Potty Training: 5 things you need

I really think the biggest part of potty training is waiting for your kid to let you know they're ready. There is absolutely no possible way to get a kid this age to make a big change like that unless they decide to do it on their own... We got lucky with Gemma and she was fully potty trained by 2 and half... But I started trying at 18 months! Here's what eventually worked for us!

1. Big Girl Panties

For Gemma's second birthday a genius cousin of mine gave her some super fancy big girl panties! Gemma was BLOWN away by that. She wanted to wear them all the time... Like sissy. Jaden was with us to make a big deal out of this and that meant the world to Gemma... 

2. Sticker Chart

This would never have worked in the beginning but once she started getting bored with the whole I'm gonna be a big girl thing it became necessary... Ten stickers meant she got a new baby from the store! We only had to do that once and then she just wanted the stickers... I was lucky! (But also, so desperate I was actually more than willing to buy fifty thousand creepy baby dolls.)

3. Bribes

She still asks for a piece of candy after she uses the potty and I will continue to give it to her for as long as she asks for it! The reward system is her jam.

4. Books

We checked out tons of potty books from the library and even though she wasn't super interested in the stories she did get to see lots of little people on potties and not in diapers! I really think exposure is a big part of everything we try to teach toddlers...

5. Potty Seat

We were building our house when we started potty training the first time and we added this seat to our toilet. It doesn't look like a space ship, take up any extra floor space or have Disney princesses all over it and oddly enough that worked for our girl. It's also removable so when all of the butts in your house are normal sized you can get rid of the seat for tiny butts!

One thing I didn't buy and really regret is a waterproof seat protector for her car seat. Looking back this is a total and complete mom fail. As we all know car seats are an investment and Gemma's would have held up a lot better if we had that one little pad to protect it! Lesson learned!

We also still use a pull-up at night. Sometimes she wakes during the night to go but not always. Her Pediatrician says this part is more about bladder maturity and her ability to hold it through the night... As far as I'm concerned she can sleep in pull-ups until she's 30 if she wants to!! No more diapers!!!! (...for five more minutes until the new one gets here!)

Now, about that thumb sucking thing...

XOXO

Miranda