7.22.11 ~ Potty training

Potty training boot camp started here on Tuesday, 7/19/11. The girls are two years and about three weeks old, a little young to start by most standards but they've been asking to sit on the potty for weeks so I thought we'd give it a try. My strategy was to gate off the house so they could only be in the kitchen and living room (on hardwoods) and have the potty chairs in the kitchen. They were naked on bottom and we would take breaks from playing to sit on the potty periodically. Each success got an M&M or a Jelly Belly and a sticker. They loved picking out which color of jelly bean they got. There were a few accidents each day but far more successes. It took until the 4th day for them to really start getting it and not need help and too many reminders. On the 5th day we added in big girl panties so they not only had to get to the potty, but also pull down the panties before going. Avery and Camille are really competitive with each other so when one goes, the other will usually try as well. Brelynn is on her own schedule and doesn't care about competing with her sisters. Going #2 was a bit harder for them and they're still a bit reluctant to use the potty, preferring to wait until naptime or bedtime when they get a diaper again. They get lots of rewards for pooping (2 jelly beans, a sticker, and a toy from the prize box) so I'm hoping they start trying a little more soon. I'm not going to lie...this was a really hard week, but it went so much better than I ever expected. I did end up straining muscles in my neck from sitting on the floor all day with them and needed some pain meds and muscle relaxers and massage therapy to get it all fixed. Lots of people have told me how their kids reverted back after a period of potty success and I know that's a possibility. I'm hoping not though! I know we're not done, but I think the hardest part is over and soon I'll be able to say I potty trained triplets!

This part is just to remind myself when people ask later:
Day 1 A:3, B:4, C:1, Accidents:4
Day 2 A: 2+1, B:3, C:2, Accidents:2
Day 3 A4, B:2, C:2, Accidents:2
Day 4 A:8, B:2+1, C:5+1, Accidents:1
Day 5 A:13, B:3, C:10, Accidents:2