Potty Training

I tried several different times to potty train Cole and it never seemed to work - It always seemed like I was just training myself to take him in the bathroom every 20 minutes. He picked out his own seat... Picked out his big boy underwear... But every time I mentioned it, "No, I wear iapers. I can't like big boy underwear."

The day after California Adventures (Dec 5th), he started telling me he had to go. "Hurry, Mama! I go potty! Quickly, quickly!" and he'd race to the bathroom. He did awesome for a week and then it fizzled. I'm sure a lot of it was my fault - I kept him in diapers because I assumed he'd treat them like pull-ups, but also dreaded the laundry and didn't feel like cleaning the carpet/couch all day long. Spit-up patrol is already a full-time job.

Fast forward to January 4th. I waited until Christmas and his birthday were over, so we had no excuses. Put his Thomas underwear on in the morning and by 5pm we had eight accidents. I swear, I'd put a new pair on and not even 5 minutes later he'd need a new one. I put him in a diaper at 5:30pm, handed him over to Tom and went to a wine bar with Aunt Traci.

The following morning I took him to Target. Let him pick out another set (McQueen and Buzz, of course!) and got a 3-pack of plain white ones. When we got home I told him if he had an accident, he'd have to wear the 'baby' ones. Within 5 minutes, they had to go on. He flipped. Not even 10 minutes later he told me had to go. First time in a really long time! We ran and he did great. Because he didn't have an accident, he was rewarded with Thomas ones.

I told him if he pooped in them, they were going in the trash. I told him if he pooped in the potty, Daddy would take him for a milkshake. That evening he went and Tom immediately walked him (in the rain!) to get one.

Two weeks later, not ONE accident. We can run errands, go to the playground... And he always gives me enough time to find a bathroom.

The process was way easier than I thought it would be - I'm sure it's because I waited so long he's practically a teenager, but his love of Thomas, McQueen and Buzz helped. Seriously, who knew 10 minutes of wearing plain white underwear would be the answer!?