the potty report

How many months has it been now?

I stopped counting…ohhhhhh…about a gazillion wet undies ago. 

But for the sake of those following Trevy’s potty success (and otherwise) with interest because they’re on the fence about giving it a go (haha…get it…) with a Special little one of their own.  I figured I should try and post every now and then about how things are working out.

The Report

If I consistently take him to the potty once per hour he will only have one or two pee-pee accidents a day.  The biggest issue is…really who can possibly do a potty run every single hour for the rest of their life?  When we’re lazy he tinkles in his pants.  It may or may not have brewed a fight or two if one parent is lazier than the other.     I think we’re on the same page now though. 

He does not communicate in any way, shape, or form when he has to use the potty. 

He also does not communicate in any way, shape, or form when he has already used the potty in his pants!  Wet (or stinky) doesn’t seem to bother him in the slightest.   

I do remind him a million-gazillion times a day to keep his undies dry.  And tell mommy when you have to go potty. 

I do try (sometimes I’m just not in a patient frame of mind) to change his poopsies in the bathroom.  So we can chat about where poopy belongs and doesn’t belong while watching it swirl away.  Also, I learned the key to cleaning a poo standing up is - WIPES!  I was trying to clean him up with TP.  Duh!  And having him lean over the lid.  Closed of course.   

Speaking of the lid.  We had to Trevy proof it.  Because he loved the sound it made when slammed.  It was a perpetual fight to get him to leave the thing alone and put his pants back on! 

Yes, the cushie cover makes it look like we’re of the elderly persuasion.  But hey.  At least Trevy now rubs the soft new blue lid carpet rather than persistently slamming it in my ear!  

We are using Pull-ups mostly.  We go through between 2-4 a day.  Plus a diaper at nap & night time. 

When I have the umph I will put undies on first.  Then a Pull-up over that.  There really doesn’t seem to be a difference in accident counts when I forgo the undies.  But it makes me feel like I’m putting in more effort when I use them. 

He loves being praised for a good job!

He also loves being rewarded with a squirt of lotion for production.    I’m super mean and put it on his weak hand thus forcing him to use it.  It took me a couple times to get smart that if I squirted it into Lefty (his strong side) he would just rub it onto his right arm.  But if I squirt it into Righty he’ll rub his hands together and then lotion up both arms. 

He can now successfully scooch his bum onto the potty by himself.  However, he still needs a lot of help (both physically and verbal cueing-ly) with the pulling down & up of clothing. 

He has poo-ed on the potty twice!  But mostly he likes to hide in the school room.  And if you should happen to catch him in the act he’ll shout “NO!” emphatically.  I consider this progress!   

All in all…we’re making slow and steady progress.  I’ve chilled out quite a bit about it from those first few weeks.  If I’m honest…I was kinda crazy hyper aggressive let’s get this potty thing down mommy for a bit there.  It was a lil’ bit stressful!  Which may or may not have contributed to some of those fights I mentioned before.  Now, I keep telling myself “he’ll get it when he gets it”.  Gosh,  I sure hope I’m right.   In the meantime though…I’m very thankful that our insurance is covering the Pull-Ups!     

…danielle