Potty Training at 20 Months Old
Week One
This week we started potty training Moose. Moose is 20 months and had started fighting us more and more at diaper changes. Because of his desire to make it as hard as possible to change him, we decided it was time to start potty training. A few months ago, I purchased the โOh Crap, Potty Trainingโ book by Jamie Glowackiย and had read a little bit of it. So, I spent the past week re-reading the first section and refreshing my memory on her method.
Prep Day
This is how our journey has been so far. On Monday, Moose and I went to the store to pick out a potty and we started talking about going potty. Every time I went to the toilet or Melvin went, we took Moose and say โlook Mommy/Daddy is going on the pottyโ just so he became a bit more familiar with what was happening. We also put the potty in our living area so he was used to seeing it for a few days. We tried to not let him play with it, but we did let him sit on it.
On Wednesday night I, made sure to set up both potty areas with wipes, toilet tissue, and books. I decided we would start on a Thursday, this would give Moose and I some more time to do fun things outside of the house earlier in the week. Also, this give us 2 days of potty training with mostly me and him before the weekend when Melvin would also be home to help! I had already ordered a potty seat for the toilet but, realized I would need a potty for our living room/play area for quick access.
Click here to see our over the toilet potty!
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Day one- Potty Training Starts
Thursday morning, we started out strong. As soon as he woke up, I had breakfast and diluted juice ready for Moose. I told him we were starting potty training and he wasnโt going to wear his diaper today and he was going bottomless. Of course, heโs a baby so who knows if he understood what I was saying hahaha ๐คฃ . Anyway, I gave him time to eat his breakfast and drink his juice.
The first time he expelled his bodily fluids (*thanks Melvin for the funny editing*), it was obviously an accident, and just happened to be on his nugget (ahhhhh๐ฌ ). Luckily, I was following “Oh Crap, Potty Training”ย and being sure to be focused on ONLY Moose today, so I caught him mid pee and quickly moved him to the potty, saying โwe go peepee on the pottyโ. As he continued on the potty, I was sure to say โgood job, you did itโ. The first couple of times went just like this. However, he did go on the bathroom potty we have as well, right after I had gone, without having an accident first.
I felt pretty good about day one of potty training and very proud of myself for not getting frustrated and proud of Moose for starting to notice when he was going.
Day two
Day two was a bit more of a struggle! He didnโt seem interested in the potty at all and we had a few accidents in the morning. I was starting to get discouraged because it felt like Moose was avoiding the potty at all costs!
That afternoon, Melvin and I had planned a date to get pedicures. My mum had said she was comfortable with continuing potty training while we were out. While we were out, she said he did great, more like the previous day where he would notice mid pee and then go to the potty. She also said he just went and sat on the potty himself to go. I am glad that Melvin and I had decided to go out because it gave me a chance to gather myself and I think having Nanny (fresh and not overwhelmed) helped Moose as well.
Day three
Saturday, still bottomless, Moose did great. I noticed that he was starting to realize more and more when he was going or needed to go. He went on to his potty a couple times by himself. And a couple of times he noticed once he started peeing. I also had gotten pretty good at picking up on his body language for when he was going to start. So, overall Saturday was good. We werenโt giving him more than normal liquids, so he only went potty about 4 or 5 times, and it was more spaced out.
Day four of "Oh Crap Potty Training"
Sunday, we wanted to try a short bike trip. Moose loves being outside, and because of potty training, we hadnโt left our house in 3 days. Today was also going to be the first day of putting bottoms on. So, once we were all up, and before he had too much liquid in him, we put his shorts on, placed a towel under him in his bike seat (just in case) and took off for a short 2-3 mile bike ride. Moose enjoyed the fresh air and didnโt have an accident while riding!
Once back home we decided to stay outside in our yard a bit longer. We moved the potty to the doorway of our house, showed him where it was and then set about playing and cleaning our cars. I asked him every so often if he needed to go potty. At one point he replied with what sounded like โI doooooโ so we quickly walked to the potty and he did in fact go! Melvin and I made sure to give him praise, saying โyou did it, big boy, you went peepee on the pottyโ and having him repeat โI did itโ. After this we continued to play a little bit more, he ate lunch and went for his nap.
We sat him on the potty before his nap, but he kept getting up and at this point I’mย following his ques and taking it that he just doesnโt need to go.
day!
Sunday part twoโฆ
Almost every Sunday we have dinner with our family, my parents, brother, and niece. This Sunday, we were heading to my brotherโs house. So yet again, it would be another new experience with potty training, sitting in his car seat, and going to a new location.
He had gone in his diaper during nap, but he didnโt want to go on the potty before we left the house, so I was worried he might go in the car.ย Well, yet again Moose proved to us that he is picking up quickly on the potty training. He did not go in the car, nor did he need to go once we got there.
Later, he showed us his potty face and started noticing he was peeing, we quickly got him to his potty, and he finished there. He did not have any more accidents, making it all the way back home in the car seat! Once home, we got ready for bed sitting him on the potty before his bath. He was acting like he needed to potty, but he never went, so I just went ahead and started our normal bath time. And of course, he did go… in his bath hahaha ๐คฆโโ๏ธ.ย Despite all the new experiences today, I think we made good strides to
Day five
Monday morning came with a challenge, Moose did not want to wear his shorts. With a tropical storm headed our way, I wanted to get in a quick walk to get some fresh air! So, he had to wear his shorts. Once he saw his stroller and that we were going out, he didnโt care about the shorts anymore. Did I mention he loves being outside!
We made a quick loop around our neighborhood and got to our street right as it started pouring rain. He hadnโt wanted to go on the potty before we left for our walk and didnโt need to go once we got home, despite downing a whole cup of water on our walk. I was starting to notice that he seems to go about 2 hours after he drinks.
I gave him a smoothie for a snack and about 30 minutes later he needed to go, I guess his body was filling up on liquid now. As we were picking up on it, he showed us his peepee face and started to go. I think the shorts are posing a new hurdle for us, but he canโt be bottomless forever. Anyway, I got him to the potty where he finished going.
Day six
Tuesday, I have definitely started picking up on his habits now. I know that in the mornings he wonโt use the bathroom for a couple hours. This gives us time to get out early to do some outdoorsy things. I was planning on going out for a walk today, but was feeling lazy, so we spent the morning playing with puzzles, cooking in the play kitchen, and practicing our soccer skills. I was right because about an hour and a half after his first water he needed to go. No accident either!
However, I have also noticed after that first time he needs to go like 2-3 more times in the next 30 minutes. He did this today which resulted in 2 accidents, but as soon as we notice he stops going and finishes in the potty. I decided we needed a little outdoor time, so we kicked the ball around in the back yard, played on the swings in the field behind our house, and ran around a bit. He had another little accident outside while I wasnโt paying attention but did hold it to finish in the potty just inside.
Day seven of potty training...
Wednesday! We have almost made it a full week and on Wednesday I am starting to feel a lot better. Moose has been sleeping in which is allowing me to get my day started with yoga and coffee before he wakes up! Once up we go through our same morning routine of talking about potty training, sitting on the potty, and then eating breakfast, today was no different.
However, I did decide we would go for a mile run and then play at the park. Moose didnโt need to use the potty and I have stopped โpushingโ him to go if he tells me no. So, we went about our run and played at the park, and he did great! No accidents! Once home, I sat him on the potty, and he went! We played and read books bringing his potty to the bedroom with us because usually he will go a couple times within a 15-30 min span. But he didnโt have too.
Later, he sat himself on the toilet, the normal, non potty toilet and he fell in, we had a good laugh! I thought maybe he needed to go but nope! I started to prepare lunch and had him sit on the potty in our living room while watching a short episode of his favorite show Word Party on Netflix. Probably not a great habit but, I knew he would have to go soon, and I was right! He ate lunch, didnโt have any accidents, and went for his nap. This was our first morning without an accident and we were so proud!
Afternoons
The afternoons seem to be going the sameโฆ as in they are very inconsistent. I donโt know if that is because I am tired by the afternoon and not paying as close of attention. Or if Moose is just more distracted because both I and Melvin are home and playing with him. He has become very clingy as well which has been a bit difficult!
Day eight- One Week Complete
Thursday, we have made it an entire week!!! I canโt believe itโs already been a week! I am proud of myself and Melvin for sticking with it and not giving up. And of course we are super proud of Moose!
We went for brunch with my mum today. He drank a lot of water before we left the house, so I attempted to sit him on the potty twice. Both times he jumped down and tried to pull his shorts up. I took this as a sign he didnโt need to go and I wasnโt going to push it. We headed to pick up my mum, sans diaper, as I refuse to take steps backward! We enjoyed our brunch and took a couple trips to the potty when I thought he was showing me his sign. However, no luck. I really was wanting Starbucks, so we drove the 5 minutes there after brunch and Moose had an accident in the car. He actually said โUh Ohโ and we realized why once we got to Starbucks. We tried to go again in the store, but he didnโt have to go.
By the time we got home it was almost nap time, but I really wanted some potty success. We played for a few minutes and then watched a few minutes of his favorite show while he sat on his potty. He got up and started riding his balance bike and I noticed he started making some interesting movements, so I quickly put him on the potty. I wanted success, and we got it for sure. Moose took his first poop on the potty! We made a somewhat big deal about it and when he looked in the potty after he finished he looked at me very confused! Iโm sure he had no idea what had happened but Iโm crossing my fingers we are making steps in the right direction!ย
Conclusion
As I said above, we are really proud of ourselves and Moose for sticking with this and continuing on our potty training journey. I hope if you are reading this you find some encouragement in starting your journey with potty training your toddler too! We are not finished yet but will continue to move forward with determination! I really believe that “Oh Crap Potty Training” by Jamie Glowacki has helped us be this successful and definetly recommend it. I will be planning a update on our potty training adventures in a few weeks so stick around for that!
Have you successfully potty trained your toddler? What are your tips and tricks? Are you planning to start your journey? What are you most nervous about?
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If you have read this far be sure to check out these other posts related to family life
Cooking with Moose Series Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3
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2 Comments
Emily
Awesome job!! I do not miss the potty training days (or the diaper days!). He’s doing so good!
shanay.miller3
๐คฃ๐คฃ Thank you! He is doing great and the hard work is paying off! Next to conquer nap and bedtime!!!