Lynda LovelandLynda Loveland's Babyology Blog
WRAL Morning News Anchor Lynda Loveland recently delivered her third child, Carys. In her blog, Lynda chronicles her experiences as a mother.

Potty Training the Baby

Yep, you read it correctly! Carys, my almost 17 month old, is getting a big kick out of peeing in the toilet. I'm like, what....are you kidding me! One kid at a time here! I'm still dealing with my three year old, Caiden!

It started a few months ago when I was potty training Caiden. I had Caiden and Carys with me in the bathroom. I sat Caiden on the toilet...and got zip. I thought what the heck, while I'm here, I'll just sit Carys on there. And would you believe she peed!!! She was 15 months old at the time. I was dumbstruck!

I never really considered continuing the training with Carys. I mean jeez, the kid can only say a couple of words, she still drools and doesn't have all her teeth yet! Well, yesterday, I took off her diaper and thought I would let her run around a litte while in the buff. Let things air out a bit ya know. She made a bee-line for the bathroom. I thought, that little stinker's going to play in the sink. I followed her and dontcha know she climbed up on the stool and sat down on the toilet!!! She started giggling and looked happy to be there. I was right in the middle of making dinner, but I thought what the heck, I'll hang out a bit with her and see what happens. I sat down next to her and we looked at books together.

It had been about five minutes with nothing to show, when Caiden comes in and starts pulling on Carys and playing with her. I thought, ok, it's all over now, the mood is broken and the moment has passed. But he left, finally, and she settled back on the toilet. Within a few seconds, I hear a tinkle. I see a smile forming on her face and than she goes full throttle! She was SSOOOOOO excited! I was beaming!!! My baby was peeing on the potty, the big potty.

I figured that was just another isolated incident. I still had no intention of going through potty training with her. My boy is still giving me fits. Well, apparently Carys had other plans. Would you believe an hour later, she marched right back into the bathroom, clumsily climbed up on the stool and sat down on the toilet! I thought, no way. She's just playing. But within a minute, she peed again!!!! Gleefully, I might add. I was beside myself. Can you believe it? Of course since she's showing interest now, she'll probably rebel when it comes time to get serious about potty training. I still have no plans to push it. I'll let her initiate it.

Like I said, I'm a bit overwhelmed by the boy. Speaking of him, we've made some headway. Although I really thought it was going to be a long haul. A couple of weeks ago he made like the dog and did his business in the backyard. He said he liked pooping on the grass. That's my nature boy! Thank goodness our yard is fenced in!

Anyway, every day when he came home from daycare, I told him to tell me when he has to poop or pee. I was trying to give him some control, because it DOES NOT WORK the other way. I guess it finally sorta clicked because late last week he came up to me and told me he had to go poop. I thought I'd won the lottery! He sat down and out it came. Before he even stood up, he was asking for a big piece of chocolate.

I haven't cleaned up any load laden Batman underwear since, although I think my husband did once. Caiden still has some liquid accidents though. I'd say we're about 60% there. Imagine, just ONE child in diapers...

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Hi Lynda...I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I am the mother of a 3 1/2 year old boy and I really was fortunate that his potty training process was a breeze! He was potty trained a 18 months!!!! Anyway, best of luck to you and Caiden! Rock on little Carys!!! (love her name by the way)!

There's something really kind of gross about the correlation between doo doo and a reward of chocolate. For rewards, my wife and I are currently using stickers and praise, Lynda, stickers and praise.

17 months old? Is this an indicator of precocious over-achievement? She's probably going to be in college a few years early too!

Anyhow, it'll be nice to be saving money on diapers a few months earlier than anticipated.

I agree with justbegood, if shes ready which it sounds like she is go for it, than she can come to my house and show my 2 year old little girl how its done lol.

Poo Poo and Pee Pee. I KNOW you have more interesting things going on in your life. Wow....

Lynda, I don't know why you are even considering hesitating with Carys. She is ready. She has given you every sign. Don't hold off, go for it. Seeing her do it will probably encourage Caiden even more when he sees baby sister get the praise that he should be getting.

My son toilet trained himself at 15 months old, I know it seems hard to beleive, but his Dad told him he could not ride on the harley, until he was going on the potty all the time. In 3 days, from the day his Dad said that, he never has soiled a pair of pants since. An by the way his Dad took on bike rides every night, for being such a big boy. Now my daughter on the other hand, didn't get trained till she was almost 4 yrs old. I thought she would be taken a diaper bag to school.

GIRLS RULE

Here are a couple of ideas. Draw a bullseye on a square of toilet paper and let him hit the target, or throw some cheerios in. They float. Let him try to sink them.

Linda, Carys is an interesting and unusual name. I'm sure the question has been asked before, but I'm kinda new here. How did you come up with her name?

Lynda, I'm the mother of a 25 year old who's been potty trained for over 23 years. Why are you going to hold off with training Carys? She's obviously ready to practically train herself. You're right not to push her, but I think it sounds as if she'll self train. What a bright little girl!

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