Potty Training: girls vs. boys

Pampers, pampers, pampers! I've been buying pampers since 2012 with a small break from 2013, until 2016 when I gave birth to Ava. Seven years of buying diapers. Ava's dad wanted to wait until she was 7 years old before we had another baby just to "take a break from diapers". Ha! I'm glad I had Caleb when I did. This will be the last baby to potty train. While this is bitter sweet, I'm over the diapers, shity ass, & diaper rash. Olivia, my oldest, was a dream to potty train. She always fussed with just a wet diaper. she couldn't wait to rip the diper off. She would always get a fresh diaper on her own and bring it to me for a change. We had a routine, which is why she got it so fast. Every morning, we'd wake up and run straight to the bathroom, her on her potty, me on the toilet. We'd say things like "you hear it?" and "all done". By the time Olivia was 2 1/2 , she was fully potty trained, and accidents were rare. Ava took a little longer, but still, not too bad. I kinda started potty training Ava same time as Olivia (2yrs old) but, it took some time. At the time we were potty training, I was pregnant with Caleb. It was difficult keeping a routine with a 5 yr old taking a school bus as 5:30 am, 2 yr old, and being pregnant. Potty training became more consistent when she was in daycare. Ava rarely wet the bed. She would almost make the toilet and pee the floor. But that's ancient history now.

Caleb, my boy. I started at 2 , just like his sisters, however, he refused to sit on the potty. When we did put him, he would cry. I would talk to him, how he needs to be a big boy like his siblings, but he told me no. One time he told me that he doesn't want to be a big boy, to which I asked if he's going to be a baby forever, & his response, of course, yes. There have been times where he's peed too much that it just goes through the diaper, or he's done poop & won't come for a diaper change. Lately, he has peed through his diaper multiple times in one day, & dad and I are sick of it. He's constantly running out of clothes. So the other day, dad tells me a story how Caleb is crying like he does when he pees through the diaper, only there was nothing there. As he was changing him, he peed the floor. So I knew that Caleb was ready & he can tell when he had to go. When he had that same reaction, I told his dad to run and put him on the potty. A few moments later, success! Caleb peed in the potty! Dad told him how proud he was and I told him he did a good job and that he was a big boy now! It was hilarious because Caleb kept saying "see, I do pee in the toilet", like it was no big deal and he'd been doing it his whole life.

My advice when it comes to potty training:

1. Consistency- In the morning at wake up time (baby should be dry through the night) & every 2 hours after. Making a schedule and keeping that schedule is 2 different things. It's difficult when out on errands & doing different things on the weekends. Try to keep it simple. It takes 6 months of consistency to see results.
   

2. Do NOT push when they are not ready- Caleb didn't want to sit on the potty, & when forced, he hated it more and nothing came from it. Now he's older, understands better, and doesn't like the feeling of wet pants.
   

3. For BOYS only- teach them how to sit and use the potty first. When boys learn how to stand, that's all they know. Boys do not know that they have to sit to poop. They will poop their pants if taught how to stand first. Once your boy has bladder control, then you can teach them to stand and pee, and reiterate to poop while sitting.
   

This was the first step to a diaperless life. I can't wait to be diaper free! Until then, everyone say desitin!

(NOTE: I have done and will do what has been working for my children. I share my experiences, in hopes that someone can take something away. All kids are different. If your child(ren) attend daycare, it's best to ask the teacher for the class potty schedule, and maintain the schedule at home. Remember, consistency is key. Good luck)