Monday, September 6, 2010

Adventures in Potty Training

We have started potty training Alayna, and it has been interesting, to say the least. I felt like she was ready because I got her a little potty and she was really interested in it and had learned all the relevant words, like pee, poop, wipe, etc. I read that the best way to start training was to let her go pant-less and have kid potties around the house that she can run to whenever she has to go. So, we did that and she did really great. At first she would sit on the potty, then get distracted 5 seconds later and run away, then a minute later run yelling "pee! pee!" back to the potty, jump off again, and repeat until she finally went on the potty or had an accident. But, within a few days, she caught on and she was going consistently without much incident, and was very proud of herself.


She is scared to go in public restrooms, however, and isn't ready to hold it over night, so I have still been putting her in diapers when we go to town and when she goes to bed. I also, of course, have been making her put on pants or at least underwear (when she's wearing a dress) when she leaves the house or goes outside. This is where the problem lies. She has decided that she loves being pants free and has started having serious, full-out tantrums EVERY time I try to put any diaper, panties, shorts, etc., on her. Whenever I try to put pants or a diaper on, she says she has to go potty, even though she really doesn't, and will sit there for a LONG time, trying to wait it out until I'll forget about the pants. When I don't give in, again, it's a knock-down, drag-out tantrum. So, I end up either having to force it on her as she screams if we have to go somewhere, or we just stay inside and she cries about not being able to go play outside. She also tries to use the potty as an excuse to get out of bed during naps, yelling over and over that she has to pee when she really doesn't. She used to go down for naps without any problem, but now this is causing nap time to be a nightmare too!

Ugh. Crazy toddlers! I know this is just a phase, but please tell me that she'll get over it quickly! Anybody have any wise suggestions?