Potty Training: Round 300 and something!

Potty training has proven to be a lengthy process for us.  It all started when the kids turned 2 years old and got these really cool potty chairs from Aunt Helen and Uncle Larry.

We let them play with the potty chairs for months until we started trying to potty train in the summer.  That time it was short lived.  We again started trying a few months ago.  We started with no reward, then moved on to m&m's, and eventually we started a sticker system.  Every time they earned 10 stickers, they'd get a small cheap toy.  Then once they got all four lines filled on their chart, they got a big toy, which usually ended up being a dvd since thats what they wanted.  This worked for Aiden and he filled his chart 3 times before we said he was actually potty trained.  Now he is successfully using the potty and we're thinking about not putting a diaper on him at nap time since he wakes up dry each time.  Go Aiden!

We even bought one of those padded seats that sit on the toilet.  That helped with Aiden too!

Madelynn continues to provide us with attitude about the whole process.  We are constantly telling her to go in and go potty.  She knows when she needs to go, but she's too lazy to do it.  Pooping on the potty is still a major issue and doesn't ever happen on the potty.  So tonight we started something new.  We bought a set of crowns, rings, bracelets, earings, wands, etc and put them in a tote.  We told her that whenever she poops on the potty she can pick one thing from the tote.  She is excited so we're hoping it will work.  She knows when she needs to go because she finds a hiding place and squats...very obvious!  We're hoping for the best.

Malachi has also been showing some interest in potty training.  He doesn't like wearing his diaper anymore and takes it off all the time.  He likes wearing underwear but he pees and poops in them and THEN goes and sits on the potty.  So, we got him a tote of goodies too.  He has a sweet tooth so each time he has any success on the potty, he gets to pick one piece of candy.  I know...I said I wouldn't do candy rewards, but hey...somethings gotta give!

So we start potty training, round 300 and something.  I've lost track as it seems like this whole process has been going on for well over a year!