#51: Potty Training: Before I got Started and the First Week

Around the time G was 18 months, I sought recommendations for potty training resources. I assumed this was well before we'd tackle the milestone and figured it would give me time to read and digest the information ahead of getting started. I ordered the book that came with the greatest number of positive reviews--Jamie Glowacki's Oh Crap! Potty Training and tucked it away. A sweet neighbor reached out and gave me her kiddos' mini potty and stepstool-potty-seat cover. I kept the mini potty out and in our bathroom. Genevieve would sit on it and pretend to pee. 

Fast forward to the month before Genevieve's 2nd birthday, and I started listening to the companion podcast from author Jamie G. and had the realization, "Oh crap, Genevieve is showing multiple signs of capability." The author noted that the term "ready" is less effective than "capable" because when it comes to making a big jump (for us or our kiddos) we rarely feel fully *ready. * I realized that AND that I made a capital mistake ahead of potty training: keeping the mini potty out for her to "get used to." I put the potty up until we were going to begin, and I thought it was another good sign that G wanted to know where it went. I didn't judge my mistake, but simply pivoted based on the recommendation of the expert whose advice I was following. 

After binging several podcast episodes, I started on the audiobook Oh Crap! Potty Training. As someone who uses nap time to get a lot of chores done, this mode of taking in the information was easiest. Though I really liked having the physical book to use as a reference for timelines and to scan for trouble shooting a specific problem. The author suggested setting a date on the calendar to begin potty training if your child was showing signs of capability. I set ours for the Tuesday after G's second birthday (that Monday she had a doctor's appointment, so I wanted to wait for a totally normal day). Though as I read, I couldn't help but feel that Genevieve and I were ready now. I decided instead to start May 1st. Though I had to move our start date one day because Genevieve was getting her molars and was uncomfortable and dealing with a fever. Once her fever subsided, we were full steam ahead. 

[Setting Up] 
I mentioned that Genevieve was showing signs of capability, what do I mean by that? Well, she was interested in my business in the bathroom for starters. Because I flubbed and had the mini potty out ahead of potty training, she enjoyed sitting (or sometimes playing) on the potty. About one week ahead of us starting the potty-training process, she would go to the potty with a dry diaper on and pee in her diaper while sitting on the potty. G has always been an efficient and regular pooper. Each day she would poop once while standing and then immediately go to her changing table for you to take care of it. Some naps and nights she would wake dry and relieve herself while she was having a book read to her. These actions indicated that she was ready to be supported through the potty-training milestone. 

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