On Friday Rachel woke up at 7:30 AM and went potty. She went all through church without an accident. Then we stayed after church to be home taught. Then we stayed even later so that Andrew could do his home teaching. Rachel finally went pee (in the potty) while Andrew was home teaching with Girgis and Joseph.
Then Andrew had to home teach the Lewises, so we went over to their house and Rachel stayed dry the whole time. We then had a lunch appointment for a lunch/dinner at the Barton’s and Rachel managed to stay dry until around 3:30…when she peed her pants…but she was standing up when she peed and her rubber pants contained the whole mess. Amazing! I was really happy about that because the Bartons have a very nice home and I would have been forever embarrassed had she peed on their floor.
She napped for 45 minutes once we got home, woke up and went potty. Then she played with her new toys until it was time to go to the Sharp’s for dessert and games. She stayed dry there until around 9:00 PM when she peed in her pants again. She just doesn’t do well at other people’s houses, I guess, but since she should have been in bed I suppose I can’t really blame her for peeing her pants.
We were in the middle of a good game of Settlers (I won, so it must have been a good game) and Rachel just wouldn’t simmer down. She was jumping on the couch, running around the apartment, and “mopping” the floors until 11:00 PM when we left. We tried putting her down, but she was in a screaming mood and we didn’t want her to wake up Finn or Abby, so she stayed up virtually all day long from 7:30 AM until 11:00 PM with only two accidents all day long. Not bad for a 14 month baby, I think…
Today Rachel got up at 7:00 AM, but since she didn’t go to bed until 11:00 last night I just nursed her and put her right back in her crib. She fell back asleep until around 10:00, got up, and wouldn’t go potty. We bummed around the apartment, watching the Presidential Debate on CNN, while we waited for her to be ready to go. Eventually she went and then we left to go explore the Citadel. She stayed dry the entire time we were out, I was a little nervous to have her be in underwear because I was “wearing” her, but I don’t like the idea of putting her back in diapers when she’s doing so well in underwear. She did a wonderful job, though, and went potty when we got home, and then went down for a nap.
When she got up she didn’t want to go potty, so we let her play but continued to pester her about going on the potty about every 10 minutes or so. She ate dinner and still didn’t want to go on the potty, so we let her play again, still pestering her about going.
Finally, around 7:00 PM, she dropped her toys and kind of squatted. Then she stood up straight and ran over to me shaking her little fist like a wild woman. I was so happy!
We’ve been trying to teach her the sign for “potty” for a few months now. You make the letter “T” by holding your hand in a fist with your thumb between your pointer and middle fingers, then your shake it back and forth to mean “toilet.” Rachel hasn’t been able to get her thumb between her fingers yet so she usually just shakes her fist. She’s never done it to let me know that she has to go before, though; she’s only done it when she’s already sitting on the potty and we’re talking about it.
So I ran her to the potty, pulling off her undies as we went. It was a good job I did that, too, because the minute I set her down she let everything go.
We celebrated her communication with high fives all around and a standing ovation and lots of hugs and kisses.
Rachel is doing a wonderful job at going on the potty. I’m so proud of her! And I’m absolutely thrilled to announce that I can’t even remember the last time I’ve had to change or wash out a poopy diaper (of Rachel’s). It’s had to have been at least 2 weeks? I’m not sure. Let’s just say that elimination communication is the bomb. With the next one, I think we’ll start a little earlier. With Rachel, we’ll just keep on keeping on. She’s doing so well!
Showing posts with label potty training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label potty training. Show all posts
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Another Potty Training Story
There once was a time that Rachel would just sit on the potty if you put her there, and before that there was the time that she couldn't sit up anywhere at all--but that was a long, long time ago. Sure, she'd fall off the potty every once in a while and I'd have to catch her before she hit the ground, but for the most part she'd just sit there. Then her balance got good enough that I could, say, put her on the potty and brush my teeth or put a load of laundry in.
Those good ol' days are over. Now Rachel will only sit on the potty if she wants to. Otherwise she'll just get off. I have no problem with her getting off the potty, except that it kind of sticks to her little bummy and so when she starts crawling, the potty goes along with her for a little bit until it becomes unstuck.
Usually this isn't a big problem. Except that Rachel has discovered that an upside down potty makes a wonderful drum. She doesn't understand why I don't approve of that activity.
It is a pretty big problem when she decides to get down by herself after she's used the potty, though. More often than not I'm close by, doing my hair or something, and can tell her to "stay on [her] potty" and then can help her off. Today, however, was different. I left her unattended for about thirty seconds, which is something you just shouldn't do with Rachel.
"You go pee-pee, Rachel. Mommy's going to go get some clean clothes for you."
I ran into her bedroom, grabbed the first onesie and pair of pants that I saw and raced back to the bathroom.
I was too late. Rachel had gone pee-pee, decided that she was done and climbed off the potty. It had stuck to her bum when she got down on her hands and knees and half of the pee had spilled on the floor. The potty, luckily enough, had stayed right side up and Rachel was busy splashing the pee remaining in the bowl, unluckily enough.
She only got a few good splashes in before I stopped her but those splashes were enough to get pee pretty much everywhere. How, how, how does she make such big messes so quickly?
On a happier note, I found a way to get her to play with her own toys and books instead of exploring.
I clean them up. The minute her books are back on the shelf and her toys in their bins, she's back pulling everything out again. It's an almost foolproof way to keep her entertained for 2 minutes to two hours. The only problem is that there are only so many times a day I am willing to clean up her toys!
Those good ol' days are over. Now Rachel will only sit on the potty if she wants to. Otherwise she'll just get off. I have no problem with her getting off the potty, except that it kind of sticks to her little bummy and so when she starts crawling, the potty goes along with her for a little bit until it becomes unstuck.
Usually this isn't a big problem. Except that Rachel has discovered that an upside down potty makes a wonderful drum. She doesn't understand why I don't approve of that activity.
It is a pretty big problem when she decides to get down by herself after she's used the potty, though. More often than not I'm close by, doing my hair or something, and can tell her to "stay on [her] potty" and then can help her off. Today, however, was different. I left her unattended for about thirty seconds, which is something you just shouldn't do with Rachel.
"You go pee-pee, Rachel. Mommy's going to go get some clean clothes for you."
I ran into her bedroom, grabbed the first onesie and pair of pants that I saw and raced back to the bathroom.
I was too late. Rachel had gone pee-pee, decided that she was done and climbed off the potty. It had stuck to her bum when she got down on her hands and knees and half of the pee had spilled on the floor. The potty, luckily enough, had stayed right side up and Rachel was busy splashing the pee remaining in the bowl, unluckily enough.
She only got a few good splashes in before I stopped her but those splashes were enough to get pee pretty much everywhere. How, how, how does she make such big messes so quickly?
On a happier note, I found a way to get her to play with her own toys and books instead of exploring.
I clean them up. The minute her books are back on the shelf and her toys in their bins, she's back pulling everything out again. It's an almost foolproof way to keep her entertained for 2 minutes to two hours. The only problem is that there are only so many times a day I am willing to clean up her toys!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Desperately Hungry
This post could have any number of titles, really. "I shouldn't have washed the sheets yesterday," or "Sudden Reflux Disorder," or "How do I know when I should take my baby in to see the doctor?"
I almost did call the doctor this morning. I said to myself, "If she does this again, I'm calling the doctor." She hasn't done it again though, and she's sleeping peacefully so I think she'll be okay.
It started at around 4:00 this morning when Rachel woke up crying. I went in to comfort her and she was acting hungry, so I brought her in bed with us and fed her. She had just fallen back to sleep and was busy snuggling up against me, trying to get comfortable, when she started coughing. I was stroking her head and telling her that everything was going to be alright when I saw a big white cloud form right above us. No sooner had I seen it than it rained down on us, completely drenching me, Rachel, and my nice, clean sheets.
My yelping and, "Oh, no! Baby!" woke Andrew up and he help dry me and Rachel off and got her some fresh pyjamas while I got changed, myself. I had to lay a towel down to cover up the big milk stain the was covering my side of the bed.
Eventually we all got settled in and slept well until seven or eight. I can't even remember when we woke up. Is that sad or what?
Andrew brought Rachel in to me and I started feeding her. She started acting like she had to go potty so we interrupted breakfast and she had a little potty time. She's so funny when she goes pee--it always takes her a bit by surprise. She'll start going and then turn around to look at me with this quizzical look on her face. I say, "You're peeing...that's pee pee," which she'll accept as a logical enough explanation and will turn back around. She understands BMs a whole lot better, probably because she has to do a little pushing so whether it happens in the potty or the diaper it feels the same (except the degree of squishiness after, in which case she prefers the potty).
Anyway, we successfully went potty and I laid Rachel down on her little mat so that I could empty the potty and wash my hands. While I was doing so I heard her ravenously sucking away at something. Expecting her to be sucking on her hand or foot, I turned around to see what she was up to.
She had flipped onto her stomach and was latched onto the floor! She had a nice clean seal, with her lips suctioned perfectly to the floor, and was sucking away. I didn't think that would be possible, but apparently it is if you're really hungry, which Rachel was so we went back to bed to finish giving her her breakfast.
After she had finished eating she looked at me, completely satisfied, and then started to drift off for her usual post-feeding shuteye, a slight smile gracing her face. Her relaxation was again interrupted by a coughing fit and, lucky for me, because she had just finished eating I was directly in her line of fire.
Cough, cough, BLAH!
She vomited up the entirety of her breakfast all over me, herself, and the towel that I had covering up the previous mess.
So Andrew ran into the bedroom and helped change Rachel while I changed myself...again. My third outfit of the day by 8 AM. I told Andrew, "If she does this again I'm going to call the doctor." I'm so worried that she'll get dehydrated or something but don't want to be one of those overreacting mothers.
As soon as she was back in my arms she wanted to eat again; she was still hungry, having missed out on two feedings already. It's been about a half hour since she ate and she's coughed a few times and has kept everything in her tummy, so I think she'll be alright. I hope she gets over this soon!
I almost did call the doctor this morning. I said to myself, "If she does this again, I'm calling the doctor." She hasn't done it again though, and she's sleeping peacefully so I think she'll be okay.
It started at around 4:00 this morning when Rachel woke up crying. I went in to comfort her and she was acting hungry, so I brought her in bed with us and fed her. She had just fallen back to sleep and was busy snuggling up against me, trying to get comfortable, when she started coughing. I was stroking her head and telling her that everything was going to be alright when I saw a big white cloud form right above us. No sooner had I seen it than it rained down on us, completely drenching me, Rachel, and my nice, clean sheets.
My yelping and, "Oh, no! Baby!" woke Andrew up and he help dry me and Rachel off and got her some fresh pyjamas while I got changed, myself. I had to lay a towel down to cover up the big milk stain the was covering my side of the bed.
Eventually we all got settled in and slept well until seven or eight. I can't even remember when we woke up. Is that sad or what?
Andrew brought Rachel in to me and I started feeding her. She started acting like she had to go potty so we interrupted breakfast and she had a little potty time. She's so funny when she goes pee--it always takes her a bit by surprise. She'll start going and then turn around to look at me with this quizzical look on her face. I say, "You're peeing...that's pee pee," which she'll accept as a logical enough explanation and will turn back around. She understands BMs a whole lot better, probably because she has to do a little pushing so whether it happens in the potty or the diaper it feels the same (except the degree of squishiness after, in which case she prefers the potty).
Anyway, we successfully went potty and I laid Rachel down on her little mat so that I could empty the potty and wash my hands. While I was doing so I heard her ravenously sucking away at something. Expecting her to be sucking on her hand or foot, I turned around to see what she was up to.
She had flipped onto her stomach and was latched onto the floor! She had a nice clean seal, with her lips suctioned perfectly to the floor, and was sucking away. I didn't think that would be possible, but apparently it is if you're really hungry, which Rachel was so we went back to bed to finish giving her her breakfast.
After she had finished eating she looked at me, completely satisfied, and then started to drift off for her usual post-feeding shuteye, a slight smile gracing her face. Her relaxation was again interrupted by a coughing fit and, lucky for me, because she had just finished eating I was directly in her line of fire.
Cough, cough, BLAH!
She vomited up the entirety of her breakfast all over me, herself, and the towel that I had covering up the previous mess.
So Andrew ran into the bedroom and helped change Rachel while I changed myself...again. My third outfit of the day by 8 AM. I told Andrew, "If she does this again I'm going to call the doctor." I'm so worried that she'll get dehydrated or something but don't want to be one of those overreacting mothers.
As soon as she was back in my arms she wanted to eat again; she was still hungry, having missed out on two feedings already. It's been about a half hour since she ate and she's coughed a few times and has kept everything in her tummy, so I think she'll be alright. I hope she gets over this soon!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Three Cheers for Rachel
In the past 4 days, we have changed 5 stinky diapers. We changed no stinky diapers yesterday!
And I just wanted to say that that's awesome! I know some people's babies don't relieve themselves all that often, but Rachel seems to empty her bowels pretty regularly. We still have the 6-8 poopy diapers a day--it never died down. Now that she's eating solid foods more often though, she seems to be able to "hold" it until we get her to the potty better. And I think that she may even be down to 4 BMs per day.
I just love it though. Her one poopy diaper on Thursday was changed by Andrew. And then she did two on Friday. None on Saturday. And two today. Everything else was caught in the potty!
Now we just have to figure out how to get her to hold her pee, I guess.
And I just wanted to say that that's awesome! I know some people's babies don't relieve themselves all that often, but Rachel seems to empty her bowels pretty regularly. We still have the 6-8 poopy diapers a day--it never died down. Now that she's eating solid foods more often though, she seems to be able to "hold" it until we get her to the potty better. And I think that she may even be down to 4 BMs per day.
I just love it though. Her one poopy diaper on Thursday was changed by Andrew. And then she did two on Friday. None on Saturday. And two today. Everything else was caught in the potty!
Now we just have to figure out how to get her to hold her pee, I guess.
Friday, January 18, 2008
My Potty Training Woes
Since Nancy posted pictures of her poopy leg, thanks to Rachel, I thought it would be OK to share this......
So Ian is finally 100% potty trained. He doesn't even need a pull-up at night anymore. I must say that I am proud of myself for having this accomplished before we was three. But these past few days Ian has had the stomach flu, and along with the flu he has also had diarrhea. How do you train a child to deal with that? He is kinda scared of the whole thing and you know what I don't blame him.
We have not had good luck with dealing with this. It seems to come a little too quick for him to make to the bathroom in time. We have had to do extra loads of laundry to keep up with him being able to have clean underwear. Thank goodness we got our new washing machine delivered earlier than was planned.
So we don't know what to do expect to try to keep him close to the bathroom but that hasn't been working to well since.....oh no I better go because here comes Ian walking towards me with his legs spread apart.
So Ian is finally 100% potty trained. He doesn't even need a pull-up at night anymore. I must say that I am proud of myself for having this accomplished before we was three. But these past few days Ian has had the stomach flu, and along with the flu he has also had diarrhea. How do you train a child to deal with that? He is kinda scared of the whole thing and you know what I don't blame him.
We have not had good luck with dealing with this. It seems to come a little too quick for him to make to the bathroom in time. We have had to do extra loads of laundry to keep up with him being able to have clean underwear. Thank goodness we got our new washing machine delivered earlier than was planned.
So we don't know what to do expect to try to keep him close to the bathroom but that hasn't been working to well since.....oh no I better go because here comes Ian walking towards me with his legs spread apart.
Potty Training Woes
This week has been a hard week in the potty training area. Rachel used to be very good about just going whenever I sat her on the potty. She'd wake up from her nap, we'd go potty, and then we would play.
Not this week though. This week she'd wake up and then I'd try to make her use the potty but she'd just scream and arch her back. I'd get her to sit on the potty and we'd sit and sit and sit and sit and sit. Finally I'd cave and put a diaper back on her and then, not even a minute after that, while I'm walking out of the bathroom, she'd go.
It was horribly frustrating.
Anyway, the other morning we were having a little potty fight like this one. She sat on the potty for a good twenty minutes before I finally decided that enough was enough. I took her off the potty, because she has a tendency to tip over and land on her head if she decides to reach for something, and set her on the floor without a diaper on. I figured she would be okay because she'd only be sitting there for a few minutes.
I went and got dressed and checked on her and she was fine. I stood right by her doing my hair, she was fine.
All of a sudden she started giggling...and splashing!
I wheeled around. She had peed on the floor and was splashing away to her heart's content.
I quickly scooped her up and, holding her at arm's length, handed her off to Andrew, who was in the shower.
Mopping up pee is not my favorite thing to do in the world but it had to be done. And I'm happy to report that, although we only caught one pee today, Rachel stopped fighting me every time I tried to put her on the potty. Perhaps we're over that stage?
Not this week though. This week she'd wake up and then I'd try to make her use the potty but she'd just scream and arch her back. I'd get her to sit on the potty and we'd sit and sit and sit and sit and sit. Finally I'd cave and put a diaper back on her and then, not even a minute after that, while I'm walking out of the bathroom, she'd go.
It was horribly frustrating.
Anyway, the other morning we were having a little potty fight like this one. She sat on the potty for a good twenty minutes before I finally decided that enough was enough. I took her off the potty, because she has a tendency to tip over and land on her head if she decides to reach for something, and set her on the floor without a diaper on. I figured she would be okay because she'd only be sitting there for a few minutes.
I went and got dressed and checked on her and she was fine. I stood right by her doing my hair, she was fine.
All of a sudden she started giggling...and splashing!
I wheeled around. She had peed on the floor and was splashing away to her heart's content.
I quickly scooped her up and, holding her at arm's length, handed her off to Andrew, who was in the shower.
Mopping up pee is not my favorite thing to do in the world but it had to be done. And I'm happy to report that, although we only caught one pee today, Rachel stopped fighting me every time I tried to put her on the potty. Perhaps we're over that stage?
Friday, December 7, 2007
Potty Training Motivation
Joy commented on one of my posts saying this:
Another good question is how do you keep her excited about going potty? Karen was all into it about a week and a half ago, and now I can put her up there all I want and she won't do anything! And that's sad because for a few days she did really good too!
Truthfully, I have no idea! Hopefully we'll never come to that. I don't really have to motivate Rachel to want the potty--I just kinda stick her on it and she goes. That's the beauty of elimination communication: if you start early enough the child just thinks it's normal. You don't have to bribe them.
Otherwise, I think almost every child gets bribed.
Sticker charts...toys...
I don't know. I don't remember being potty trained, precisely. I know Heather has a system worked out where x-amount of times in the potty and Ian can choose a car. And Abra gives Kai a prize if he poops in the toilet.
Perhaps they'll elaborate on their methods... Any other ideas?
Another good question is how do you keep her excited about going potty? Karen was all into it about a week and a half ago, and now I can put her up there all I want and she won't do anything! And that's sad because for a few days she did really good too!
Truthfully, I have no idea! Hopefully we'll never come to that. I don't really have to motivate Rachel to want the potty--I just kinda stick her on it and she goes. That's the beauty of elimination communication: if you start early enough the child just thinks it's normal. You don't have to bribe them.
Otherwise, I think almost every child gets bribed.
Sticker charts...toys...
I don't know. I don't remember being potty trained, precisely. I know Heather has a system worked out where x-amount of times in the potty and Ian can choose a car. And Abra gives Kai a prize if he poops in the toilet.
Perhaps they'll elaborate on their methods... Any other ideas?
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
More on Elimination Communication
It's funny to me how much Rachel understands about going on the potty. She actually looks proud of her self every time she goes--she looks up and grins at me. We've been making a lot of headway communicating with each other. I'm starting to understand Rachel's cues and she's starting to understand mine. She's been staying dry all through the night. I've done a lot of research on the internet today and it seems that most babies don't pee themselves in their sleep--they wake up to do it, then fall back asleep. It's only when they're used to sitting in it all the time that they turn off their "censors" so to speak.
We've only had one accident so far. I was holding her over the bowl and her stream went up instead of down. I didn't think that girls did that. Pee got all over the floor but it wasn't a problem. We just used our handy dandy Clorox wipes.
One of the dilemmas we've faced has been getting her clothes off in time. She makes plenty of grunts and groans before relieving herself, but getting off her pants and a onesie and a diaper can be tricky in that short of a time frame. I now understand why they have t-shirts for infants--they really bothered me before because they just don't stay down, but they're great for using the potty. You just keep your baby in a t-shirt and a diaper.
Skirts work well because then you just have to worry about the onesie and diaper. We don't have many skirts and it's a little too cold to go with bare legs so I looked at getting her some baby leg warmers. They are $12 a pair though!
I decided to make her some instead. At first I tried my knifty knitters, but they were too big. Then I remembered that I know how to crochet--I always forget that. This is the first thing I've attempted to crochet that hasn't been flat and rectangular. Don't knock them.
We've only had one accident so far. I was holding her over the bowl and her stream went up instead of down. I didn't think that girls did that. Pee got all over the floor but it wasn't a problem. We just used our handy dandy Clorox wipes.
One of the dilemmas we've faced has been getting her clothes off in time. She makes plenty of grunts and groans before relieving herself, but getting off her pants and a onesie and a diaper can be tricky in that short of a time frame. I now understand why they have t-shirts for infants--they really bothered me before because they just don't stay down, but they're great for using the potty. You just keep your baby in a t-shirt and a diaper.
Skirts work well because then you just have to worry about the onesie and diaper. We don't have many skirts and it's a little too cold to go with bare legs so I looked at getting her some baby leg warmers. They are $12 a pair though!
I decided to make her some instead. At first I tried my knifty knitters, but they were too big. Then I remembered that I know how to crochet--I always forget that. This is the first thing I've attempted to crochet that hasn't been flat and rectangular. Don't knock them.
Here she is, my super star!
Now Rachel stays toasty warm and we don't even have to take them off to go potty. Somehow it throws me back to another decade. Viva scrunch socks! (We're still working on the design).
I haven't been brave enough to attempt going diaper-free yet, but we'll get there. For now I'm just happy that I've only had to change two poopy diapers today. For anyone who knows how often my baby goes, that's a real treat for me!
Does anyone know where to get inexpensive cloth diapers?
I haven't been brave enough to attempt going diaper-free yet, but we'll get there. For now I'm just happy that I've only had to change two poopy diapers today. For anyone who knows how often my baby goes, that's a real treat for me!
Does anyone know where to get inexpensive cloth diapers?
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