Potty Training Bootcamp: Day #1, Part 1

For the past few days I've been telling Rhys we are saying goodbye to diapers on the weekend, and today was the day. Gramma Patsy came over at 9am, and we took off his last diaper and tossed it in the trash. Then Rhys threw all his unused pull-ups in the trash, and chose his first pair of undies. We showered him with praise and told him how big he looked in his big boy undies. Then he placed his new 'big boy' flushable wipes beside his potty chair and we were set.

Then phase one of training began: fill him with fluids! He drank apple juice, water and peach juice - a very special treat - out of a special new cup, throughout the morning. Every 5 minutes I would say 'keep your undies dry! Tell mommy when you need to potty!' I watched him carefully and caught him mid-accident 3 times, scooping him up and rushing him to the potty, still praising him. Once I caught a poop in the early stage, and got him to the potty in time to 'finish', giving him HUGE praise. He got a Dora puzzle for that one.

Then later in the morning he was getting grumpy, defiant and wanting to be alone...all of which I think are his 'signs' that he needs to go. Finally got him to admit he needed to potty, and he sat on the potty, emptied his bladder and his undies were still dry! Very exciting. For that one he got 2 gummy frogs, 2 gummy cherries and a vanilla Oreo, and TONS of praise.

Then Naptime rolled around. He said he didn't need to pee before bed, so I didn't force it. Into his crib he went, in dry undies. I watched on the video monitor as he pulled up the 'crib mat' I had placed in there to save his sheet if he had an accident. So much for that 'crutch'.

Now he's sleeping and time will tell if he wakes up in a dry bed.

Another update tonight, and throughout he weekend...