All week Cassidy's been in a diaper for school and in and out of a diaper at home. When we are home, even if she has a diaper on, she asks to use the potty and stays dry. At school, she'll sit on the potty, but still pees/poos in her diaper.
Yesterday when I picked her up, we used the school potty before getting in the car as part of our new routine. She peed! In the school potty!
This morning she requested a diaper. Then after breakfast, she asked to sit on the potty. We took her diaper off and she sat for a while. When she was done, I asked if she wanted to wear a diaper or "big girl underwear" to school. SHE CHOSE UNDERWEAR!
School report:
1 pee in the potty in the morning!
diaper for nap
underwear after nap
they noticed she was holding it again and asked her to use the potty. No luck. So they offered a diaper to which she said yes and immediately peed in.
0 accidents
Baby steps, but at least we're moving forward!
Home:
1 pee on the potty seat
1st pee on the big potty!!!!!
0 accidents
More practice this weekend!
Friday, January 14, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Potty Chronicles: Weekend Update
Saturday:
4 pees in the potty
1 accident while having a tantrum over not being with mommy who was
resting in bed
0 poos in the potty, 1 in the diaper
Sunday:
3 pees in the potty
1 poo in the potty
Whenever given the choice, Cassidy still chooses a diaper over underwear. She chooses to use the small potty seat rather than the seat on the toilet 100% of the time. She'll sit on the seat on the toilet, but has yet to make a deposit there.
We're going with diapers at school for a little while, and continuing to practice the potty at home. Hopefully she'll warm up to the toilet idea soon so we can try again with the big potty at school.
4 pees in the potty
1 accident while having a tantrum over not being with mommy who was
resting in bed
0 poos in the potty, 1 in the diaper
Sunday:
3 pees in the potty
1 poo in the potty
Whenever given the choice, Cassidy still chooses a diaper over underwear. She chooses to use the small potty seat rather than the seat on the toilet 100% of the time. She'll sit on the seat on the toilet, but has yet to make a deposit there.
We're going with diapers at school for a little while, and continuing to practice the potty at home. Hopefully she'll warm up to the toilet idea soon so we can try again with the big potty at school.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Learning Her Manners
Cassidy says:
She's learning to finish chewing before speaking.
She's learning to ask politely before helping herself to someone else's plate or drink.
She's saying "Thank you for ........." with only a light prompting of "do you have something to say
to Nana and Papa?" (Tonight she said, "Thank for park and horsies," after their
post daycare trip to the park to ride the carousel.)
We are working on:
- Thank you
- Excuse me
- Please
- Bless you
She's learning to finish chewing before speaking.
She's learning to ask politely before helping herself to someone else's plate or drink.
She's saying "Thank you for ........." with only a light prompting of "do you have something to say
to Nana and Papa?" (Tonight she said, "Thank for park and horsies," after their
post daycare trip to the park to ride the carousel.)
We are working on:
- Excuse me after burping or tooting
- Getting that darn finger out of her nose --not a problem except when she's congested, which seems to be ALL THE TIME.
- Putting her boogies into a tissue instead of her mouth --YUCK!
- Learning appropriate behaviours for home versus in public (for example, pulling down mommy's clothes to see freckles, or nipples, or belly buttons, or underwear, etc.)
- Drinking at mealtimes without spitting our milk or juice all over the table just so she can wipe it up with the napkin.
- Tipping our plate over when we are done eating rather than pushing it gently away and saying "all done".
The Potty Chronicles: Update
All day in diapers at school
Evening at Home:
Tonight when she peed in her potty and then yelled for us to come look, Daddy went to look and told her, "that's great and we'll celebrate when your time out is over" and then walked away. Cassidy howled but finished her time out, had her time out review, and apologized to Baxter. Then we did the potty dance and she got her stickers, which she decided looked great on Mommy's shirt.
Until the other night, Cassidy's time outs had always been in this gated area because she thought it was great fun for Mommy to sit down next to her and repeatedly make her sit back down ... rather unproductive when she's laughing throughout the time out. However, the other night, Cassidy earned a time out (I think for kicking Sake, or pulling Bilbo's tail, or something pet related after receiving 1 warning.) As soon as I said "time out" she hit the floor right where she was and said, "I time out here." Curiousity got the better of me so I said okay. You need to sit there until the timer beeps. She looked up at me from her seat and repeatedly asked "Beep?" after the first minute, but she sat right there until that timer beeped. She stood up, did the time out review, apologized to whichever pet was the victim, and then continued playing ... my little girl is learning impulse control!!!!
Evening at Home:
- 1 accident in her pants on the way to the potty (daddy didn't take her request seriously and took their time getting off the bed.)
- a couple of attempts
- 1 pee in the small potty while in time out for hitting Baxter
Tonight when she peed in her potty and then yelled for us to come look, Daddy went to look and told her, "that's great and we'll celebrate when your time out is over" and then walked away. Cassidy howled but finished her time out, had her time out review, and apologized to Baxter. Then we did the potty dance and she got her stickers, which she decided looked great on Mommy's shirt.
Until the other night, Cassidy's time outs had always been in this gated area because she thought it was great fun for Mommy to sit down next to her and repeatedly make her sit back down ... rather unproductive when she's laughing throughout the time out. However, the other night, Cassidy earned a time out (I think for kicking Sake, or pulling Bilbo's tail, or something pet related after receiving 1 warning.) As soon as I said "time out" she hit the floor right where she was and said, "I time out here." Curiousity got the better of me so I said okay. You need to sit there until the timer beeps. She looked up at me from her seat and repeatedly asked "Beep?" after the first minute, but she sat right there until that timer beeped. She stood up, did the time out review, apologized to whichever pet was the victim, and then continued playing ... my little girl is learning impulse control!!!!
Home and Recovering
Made it through my surgery.
Super easy.
I used the crutches to get home and rested most of the afternoon.
Walking without the crutches now, and taking the occasional vicodin.
Hoping the rest of the weekend goes as well.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The Potty Chronicles: Rockin' the Little Potty
After a very brief sit on the potty seat, Cassidy requested a diaper again this morning, and wanted me to lift her onto the changing table. I asked her if she'd like to choose which big girl underwear to wear or if she'd rather wear a diaper. She chose diaper. So I swallowed my disappointment and put her in her diaper. (I think I kept my expression neutral when I did this.)
Later, while I was getting dressed, Cassidy pointed out my underwear.
I said, "Mommy has big girl underwear. Would you like to wear big girl underwear today?" She said "No. I have a diaper." Can't get much clearer than that. Hmmmph.
After breakfast, she asked to take off her diaper to sit on the potty, so Daddy helped. No deposit. She asked to put her diaper back on, so he did and off to school they went.
"A" said they will continue to ask Cassidy if she has to potty throughout the day and let her choose if she'd like her diaper or underwear on.
Dr. B returned my call after I left a message with the nurse. He said we should definitely back off on the potty training so Cassidy stops holding out. He said there is, in fact, a small risk of UTI from holding urine. More importantly, refusing to poo can cause constipation and lead to more withholding and more trouble down the road. His advice was "since Cassidy is so young, back off and let her use her diapers or pull ups again for awhile.
So I guess that's what we'll do.
Probably okay since I'll be a bit laid up this weekend with my surgery.
EVENING UPDATE:
Cassidy was in diapers all day at daycare.
Tonight we did the pantsless routine and Cassidy ROCKED that little potty seat!!!!
Totals:
3 pees in the little potty
1 pee on the floor on the way to the little potty
1 poo in the little potty
Pee number 1 was before mommy and daddy got home from work. Papa and Nana rewarded with candy before they learned the new rules. Cassidy was still excited to get her stickers on the next 3 successes though and she stuck them all over her shirt and pants!
Cassidy was very much her normal self tonight and even willingly let daddy put her to bed. Hoping the adjustment back to school is just about complete.
We'll continue pantsless at home on nights and weekends, and work on using the big potty.
Later, while I was getting dressed, Cassidy pointed out my underwear.
I said, "Mommy has big girl underwear. Would you like to wear big girl underwear today?" She said "No. I have a diaper." Can't get much clearer than that. Hmmmph.
After breakfast, she asked to take off her diaper to sit on the potty, so Daddy helped. No deposit. She asked to put her diaper back on, so he did and off to school they went.
"A" said they will continue to ask Cassidy if she has to potty throughout the day and let her choose if she'd like her diaper or underwear on.
Dr. B returned my call after I left a message with the nurse. He said we should definitely back off on the potty training so Cassidy stops holding out. He said there is, in fact, a small risk of UTI from holding urine. More importantly, refusing to poo can cause constipation and lead to more withholding and more trouble down the road. His advice was "since Cassidy is so young, back off and let her use her diapers or pull ups again for awhile.
So I guess that's what we'll do.
Probably okay since I'll be a bit laid up this weekend with my surgery.
EVENING UPDATE:
Cassidy was in diapers all day at daycare.
Tonight we did the pantsless routine and Cassidy ROCKED that little potty seat!!!!
Totals:
3 pees in the little potty
1 pee on the floor on the way to the little potty
1 poo in the little potty
Pee number 1 was before mommy and daddy got home from work. Papa and Nana rewarded with candy before they learned the new rules. Cassidy was still excited to get her stickers on the next 3 successes though and she stuck them all over her shirt and pants!
Cassidy was very much her normal self tonight and even willingly let daddy put her to bed. Hoping the adjustment back to school is just about complete.
We'll continue pantsless at home on nights and weekends, and work on using the big potty.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
The Potty Chronicles: Underwear at Daycare, Day 3
Morning at Home:
Very wet diaper from nighttime
This morning she asked me to put a diaper on. I redirected to underwear and had her pick out which ones she wanted to wear.
I asked "A" and "E"(my super mommy resource) about this in the morning. Both said keep her in underwear.
2 attempts
0 pees
0 poos
0 accidents
Morning at School:
Several attempts and willing to sit on the potty
0 pees
0 poos
0 accidents
1 pee and poo in diaper for naptime.... she's holding it until then.
Correction: 1 pee and poo explosion as soon as they put the diaper on her.
Afternoon at School:
0 pees
0 poos
0 accidents
Today when I picked Cassidy up, "A" mentioned that perhaps we should step back and put Cassidy in diapers again for a bit. She's concerned about her holding out for the diaper and thinks if we take a step back and let Cassidy lead the way, she'll come around to using the potty in the next couple of weeks. She's also concerned that she could develop some health problems by refusing to go like she is. I think I'll put in a call to the doctor and check on this, but I'm more concerned about the anxiety Cassidy might feel about going to school thinking she can't poo or pee until naptime.
I'm not sure about what to do here ... but then again, I haven't been sure about anything we've done so far. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Evening at home:
1 pee in the potty
0 poos
0 accidents
I think a major issue here is that at home, Cassidy chooses to pee and poo on the potty that sits on the floor, rather than on the seat that sits on top of the toilet. They don't have the floor kind at daycare, and she seems to be intimidated by the "big" potty.
Daily totals:
1 pee in the potty
0 poos in the potty
1 explosive pee/poo in diaper
dry pants all day
Excitement over stickers after her successful pee at home
0 M&Ms
0 raisins
0 tantrums
1 happy little girl in the evening
1 confused mama
Very wet diaper from nighttime
This morning she asked me to put a diaper on. I redirected to underwear and had her pick out which ones she wanted to wear.
I asked "A" and "E"(my super mommy resource) about this in the morning. Both said keep her in underwear.
2 attempts
0 pees
0 poos
0 accidents
Morning at School:
Several attempts and willing to sit on the potty
0 pees
0 poos
0 accidents
1 pee and poo in diaper for naptime.... she's holding it until then.
Correction: 1 pee and poo explosion as soon as they put the diaper on her.
Afternoon at School:
0 pees
0 poos
0 accidents
Today when I picked Cassidy up, "A" mentioned that perhaps we should step back and put Cassidy in diapers again for a bit. She's concerned about her holding out for the diaper and thinks if we take a step back and let Cassidy lead the way, she'll come around to using the potty in the next couple of weeks. She's also concerned that she could develop some health problems by refusing to go like she is. I think I'll put in a call to the doctor and check on this, but I'm more concerned about the anxiety Cassidy might feel about going to school thinking she can't poo or pee until naptime.
I'm not sure about what to do here ... but then again, I haven't been sure about anything we've done so far. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Evening at home:
1 pee in the potty
0 poos
0 accidents
I think a major issue here is that at home, Cassidy chooses to pee and poo on the potty that sits on the floor, rather than on the seat that sits on top of the toilet. They don't have the floor kind at daycare, and she seems to be intimidated by the "big" potty.
Daily totals:
1 pee in the potty
0 poos in the potty
1 explosive pee/poo in diaper
dry pants all day
Excitement over stickers after her successful pee at home
0 M&Ms
0 raisins
0 tantrums
1 happy little girl in the evening
1 confused mama
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
By The Way....
I'm having knee surgery this friday to remove my torn meniscus. Nana and Papa are coming in to help, but I'm not anticipating needing to much assistance since I've been told I will not even need crutches after surgery.
The Potty Chronicles: Underwear at Daycare, Day 2
Home:
Asked to sit on the "big potty" while getting ready.
0 pees in potty
0 poos in potty
Morning:
1 accident
refusal to sit on the potty after that
0 pees in potty
0 poos in potty
Diaper for Nap
Afternoon:
1 accident
1 pee on the big potty. She asked to go!
Lacking other details because her teachers were already gone and the teacher from the other classroom was with her. Today she asked to go get a sticker from "A" on our way out like she got yesterday. "A" was already gone, so no sticker, which Cassidy seemed upset by.
"A" has STRONGLY recommended that we stop using M&Ms and chocolate raisins as Cassidy's reward because of food issues that can develop by using food as rewards. We agree and were hesitant to start using candy in the first place. However that seemed the only thing that Cassidy was interested in enough to focus her attention on using the potty. We are planning to "run out" of M&Ms and raisins soon, and replace them with stickers, which is consistent with what Cassidy is rewarded with at daycare. Honestly, I'm doubtful that the stickers will be incentive enough for Cassidy.
Does anyone else have any other suggestions for rewards other than candy or stickers?
Evening:
0 accidents
1 pee in the potty!
We worked some stickers into the routine tonight. It did NOT go well. Cassidy initially was all smiles about the stickers and wanted one, until she realized it meant no M&M or Raisin. Wow did she throw a fit. she managed to pee in the potty after that, and was rewarded with 3 raisins and a sticker. She turned down the sticker and burst into tears because she wanted M&Ms. After a while, she pointed out that she was still clean and dry, and by that time we had removed the offending bowl containing M&Ms and Raisins from sight and said that they were all gone. (Easier to tear the band aid off all at once rather than slowly.) While I think we needed rewards to get Cassidy interested and jump start the process, I'm kind of wishing we hadn't gone down that path. Eventually once she realized she wasn't going to get M&Ms or Raisins, she responded to the sticker. But even then she wasn't really interested.
I'm sure that tonights episodes were even more dramatic because she's tired. It's only tuesday and its already been a rough week. Cassidy's transition back to school has left her anxious and clingy, mostly to mommy. She woke repeatedly last night crying for mommy, and eventually daddy too. We were up for at least 2-3 hours with her, on and off. This left us with one exhausted (read: whiny and difficult) little girl tonight. Hoping for better sleep tonight.
Daily Totals:
2 pees in the potty (one school, one home)
2 accidents (both school)
0 poos (lots of tooting and squeezing)
1 exhausted little girl
1 crabby mommy--medicated with mac and cheese at lunch and chocolate after dinner (this is why I don't want Cassidy to have food issues!)
Asked to sit on the "big potty" while getting ready.
0 pees in potty
0 poos in potty
Morning:
1 accident
refusal to sit on the potty after that
0 pees in potty
0 poos in potty
Diaper for Nap
Afternoon:
1 accident
1 pee on the big potty. She asked to go!
Lacking other details because her teachers were already gone and the teacher from the other classroom was with her. Today she asked to go get a sticker from "A" on our way out like she got yesterday. "A" was already gone, so no sticker, which Cassidy seemed upset by.
"A" has STRONGLY recommended that we stop using M&Ms and chocolate raisins as Cassidy's reward because of food issues that can develop by using food as rewards. We agree and were hesitant to start using candy in the first place. However that seemed the only thing that Cassidy was interested in enough to focus her attention on using the potty. We are planning to "run out" of M&Ms and raisins soon, and replace them with stickers, which is consistent with what Cassidy is rewarded with at daycare. Honestly, I'm doubtful that the stickers will be incentive enough for Cassidy.
Does anyone else have any other suggestions for rewards other than candy or stickers?
Evening:
0 accidents
1 pee in the potty!
We worked some stickers into the routine tonight. It did NOT go well. Cassidy initially was all smiles about the stickers and wanted one, until she realized it meant no M&M or Raisin. Wow did she throw a fit. she managed to pee in the potty after that, and was rewarded with 3 raisins and a sticker. She turned down the sticker and burst into tears because she wanted M&Ms. After a while, she pointed out that she was still clean and dry, and by that time we had removed the offending bowl containing M&Ms and Raisins from sight and said that they were all gone. (Easier to tear the band aid off all at once rather than slowly.) While I think we needed rewards to get Cassidy interested and jump start the process, I'm kind of wishing we hadn't gone down that path. Eventually once she realized she wasn't going to get M&Ms or Raisins, she responded to the sticker. But even then she wasn't really interested.
I'm sure that tonights episodes were even more dramatic because she's tired. It's only tuesday and its already been a rough week. Cassidy's transition back to school has left her anxious and clingy, mostly to mommy. She woke repeatedly last night crying for mommy, and eventually daddy too. We were up for at least 2-3 hours with her, on and off. This left us with one exhausted (read: whiny and difficult) little girl tonight. Hoping for better sleep tonight.
Daily Totals:
2 pees in the potty (one school, one home)
2 accidents (both school)
0 poos (lots of tooting and squeezing)
1 exhausted little girl
1 crabby mommy--medicated with mac and cheese at lunch and chocolate after dinner (this is why I don't want Cassidy to have food issues!)
Monday, January 3, 2011
Safety and Paranoia
In the interest of safety and paranoia, I have decided to change the URL of my blog in order to remove our family names as well as remove our last names from all previous posts. The URL address of my blog will be changing soon. When this happens, please contact me if you wish to continue reading, and I'll be happy to give you the new address. If you are a blog follower, you will need to sign up to follow the blog at the new address the same way you signed up last time.
Thanks,
Jen
Underwear at Daycare: Day 1
We sent her to school today in underwear. Got a call from A at daycare at lunchtime.
Morning report:
Cassidy was still clean and dry! They had her sit on the potty several times to try, but no deposits.
Diaper for naptime.
So far so good!
Afternoon report:
As of 5:00 when I was on my way to get her...
1 dry diaper after nap
1 pee in potty after nap
When I got there, she was in different pants and had just had an accident. She told her teacher she had to go potty, but they didn't make it there in time.
Just after dinner, Cassidy said she had to potty but immediately started crying and wouldn't let me help her or even touch her. She squeezed and squeezed, obviously in pain. She pooped in her pants and was so upset. We went to the toilet together and dropped in the (rock hard) poop - poor thing. After we changed her pants, she wanted raisins or M&Ms which we didn't give her. Instead we told her that the poop has to go in the potty. So she said she had more poop and wanted to sit on the potty. Sure enough, that little girl squeezed out more poop right into the potty!!!!! So we sang, and celebrated, and she called Daddy into the room to see it while her little feet tapped up and down and she pointed in delight. She got her M&M's AND Raisins.
Day totals:
1 pee in the potty
1 pee accident
1 poo in the potty
1 poo accident
Dry pants almost the whole day at daycare.
1 change of underpants at home.
An incredible day if you ask me!
Who knew a person could get SO excited over pee and poop!
Morning report:
Cassidy was still clean and dry! They had her sit on the potty several times to try, but no deposits.
Diaper for naptime.
So far so good!
Afternoon report:
As of 5:00 when I was on my way to get her...
1 dry diaper after nap
1 pee in potty after nap
When I got there, she was in different pants and had just had an accident. She told her teacher she had to go potty, but they didn't make it there in time.
Just after dinner, Cassidy said she had to potty but immediately started crying and wouldn't let me help her or even touch her. She squeezed and squeezed, obviously in pain. She pooped in her pants and was so upset. We went to the toilet together and dropped in the (rock hard) poop - poor thing. After we changed her pants, she wanted raisins or M&Ms which we didn't give her. Instead we told her that the poop has to go in the potty. So she said she had more poop and wanted to sit on the potty. Sure enough, that little girl squeezed out more poop right into the potty!!!!! So we sang, and celebrated, and she called Daddy into the room to see it while her little feet tapped up and down and she pointed in delight. She got her M&M's AND Raisins.
Day totals:
1 pee in the potty
1 pee accident
1 poo in the potty
1 poo accident
Dry pants almost the whole day at daycare.
1 change of underpants at home.
An incredible day if you ask me!
Who knew a person could get SO excited over pee and poop!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Operation Potty: Things Are Looking Up
On day 4, we introduced "Big Girl Elephant" who wears some of Cassidy's big girl underwear and sits on and pees in the potty, just like Cassidy. She gets M&M's and Chocolate covered raisins for putting pee in the potty.
We also started rewarding Cassidy all day long for staying "dry and clean". She gets 1 M&M or raisin everytime we ask her if she's dry and clean (That way we can reward her continuously rather then only when she hits the potty). She gets 3 M&Ms and 3 raisins each time she puts pee in the potty. We also have been dancing, jumping up and down, clapping, and basically going crazy every time she succeeds.
Day 6:
Underwear and pants all morning.
0 accidents!
0 poos on or off the potty
2 successful pees! --both initiated by Cassidy.
(One time her underpants were a little wet like she stopped herself to get to the potty. We changed underwear, but her pants were still dry.)
Diaper for nap time.
This morning after we celebrated her success, we had all calmed back down again. Cassidy came walking into the living room, wobbling back and forth with a little dance while singing "Pee-pee-in-the-potty, Pee-pee-in-the-potty". Cutest thing ever. I tried to get her to do it for the camera, but as always, she stopped all action and wanted to see the pictures. I think I'm going to have to invest in a hidden camera to catch all of her cute moves.
It's become very obvious that Cassidy only wants to sit on the potty when it's her idea. She has not had a single success that wasn't initiated by her. We remind her often, but aren't making her sit when she doesn't want to anymore.
After Nap:
0 Accidents!
1 pee in the potty!
This included dinner out and a stop at the mall, with the toilet seat tucked right into the diaper bag.
We sat before we left the house.
Nothing.
We stopped for her to try about 2 minutes after getting in the car because she said she had to potty.
Nothing.
We tried again when we got to the restaurant.
Nothing.
We sprinted to the bathroom twice during dinner because she said she needed to potty. Nothing. Nothing.
We stopped at the bathroom in Macy's while exchanging some shirts.
Nothing.
We got home and were in the house for about 2 minutes when Cassidy came into the bathroom to tell me she had to potty. I hadn't put her toilet seat back yet, so we ran out to her potty chair where she pulled down her pants and efficiently deposited her pee right in the potty!
I'm leaning towards sending her to school in underwear after such a good day, but still undecided. I have an email out to the director at the daycare who I've been in touch with over the last couple days about the process to see what she thinks. Their policy is that a child can remain in underwear if they can stay dry and clean. If they have back to back accidents, they go back into diapers. Totally understandable.
I'll keep you posted.
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