3 Day Potty Training

Going with the theme of potty training, the 3 Day Potty Training pamphlet that I spoke of has reached tens of thousands of parents.  It has been seen in various parenting magazines, and I hope to bring you a glimpse of it through this post.

Before I got my hand on it I had heard about it from a bunch of my mom friends and also on various message boards that I frequent.  I was able to track down a copy via email and quickly read it.  After reading it I definitely agree with many of the principles that are discussed but I just don't see how it is that different from the other books that are out there on potty training.

The premise behind the 3 Day Potty Training is that you basically must commit yourself to not leaving your home for three days.  When I read that, the first thing I thought was, you've got to be kidding me.  Anyone that knows me personally knows that this is just not something that I could do.  I gave birth to my son and went out to dinner two nights later.  I get a little stir crazy by being inside too long.  This aside, I figure there are still tons of families that have tried this technique and ventured outside their house in the process.  It just so happens, though, that when we started potty training, we got stuck in our house by default.  Another blizzard in the Northeast.  So my little boy didn't actually have to be dragged that far with his mother.

The author of this book emphasizes that her process involves dedication, consistency, love, patience, positive reinforcement, and focus.  I can't say that I disagree with this approach one bit.  What better way to teach our children a new way of doing anything without our utmost respect and love.  I honestly feel this is how we must do all things with our children.  After all, this is how we should be teaching them to deal with others around them and themselves.

The part of the book that I wasn't so sure about was completely getting rid of all the diapers and pull ups in the house.  I like a slower process and I believe that a lot of children deserve the time to adjust to this new way of living. Sure, it might take a little longer if you are going to be only potty training during the day and leaving diapers on at night, but I think that this is a huge change for your little one and something that might not come that easily.  For now, we are just putting little guy in undies during the day and keeping him in diapers for nap and nighttime.  When he gets increasingly better and has less frequent accidents then we will transition to naps and nighttime.

I also don't agree with loading your child up on liquids.  This could lead to more accidents, and yes, this will help them realize how to use the potty, but it could also lead to a lower self esteem.  With the increased liquids you are most likely increasing the incidents of accidents.  I know with my son, he gets very stressed and down when he has an accident, so I don't exactly think this is for us.

Overall, I think it is a great read, and I will definitely use some of the principles, but I will use a hodgepodge of various methods to find what works best for us.  I definitely recommend the e-book though, if you can get a hand on it! 

Two under Two...or worse??

This post could mean a lot of things.  When getting ready for little guy number 2, I did a lot of research on things.  Double strollers, activities to keep the bigger dude busy while nursing, ways to keep my sanity, etc.  Never did I realize though, that once Little Man 1 stepped over the hurdle into the actual two's, things would get a lot crazier.  Granted I have only been a mom to two little ones for a little over two months, but I have to tell you...I think just having my one little two year old would have set me over the edge.  I don't know if it is the fact that he has a cold, or is getting his last molar in...but he has reached a new level of manic.

These past two months have been a whirlwind.  It started out with a bit of euphoria in the hospital.  I couldn't wait to get home to the little man and have him interact with his little brother.  Breastfeeding was going much better this time around and this baby seemed to be a lot more laid back.  This lasted for all of a day of being home.  Baby blues quickly kicked in.  Wow, did this bring back memories.  I thought for sure since my second pregnancy was so much more relaxed that I would skip these terrible blues.  That wasn't the case.  I was ready to leave my whole family behind and go away to the Bahamas.  As everyone assured though, this phase ended within a couple of weeks.  There was a good month there where I thought I could really get the hang of this thing.  Well, I guess it was just another stage.


Maybe it is the holiday stress that has jump started my anxieties, or the constant feeling of being tugged in two directions...whatever it is though, I need it to go away now!  At my 6 week checkup (which I didn't actually get to until last week) there was a concern about postpartum depression.  I am being very vigilant with keeping an eye on myself.  I have started trying to exercise again, taking all my vitamins, and just being more insightful into my moods.  Sometimes I just feel like I can't get through another day and the quickest way out of here would be to return to work.  Well, I guess that would not be too easy, now would it? lol.  Anyway, I am hoping this is just another stage in my journey and that I can return to some normalcy soon!  I am glad that I have an outlet though, all of you, to bounce my feelings off of and join on the journey with me.  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!