A few weeks back we tackled one of the scariest hurdles in being a parent…that’s right, potty training!
I always thought Braylen would potty train super early because he was cloth diapered, and ‘they’ say that that encourages early training success. While that wasn’t our experience, I do believe that it did help a little. He knew the wet sensation more than a kid thats only worn disposables, and he knew how to hold it longer than normal because of the amount of times I would let him ‘air-out’. I was so nervous to begin this journey, so I didn’t know when to start! We ended up waiting until he finally said yes to us asking him if he wanted to try and go pee on the potty. We had gotten a kid potty probably two months prior just so he could get used to seeing it, but he was never interested in actually using it- till one day!
I knew I wanted to follow some sort of actual program, rather than just winging it- so I used the 3 Day Potty Training program. I loved that this program was very set-out and detailed. I didn’t know the first thing when it came to potty training, so I wanted someone to dummy it down as much as possible! To summarize it up, she says to throw out all diapers and NEVER use one again {yes, that means naps and overnight as well}. She also says to only ask the kid to tell you when they have to go, rather than you asking if they have to constantly. She does not believe in the ‘taking them every 30 minutes’ method. She does believe in using rewards to help the process, but not to threaten with rewards {ie- if you don’t go potty you won’t get ‘x,y,or z’}. One of her biggest things is to catch them in the act of an accident, EVERY single time it happens. And when you do, to rush them to the potty to have them finish there. She doesn’t claim there won’t be accidents, she even says there will probably be a lot of them. She does however claim that you can potty train any kid, and within three days. So here’s our take on the whole thing: We followed what she said and got set up with all the necessary items: big boy undies, special treats, juice boxes, moist flushable wipes, and potty’s. I got two potty’s because I wasn’t sure which way he would like to go {seat is Arm and Hammer, full blown potty is Summer Infant}
I also stocked up on some necessary cleaning supplies, as I knew his bathroom would never be as clean again! I am always a lover of using all natural products, but when it comes to things like the potty {and sometimes tub}, give me the real stuff! We are lovers of up&up’s line in general, and in this case, of the All Purpose cleaner and the Disinfecting Wipes. 
I also made the decision to ignore her advice on no diapers overnight. Bray sleeps 12 hours and I am waking up in the middle of the night with Winston as it is, so I did not want to have another thing causing me to get up. I also definitely don’t feel comfortable with Bray using the bathroom on his own at night, so I just decided to stick with diapers overnight. And you know what- I honestly think it’s been totally fine and not confusing at all to him. He does do his naps in undies though:) The first day he had two pee accidents, one being during the day, one during his nap {which I knew would happen}. He was having a ton of fun wearing the undies, getting treats, and feeling like such a big boy. It was actually funny because he drank a full Camelback kid’s water bottle, two juice boxes, and even more water based fruit, and still wouldn’t pee for like 5 hours! I thought his bladder was going to burst, but eventually he got over the stage fright and went! The second day, no accidents except for peeing a little during his nap! I seriously couldn’t believe that not only did he not completely saturate his bed, but that it was only a little pee! This stuff was actually working!
Third day, no accidents whatsoever!! Stayed totally dry during his nap {his naps are always 2-3 hours!} and even woke up in the morning with a fairly dry diaper. So now, the training is technically over. Even though I am solely supposed to listen to him for when he should go pee, I still for sure ‘make’ him go even when he says he doesn’t have to- and sure enough he goes. One weird and SUPER sucky thing thats happened after the three days were over is pooping. He was doing great in the beginning, and then something changed. Not sure what or why, but now he hates pooping in the potty. He’s only done it a few times well, the rest has mainly been in his overnight diaper, or worse- in his freaking undies. Let me tell you just how fun that is to clean out! 
My method for cleaning up the crap {literally} is to toss the clothes in the sink, and toss the poop in the toilet. It always manages to go everywhere so I have to clean the toilet after with the disinfectant wipes. Those things are magical in the sense that they kill 99.9% of bacteria in 15 SECONDS {just like the Clorox wipes, but way less expensive}! Love it! and then put Bray in the bath immediately. It’s like the crap seeps in to his skin more when in undies, so baths are necessary!
One of her big things though is to not even lay them down on the changing table again, so they don’t feel like a baby. This leads to needing the moist flushable wipes, and then tossing a semi clean boy in the tub. Now I don’t know about you, but nothing is more disgusting to me than a semi-poopy bath. Haha but seriously, that needs to be cleaned immediately-which is when the all-purpose spray comes in handy. This stuff is the golden ticket, it fights stains, deodorizes, and disinfects all in one! 
So, final verdict on the 3 day potty training method? It does work. I am not sure how differently our situation would have been if I had truly cut out ALL diapers {overnights}, but I am still so happy. Yes, I wish the pooping in the undies never happened, or happens again, but I am still SO impressed. If you are wanting to try it out make sure you have the treats, undies, potties, and cleaning supplies ready to go:) And maybe a glass of wine or beer as your treat at the end of the day! And if you have any helpful advice on the poop- I am all ears:):) So tell me- what is one hard thing you have attempted to do lately? Was it successful or no?I kind of feel like I can conquer the world now after having potty trained Bray;)
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