The Potty Chronicles

I don't want to forget a single detail of Roman's life, especially his exciting potty-training adventures! So, here is a summary of the last six months:

Although we officially started late with what they call Infant Potty Training*, or Elimination Communication, for the first 8 months we would make a psss noise when Roman peed, say the word potty and make the ASL sign for bathroom. We noticed he liked to pee when his diaper came off or when we blew on his willy wonka, so we would often use the cues then. If I was to do it over, I would definitely start around 3 or 4 months. In the beginning, I thought it was very difficult and was sure I wasn't doing it right, but now I look back and think the whole thing has been so much fun, and such a learning experience, for both of us.

*It is interesting to note that in most cultures babies start potty learning between 0-6 months and are typically potty trained between 12-18 months. It used to be like that in this country too.

Around 8 months, I started sitting him on the potty first thing in the morning and within two weeks, he was going every morning and holding it longer at night. I noticed that in the middle of the night, sometimes after nursing he would be restless and if I took him to pee he would then drift quietly back to sleep. As long as I took him to the potty once or twice between 7 pm and 8 am, he usually kept a dry diaper all night long.

We also started trying to catch him pooping, which was pretty obvious, and get him to finish his business on the potty. He quickly learned to crawl over to me when I asked, "Are you pooping?" He realized that pooping in the potty felt much nicer than in the diaper. By ten months, mornings were going so well that I decided to start putting him on the potty after naps and sometimes after he ate.

It was around 11 months when we starting taking the little blue potty with us in the car. He was starting to get it and would give out a high-pitched scream when he needed to go, or if he did pee, he would come and tell you right away (by crawling over and climbing up your leg and whining).

By one year, things seemed to be going great! He was getting pretty predictable, actively trying to tell us, sometimes, and experimenting with using his potty sign language. Here's a picture of his T-Rex using the potty; this seemed to be good encouragement for getting him to like sitting on his potty.

Around 13 months, after that darn tooth came in, we seemed to be back on track, but it was kind of hit or miss, perfect days alternating with days with 2-3 misses. He mainly lets me know by his high-pitched scream or by grabbing his crotch. Also, it's weird how he's almost completely trustworthy when we're out and about, traveling or at someone's house; last week we spent a week at my mom's house and he barely had two misses the whole week!

Then 14 months rolled around and I guess he decided enough was enough, because the last week has been amazing!

Last Sunday: While playing in the living room, walked over to potty, sat and peed (with diaper on).

Monday: While playing (in the nude) walked over to potty, sat and peed twice today. Also, trying very hard to make potty sign.

Tuesday/Wednesday: Peed in diaper and on floor several times. Ughhh.....

Thursday: Decided that he likes being held over the big potty instead of sitting on his little potty. No accidents for several days. After getting out of the shower, walked over to big potty, lifted the lid and peed all over the floor; good try!

Saturday/Sunday: Consistently giving the ASL sign for potty every time. Enjoys being held over big potty, but will sit on little potty, sometimes independently and without prompting.

Monday: Today, we are working on peeing like a big boy. When he needs to pee, he will let us know by signing, or he will just walk into the bathroom. We help him get his pants down and he pees standing up into his little potty. I am surprised we are this close to being potty-trained and I am SO excited for the day he pulls down his own pants! I just ordered him some new pairs of tiny underwear from an EC site, so we'll see.....

Below is a video of his first time standing up peeing in the potty and him using his ASL sign.