Potty training Mason

The first weekend in October we decided that we should try potty training Mason since he will be 3 on Oct 19.  I read a few things online and got some tips to help things go smoother.  The best option for us was to put Mason in big boy underwear, bring a little potty to the play area and Danny and I made sure one of us was watching him constantly, so we could help him to the potty when he need to go.  We also had a lot of potty training books that my mom gave him and books and movies that we got at the library.  I think both the books and movies helped a lot in him understanding what was being asked of him!

Luckily he was open to the idea this time, especially since we went and bought some new underwear for him.  Up until this point he would sit on the potty sometimes, we even tried having a go in the summer but he kept telling me he liked to poo and pee in his underwear (ok we are done!)

The first day he was about 50% success 50% accidents which isn't too bad I suppose.  We gave him lots of praise, he got a treat every time he went in the potty and he got to put a sticker on a chart.  When the chart was full, he got a matchbox car that was taped next to the chart. 

The next day he only had 1 accident, it was amazing.  He did such a great job and really got the knack of it fast.  The first week he only had a couple of accidents.  We are so proud of him!  I can see why some moms say to wait until they are close to 3 (especially for boys who are the oldest) because they have a better grasp of what is being asked.

One funny, well I guess it wasn't that funny I feel kind of bad, is that we gave Mason lots of apple juice to help him go pee more.  See he was old enough by the time we started this that he could hold it for a long time, and then when he went pee it was a lot.  Our theory was that if he went and had an accident it would be a while until we could get him to pee again, so thus came the apple juice.  Well not only did it get him to pee alot, it also gave him the runs.  Poor kid, I don't think he was uncomfortable and overall I think it helped because he had to be on the pot alot.  I do feel bad though, so if you are reading this and thinking of trying it only do it if your kid is used to getting juice!

Mason proudly wearing his big boy underwear!

*update* at night and nap times we still put him in a diaper, but after about 2 weeks he kept waking us up in the night or in the morning because he needed to go potty.  So we thought what the heck, you can wear big boy pants and night too and it turned out fine.  Every once in a while he has an accident but even that has gotten better since we took him out of the crib :)