Big Girl Undies Day 3



 Well day 3 of Johanna's three day potty training camp are over and lets just say she's not officially potty trained!

Yesterday morning (our last day) Johanna woke up with dry sheets and good spirits. She went all morning with no accidents and even went into the potty to tell me when she needed to go. I was so thrilled, I figured wow the three day method really works! 

Later that morning we were playing with potato stamps and we got so busy Johanna had a little accident. No big deal I thought, we had already been up five hours so that was pretty good!

She went the rest of the morning dry and took her 3 hour nap and woke up dry again! Man, I was feeling good! Visions of diaper free days were in mind, well okay visions of only one child in diapers.

But for some reason just like the day before come afternoon time Johanna's skills blew out the window! She had an accident in the bumbo chair, she had an accident at dinner time and then she had an accident while brushing her teeth. All three times she never told us she needed to go even after constant reminding on our part to tell us when she needed to go.

Like I've said before I can't compare this method with any other style of potty training because I've never used another style. But the persistent asking and reminding backfired with our little peanut. She got sick of us asking and just ignored us completely. And then she got so sick of us asking she started shoo'ing me away while shouting "Go away!" Lol. She is still not at the point where she can tell me consistently that she needs to go hence accidents.

Lora Jensen would say the reason it didn't 'click' as promised in her three day time frame is that I wasn't consistent with her training methods. In my opinion Johanna just isn't fully ready and it's going to take her more than three days. I'm not naive I knew this was the probable outcome so I'm not too disappointed.

I must admit I was beginning to feel a little like Jack Nicholson in the Shining minus the killing and all. I am not made for staying indoors three days straight! When Jeff came home in the evenings I felt like a crazy lady from lack of adult interaction, no shower, messy hair baby on hip chasing Johanna around cleaning puddles up with clorox wipes.

But, I am still so proud of Johanna! Despite numerous accidents and not fully understanding her body signals (in three days) she still did so much better than I was expecting. I mean, wow she can go her 3 hour nap and bedtime dry. That is great! So good job Johanna, Mommy is so proud!

So we will keep plugging away with this potty training thing. I know she will get it when she's ready and that's fine with me! And really, I'm in no rush :)

Rundown of Day 3:

4 wet undies (3 in afternoon)

1 semi wet sheet at 2am

0 poops in potty

1 trip on her own

Would I recommend this method to anyone? Sure! Just don't expect any miracles :)

Pros:

1. No nonsense approach really makes you stick with it and stay dedicated

2. I am always a fan of positive reinforcement and it was a lot of fun picking cheap prizes and handing them out

3. No diapers from day one

4. Easy to get done over a long weekend if you are a working Mom

5. Positive Results!

 Cons:

1. Diapers eliminated completely (yes, this is a con too!)

2. Constant repetition is tiresome to both you and child

3. Expect to go stir crazy

4. Hard to do with child and baby, but obviously this isn't the case with everyone

5. No miracle 3 day results

Day 4 update:

First thing bright and early Johanna had a huge accident in my bed. Then another one while I was taking a shower. Which granted was my fault for leaving her alone, poor thing. I had about given up hope. But then we put her thanksgiving dress on to which I told her we couldn't get dirty or we'd have to take it off. Then we started watching the Macy's parade and wall-ah! She told me she had to go potty. Then later she told me she had to go potty. Then even later she told me again. And then she told me she had to poop...aghhh!!! Four times she told me- success.

 

So no, she isn't potty trained. But she sure is trying! Good luck to all you potty training Momma's out there, hope our little experience helps you out or at least reassures you if you try this method that success is not guaranteed ;)