Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. 
Happy Tuesday ya’ll! I am here happily to bring you a little fun parenting post, and a little product review and recommendation, brought to you today by The Potty Cover.
Potty training is one of those necessary evils in life. Having potty trained two, very different (and not just in gender) children, and already contemplating the fact that I will potty training yet one more, I’ve learned a lot. Of course I’m not an expert in any medical sense of the word, but I think having three kids puts me on some sort of expert scale. So, here’s some important things to know about potty training, and like I eluded to above – every child is different, we are not the rule, here’s my experiences.
1. Boys are different than girls
Whether or not the fact that she was the second child or not, my daughter was far and away easier to potty train then my son. The rule about the next in line doing stuff faster because they have someone to copy isn’t necessarily always the case. My youngest just decided to start walking full time, at about 16 months. It just wasn’t his thing, even though he had two others walking around to copy. So there you go.
2. Potty Training should be like a band-aid
Everyone has their own methods. I favor the sort of all or nothing approach. When my son started being dry at night we started in underware…until I realized he wasn’t pooping. He just wouldn’t. It was his last stand on Control Mountain. There were several occasions I put a diaper on him for a couple days to try to avoid the whole constipation issue, all the while maintaining wet-free diapers. Then, daddy decided that the men should have a come to Jesus session, full of oatmeal, prune juice and the like. They hung out in there, talking reading and discussing facts, real meeting of the minds type deal, until “it” happened. With daughter she had a really early potty training experience. She went both 1 and 2 at 18 months old. I decided that my all or nothing, band-aid, type method wasn’t an exact science. I just didn’t feel like at 18 months old she had the capacity to do it. She is also my heavy sleeper, so it wasn’t until at about 3 1/2 that she went through the night dry. Incidentally, Pediatricans don’t get concerned about bed-wetting until after 4. During the summer we went naked (weirdly enough something I saw Kate – from Jon and Kate – do), and by the time she was two we weren’t having any more accidents.
3. Go easy on yourself when you do go out of the house
This is where the fabulous Potty Cover comes into play. There are several other types of Potty Covers on the market, and I have used several of those. Most of them do a great job with coverage. Being larger than the paper ones that are usually in stalls, plus they usually stay still. However, the Potty Chair stands apart from the other ones on the market. Do you see the coverage on this thing?! Seriously?! Amazing. The Cammo Love house gives this our stamp of approval! 5 out of 5 Stars.
I have been known to put a diaper/pull-up on my kid in the beginning of the potty-training phase when we go out. Lots of people don’t go out when they are in the midst of potty training. I try to stay home, but I’m a definite get out of the house, people person, type of person. Doing what you need to do is fine by me, and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks.
Even though I may not have done it exactly the way I had originally intended I stand by the firm belief that it must be as close to that idea, especially the older they get. Its almost like they have a six sense about weakness. If they can combine their need to be in control of their little bodies as much as possible, with sensing our weakness its a win/win for them. Parenting isn’t easy, and potty-training is one of those not easy things. If you stay strong and consistent and help them to realize there are no other options it will come easier. This same technique works in the whole staying in bed, going asleep, self-soothing phases of life that come up.
What kinds of worries do you have about potty training, any questions?
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Have you had a similar or different, but equally successful experience please share!
Interested in the Potty Cover? Check your local Buy Buy Baby or Bed Bath and Beyond! You can visit them online at www.PottyCover.com.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
