Potty Training Prep. When your little one is not quite ready for full potty training but wants to start working on the skill.
I once joked that Kaitlyn would be potty trained before Brayden, though I didn’t really believe it. Well, five months after the completion of successful potty training by Brayden, Kaitlyn is now in what I have dubbed “Potty Prep.” We aren’t Potty Training, but Potty Prepping.
5 Things To Do Before You Start Potty Training
Potty training girls is different than potty training boys. Kaitlyn has always had a fascination with people going potty. She loves to watch. For quite some time, she would come in the bathroom with me every time I went potty and tell me what to do next, even down to drying my hands. Brayden never wanted to watch.
For the last couple of months, Kaitlyn has wanted to sit on the potty often. Recently it turned into every day after her bath. She would sit and smile (on the big potty–our huge potty that is really too big for me). Last week one day, I encouraged her to actually pee. Her face turned red as she tried to push it out, but no pee (which isn’t surprising since you shouldn’t really ‘push’ pee out).
Last Friday, Kaitlyn sat on the potty after her bath and actually peed! I was very excited and gave her a dozen real kisses and one chocolate one. She loves those (both). Every day since, she has peed on the big potty after her bath. Yesterday she started asking to go at other times of day, though no peeing yet.
I am not quite ready to get into real training for her yet. She has the interest and desire. She has some actual success which in my mind is a great milestone after our experiences with Brayden. She is very good at following verbal instruction. She doesn’t, however, have all signs of readiness for complete potty training (for example, waking up dry from naps). The main reason I am not quite ready is frankly lack of energy since I am pregnant. I am hoping second trimester energy comes in and gives me that boost I need. For now, we are taking it easy and she is progressing nicely.
It will really be a different experience potty training a child this young. Brayden was twice her age. Communication is very different with a child who is just three than a child who is 18 months old. I am, never-the-less, very encouraged (and surprised) about her enthusiasm and desire to do this.
Read up on my preferred method of potty training here:
