the potty. I would try for a little while and then back off for months at a time. He was the only child in his class at daycare who would not sit on the potty (much less tee-tee in it).

Right before Christmas I went to Barnes & Noble and spent some time reading over their potty training books. I took some advice from each of them and plotted out my plan of action.

I told Ethan that after the holidays we were going to get rid of all diapers and pull-ups during the day. I spent a lot of time telling him exactly what we were going to do and reassuring him. I bought lots of $1 toys, stickers and snacks. I wrapped these "Potty Treasures" and placed them in his bathroom. I told him he could have one when he sat on the potty. These were in the bathroom for a month. He would occasionally ask to open one but had no desire to sit on the potty so they were left untouched.

On Monday the 17th when he woke up I put training pants on him . I told him no more diapers! I set a timer for every 30 minutes and we would race to the potty. He sat on the potty for me each time! Of course he was highly motivated by the potty treasures...but hey, whatever works! Just sitting on the potty was such a huge accomplishment! He never did go on the potty and I washed a lot of training pants this day but was super proud of him!! We had also placed a cow calendar in the bathroom for him to put stickers on. He loves cows and loved seeing the stickers add up each time he sat on the potty.

On Tuesday he went to daycare. I sent him with lots of changes of clothes and training pants. He didn't ever sit on the potty at school and had several accidents. We got home and he proceded to sit on the potty every 15-30 minutes. He had several accidents but later David and I were cleaning up the living room and he went right over to his little potty, pulled down his pants and tee-tee'd. I was sooo excited! By this time it was pretty late so we went to bed.

Wednesday, he went to daycare in his traning pants. He had several accidents and didn't sit on the potty. We got home and he went on the potty for me several times!

Thursday, another daycare day. I sent him to school in his training pants again. He went on the potty at school one time! Another huge accomplishment! We got home and he tee-tee'd in the potty several times. Then, another huge surprise. He pooped in the potty....3 times! He was so proud of himself and I was, and still am, so excited and plesently surprised!

On Friday we had several things to do so Ethan wanted to wear a diaper since we wouldn't be at home with his potty. I had a meeting and then we went to a stockshow out of town. He didn't have one accident in his diaper and went in the potty for me all day (even though he didn't have his little potty)!!!

So fast forward to today, one week later. He hasn't had one accident! He loves to go by himself then call me in the bathroom to show me what he's done. He has even stayed dry at night for the past several nights. So, probably he was just ready and it was time...but the potty treasures (they only lasted 4 days) and stickers sure did help!