3 day potty training

This Memorial Weekend, Jon is going to be out of town for work. Lexi and I will be doing work of our own.

The past several days, she has been taking her diaper off by herself and doing her business (1 and 2) on whatever surface she is on-grass, carpet, crib mattress...I had stepped back when it came to potty training because she stopped wanting to sit on the toilet and I didn't want to force her especially since she is so young. However, her new preference for being naked has shown me that she is ready to be trained. She will go to the bathroom within minutes of taking her diaper off, and I have noticed certain times when she goes. It'll be tough to catch the BMs since she normally does that at nap time and at night.

And so, on this long weekend, she and I are going to do the 3 day potty training method. It calls for getting rid of all diapers in order to prevent that "crutch" (I will keep them for the reason mentioned above), and for the first 3 days, she is to be pants free at home, and if we go out, she'll wear no diaper, just loose pants. I have to give her lots of crackers so she is really thirsty and she'll drink lots of water and milk. They say to expect somewhere around 20 (!) accidents the first day, then down to 10 the 2nd day and somewhere on that day, something will "click" and she'll just get it. Of course, the first 3 days is just the beginning, I'm not expecting a miracle (nor does the method assure it). She knows what the toilet is for, I don't doubt that Lexi can figure this out. I've got stickers and M&Ms, she loves reading books on the toilet, and she gets such a proud look on her face when she hears that tinkle. I make it a point to mention that feeling. Today I messed up and set the "potty timer" for 10 minutes after she went pee on the toilet, at 7 minutes, she wet her training pants. Friday, I'm going to buy more pairs of underwear for this weekend (even though you aren't supposed to put them on her, I think she needs to feel what that feels like)

With any luck, by her 18 month check up, I'll be able to tell her doctor that we are mostly potty trained. What a relief not to have to buy diapers anymore.

I'll blog as we go through this weekend.