I may have mentioned in the past how much I was dreading potty training.
Well I can't officially declare Ellie potty trained, but we're fantastically close!
We tried the "Kool-Aid Method", which is what my mother-in-law did with her kids.
Basically you let them have a big cup of Kool-Aid and you hang out in the bathroom, read books, until they go potty. It's more of a get-them-acquainted-with-the-potty-chair system, than a long-term plan. I tried it when Ellie was interested in the potty, but wasn't quite aware of when she had to go. I figured a little Kool-Aid couldn't hurt, but I was secretly hoping it wouldn't work. I wasn't super excited about the idea of filling Ellie with sugar water.
Well, it turns out Ellie doesn't like Kool-Aid.
She seemed into it at first, but after about four sips, she was done and asked for water.
I was okay with that, less sugar means a better bedtime for me!
When Ellie got really into the idea of sitting on the potty, I made her a Potty Chart. I just bought a poster board, a bunch of stickers, and made a grid. This kid is obsessed with stickers, so I thought it would work as a reward.
At the beginning our system was:
- Sit on the potty = 1 sticker (even if she didn't do anything)*
- Pee on the potty = 2 stickers
- Poop on the potty = 3 stickers**
I was hopeful that by the time we filled up the chart she would be potty trained,
but I wasn't counting on it.
Well, the chart is full and we're so close!
I am really glad we didn't have to resort to candy.
Although I would have done it, if it came down to it.
Now I have to dig out some of Ellie's old clothes
because without a diaper she's back to 12 month size pants...
*Once she got accustomed to sitting on the potty, she no longer received a sticker unless she actually went to the bathroom.
**She still has yet to poop on the potty.
