The opportunity has presented itself and I can no longer remain in a happy state of denial. The girls have been sitting on the potty periodically and actually using it for both number 1 and number 2. They are also all aware of when they are about to wet or dirty their diapers. I wasn’t sure how this was all going to happen. I thought maybe one or two of the girls would be ready - but all three are there and very interested. I see that this will definitely be a different process than it was with my son. He also should interest around this age - actually he was 19 months old when he started to use the potty. He used it once a day consistently for quite awhile. I didn’t push it though. I was on bedrest pregnant with the girls. I was afraid of regression. He continued his pattern for a couple months and completely stopped using the potty after the girls were born. I was afraid to push it with all the changes in his life - so I let it slide. Then one day it was more than obvious that he was ready - I put him in underwear (no transitional pull ups) and that was that. He did go through a couple of phases - but for the most part it was a truly painless process. Ben was 2 1/2 years old almost 3.
I guess some of my aprehension lies in the idea that potty training will limit our mobility and add an extra layer of activity onto our day. I know that sounds selfish in many ways. But, potty training will definitely add to the workload. It also adds some safety and hygiene issues - gathering everyone to get them into the restroom while we’re out in public can be a challenge as well as trying to limit what they touch in the restroom - yuck!!!
With all that being said, we are beginning this new chapter. I know it will be a process. The summer time is as good a time as any to start potty training.
The girls all stand around the toliet cheering each other on - clapping and cheering when they hear the tinkles. They seem to want to out do each other. I’m not encouraging any type of competition between them, it’s completely unhealthy on so many levels. The girls are 2 yrs. old and very much in the phase of wanting to show what they can do and how independent they can be.
So, we are going to start off slowly. Any time anyone announces that potty or poopies are coming I ask them if they want to sit on the potty. If we are playing outside and staying home, I’m putting pull-ups on them (they feel the wettness a bit more).
We have to start somewhere. Just think of all the $$$ we will be saving once they are diaper free.