I almost gave up on potty training but we decided to keep going...

I don't follow many methods when it comes to my kids but something I am a firm believer in is:

wait until they're ready.

Like when Elliott didn't want to walk everyone starting freaking out and nagging me about it.

"is he walking yet?"

I mean, who cares? especially if you're a casual acquaintance.
Like, his prospect of becoming a successful adult just got axed because he was too stubborn to walk until he was 17 months. hahaha

OOP, Elliotts a write off!
Done.
Didn't walk until 17 months will be the headline on all his future resumes.

People sometimes ask parents weird intrusive things.

"sooo, are you breastfeeding?"
"what type of birth did you have?"
"baby led weaning?"
"are they walking yet?"
"talking yet, why not?"

^ I know some of those things may seem minor and we can't be afraid to ask questions that we feel are completely harmless but...

Why not ask things like:

"are you guys in need of anyting?"
"can I do anything for you?"
"Do you want an xxxxXXXXXXL coffee dropped off?" lololol

Err on the side of caution where I can. :)



We didn't potty train Elliott until he was 3 because I knew he wasn't ready.
My boy is stubborn and I wanted to wait until it would be easier for both of us.
It actually went super well and he picked it up fast, I don't think he ever wore pull-ups.
He went straight to underwear and even got up through the night and started going to the big toilet to pee on his own. (this led to some crazy mornings where I found pee on the floor in front of the toilet but for the most part, he was good about aiming. sometimes I think back and realize he was better about aiming when he was 3 than now that he's 5 :/ )




Elliotts used the portable potty but Noelle really wanted to use the regular toilet, we got this seat and its awesome! Click the little photo - affiliate link^^

Noelle is 2 years 9 months and I knew she was ready or so, so close to being ready to train.
She hates wearing diapers she wanted to be changed immediately every time.
But she's also a new breed of stubborn.
So, so stubborn. lol
Elliott was stubborn but he was also pleasant and could be talked into most things.
Noelle is full-blown, drop-down, drag-out, take no prisoners kind of stubborn. :)

We started and went all-in: if accidents happen, they happen.

It went well the first little bit because it was exciting for her, I always bribe with small toys/treats for this kind of transition.

Then we hit a snag.
The kids got sick and did I mention I've been trying to wean her off the sookie for months now??
This girl LOVES her sookie.

A lot of people suggest cutting the sook or throwing them out, donating to a sibling, etc but Noelle is SO attached (Elliott has his taggie bear, Noelle has her sooks).

We were down to using sooks only when sleeping.
I thought about all the tips and tricks but I knew she would steal Nilahs sook and honestly, we're hanging on by a thread here, three kids eep.

So everyone got sick, Noelle started taking out the potty training frustration by needing us more, crying a lot, whining a lot, wanting her sooks.

It was 3 whole days of her crying and me crying to Nick
"maybe she's not ready?! maybe we should shelf it for a bit?!"

Nick was skeptical because he didn't think the outbursts were from the potty training but little does Nick know, Noelle is my exact clone.

When I am upset or crying its usually because of something unrelated to the reason I say I'm crying.
There's a lot more to my tears than the SPCA commercial alone... well most of the time.
And other times those SPCA commercials are just so heartbreaking.

But she was doing SO well!
If I had to put a number on it, she was already 70% trained.
Why give up now?!

That was about 2 weeks ago, we did decide to push through and I would guess shes 85% trained now. She wears pullups at night and is good throughout the day.
Her mood is back to Noelle normal hehehe.

And I'm super happy we pushed through because two kids in diapers is the worst for so many reasons! $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I mentioned Elliott was 3 years old when we trained him but he may have been a whole year older than Noelle because I can't remember the exact time frame.

Every kid is so different, listen to your instincts and potty solidarity sistas!