Bye, Bye Diapers

We’re SO close to just having one kid in diapers. Hooray! I was beginning to think we still had months ahead of us, but Natalie has made such tremendous strides in potty training this last week that I know the day is near!

As you may recall, Natalie first showed interest in potty training way back at about 11 months old when she first signed “diaper.” By 16 months, she was regularly signing “diaper” after she’d gone or when she needed to. At that time, we bought two potty chairs and started casually training. She had a few successes and it looked like we were on the right track.

Shortly afterwards, she had a couple code browns, as we call them, in the tub and became terrified of bathing. We resorted to sponge baths and kitchen sink baths for a couple months and she completely balked at the idea of using a potty as well. Then, this was about the time I became pregnant with Gavin and well, you know how much help I was for the summer…

With Gavin on the way in January, we postponed any further training until late winter. Natalie continued to try to go at school – as many of four times a day – with absolutely no luck. About nine months of trying and not a single drop of pee. Poor kid!

I kept waiting for Cobber Kids to really help her catch on. You know, the tiny real potties, friends going, friends wearing underpants, the excitement of cheering teachers and friends. But no, little Natalie still woudn’t/couldn’t go at school.

So finally, the day before Mother’s Day, Jason and I stocked up on Dora Pull-Ups and thick cotton pink Gerber panties. We brought the potty chair into the living room and well, everywhere else we went. We cheered for trying, we broke out num-nums (m-n-ms) and stickers for going, we told Gavin how proud we were of his sister, while she was pretending not to listen.

And it worked! She started going at home! A couple times a day! Accidents happened, but usually near the potty on on her way. By last week she was staying dry evenings and mornings at home and going several times each day! And finally, finally, last Friday she was able to pee at school. Oh, how we all cheered!

Last weekend she went 10 hours in a pull-up – the same pull-up! And this included a playdate at home, a trip to Target and a trip to the grocery store with mommy. Sunday she went 11 hours straight in cotton panties! And that included a trip to the zoo (with three potty breaks) and playtime outside. Just two accidents in two days and only wearing a diaper at night.

But perhaps the greatest breakthrough came this week. Natalie has peed three or four times each day at daycare, keeping her pull-up dry for several hours each day. In fact, yesterday, she only had two accidents the entire day – once during a nap and once while trying to fall asleep at night.

Oh, my little girl is growing up. Here’s to only one in diapers!