Potty Training Time

2.0 is really good about telling me when he needs his diaper changed.  He's been doing that for about five months but until recently, he hasn't had the muscle control for potty training.  When he started telling his Sunday school teachers that he needs his diaper changed or that he wants to go to the potty, it became obvious that 2.0 is ready to be a big boy and get out of his diapers.

As a first time mom, this part of toddlerhood is unknown to me.  I've read books which pretty much contradict each other and are of no help at all.  I've read about positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement (which I didn't really care for), the three day method (another one I didn't really care for), and self guided toilet training.  My head felt like it would lift off my shoulders and float away after all of this.

I have to figure out what 2.0 needs to be successful at potty training.  Thank goodness he's had friends in his Sunday school class to guide him, and by proxy me, to what will work for him.  Here's a list of some of my discoveries:

• The Potty Seat: 2.0's first glimpse of potty training came from a little boy named Thomas in his Sunday school class.  2.0 was a year old and watched Thomas pick up his potty seat, go to the teacher, and tell her that he needed to go to the bathroom.  When Thomas went to the preschool class, 2.0 was beside himself, but thankfully there were other kids that did the exact same thing.  When we looked at potties, 2.0 wanted nothing to do with a stand alone potty chair.  Instead, he wanted a potty seat.
• A Potty Schedule: The one thing I read that I really liked was the idea of taking the child to the bathroom immediately upon waking and every hour afterward.  If I wait for 2.0 to let me know that he needs to go to the potty then it's too late.  If I let him pee in his pull up and feel the cold sensation, it's too late.  But if I take him on a schedule, then he knows he only has to hold it for a short time.  Of course I'll take him if he needs to go and it's not on the schedule.  The schedule makes my life easier when we are out running errands.
• Pull ups By Day and Diaper By Night: 2.0 doesn't sleep well as it is.  Why on earth would I wake him up to go to the potty when I just want him to get some sleep?  During the day I have his attention and he's more likely to learn what I'm trying to teach him.  Plus, the amount of muscle control needed to make it through the night is significantly more than during the day.  Let's take little steps instead of expecting big things from such a small bladder.
• Positive Reinforcement: I was given M&Ms when I was potty training.  2.0 loves Dum Dum suckers.  That's an easy one.
• Underwear Is The Ultimate Reward And Then Some: 2.0 will get to pick out his own underwear when he's ready for it.  I plan on making that a big deal.  I want to take him to Monkey Joes and out for pizza so that he understands how big of a step he's made.  No more diapers should be celebrated right?
• Planning For Setbacks: I know this isn't going to be perfect.  I know that it might take a long time.  I'm planning for issues and setbacks now so that mentally I won't be frustrated when they happen.  I know that I'm going to need pads to keep his sheets dry and I know he's going to need extra clothes because of accidents.  I have to keep my cool so that I don't end up giving negative reinforcement with my attitude.

I'm so excited for this new step and I hope that this works out well.