Potty Training in Our Happy House: Overcoming Struggles

Please welcome today's guest blogger Ruth from Connecting One Piece at a Time Blog.  She provides Applied Behavioral Analysis social skill, behavioral intervention communication, and executive skill training for children.  She also serves as an advocate for the child in meetings with professionals.  She loves teaching families how to advocate for their child.   One of her goals is to help families take what the child learns in therapy or at school and figure out ways to easily incorporate it into the home environment so the child can make more progress.

A few months ago I saw a friend’s facebook post.  She shared that she was starting to potty train her youngest child.  Within a couple of days, there was another post saying diapers were gone at their house.  Let me tell you, she received lots of comments.  Her friends, me included, thought “what a mom!”  It made me look back at the ups and downs I had with potty training.  I had one “easy one”, one “hard one”, and one that I wondered if I would need to pack pull ups for college. 

If you are struggling in potty training, I want to encourage you that you have a friend.  My youngest child is 18 so it’s been a while since I’ve dealt with it at home. Now, I help others struggling with this issue particularly families affected by disability.  I’ve learned a few things along the way.

1.         Rule out any medical issues that are hindering the process.  A referral to a pediatric gastro-intestinal physician may be your first step.  Does your child have bouts of constipation and/or diarrhea? Does she hold bowel movements and soil her underwear?  Are urination accidents more common when there are bowel movement accidents? Are there food sensitivities that cause digestion problems (these are different than food allergies)? My youngest child has an autism diagnosis and digestive issues are very common with these children.  We made little progress before seeing a dr. for gastro-intestinal issues.

2.        Refusal to go to the bathroom is often more than a behavior problem.  Why?  If there is constipation, it may hurt or it may take “too long.” The child may not "feel" it.  We finally figured out that our youngest child didn’t “feel it” until it was too late.  His sensory system was underdeveloped in this regard until he was older.  The only thing we could do was keep him on a schedule.  If the child is slow to mature, the social emotional skill of transitioning from a preferred activity to a non-preferred one (going to the bathroom) may be quite a challenge for him.

3.        A powerful motivator must be found and used.  For children that have a lot of “behavior” regarding the bathroom, the motivator should be powerful and  only attainable by going to the bathroom.  Example:  if m&m’s are used as the reward, it’s important that  m&m's are only gained through going to the potty. Otherwise, they cease to be a very powerful motivator. 

4.        I think most children learn better using a multi-sensory approach.  Be careful with lots of verbalization.  Try communicating your expectations through visual schedules and picture directions. 

     You may want to have a "I’m working for" chart.   The visual may help a child stay excited about the reward. 

 This visual can be downloaded free here.  You can find more examples on my pinterest boards, toileting,visual supports, and sharing the agenda here.

 Ruth helps families through her business at One Piece LLC.  You can access her e-mail through the blog.

Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge with us Ruth!  I would love to have YOU share your Potty Training story, experience or tips with Happy House of 5 too.  Email me at Lindsey@Happyhouseof5.com today.  

You can catch up on the other posts in the series here:
Potty Training in Our Happy House: Train in 3 days
Potty Training Tips and Tools

Potty Training in Our Happy House: It's a Stage by The Koala Bear Writer 

Potty Training in Our Happy House: When ready doesn't come by Spectrum of Blessings

Potty Training in Our Happy House: Training by Personality Type from Naps and Roadmaps

Potty Training in Our Happy House: Older Children

Today we welcome guest blogger Valerie from Momma in Progress who is sharing her Potty Training struggles, story and tips.  

In my pre-parenting fantasy of things that were never going to happen, having a three-year-old in diapers was pretty high on the list. And no way on God's green earth was I going to have a four-year-old who had yet to master the toilet.

Yet I did. And we both lived to tell about it.

Because I had easy success with potty training (I hate that term, but I still use it) our first child (Agent E) at age 2.5, I figured surely the second kid (Agent J), also a girl, who watched her big sister (and mother) use the toilet appropriately since before she could walk, would be even simpler, right?

Uh, not so much.

We first "tried" at age 2.5. But J didn't want to stop playing and sit down. J couldn't care less about being in a wet or soiled diaper. J had things to do, and I was messing with her agenda.

So, we backed off until after she turned three. Certainly the potty learning process would be more appealing to her now.

Wrong again.

I know what you're thinking, and yes, we tried that. And that. And that, too.

To Agent J, it made no difference whether we used cloth diapers, disposable diapers, pull-ups, underwear, or naked time. We tried shadowing her, having her sit on the potty predictable times each day, leaving a potty in whatever room she was playing in, letting her sit there for as little or as long as she wanted . . . even using a reward system, which we never did for anything else. (This did not impress her, by the way.)

So we put the whole process on hold. Again.

Then 3.5 came and went and Momma started getting a little twitchy. Most people we know had no idea she was still in diapers; they just assumed based on her age that she passed that hurdle. We already decided not to send her to preschool since we were homeschooling Agent E, but we couldn't have even if we wanted to, as being out of diapers was required.

I resigned to the fact that maybe she would just have to train herself. Perhaps she would magically decide one day that enough was enough and give it a completely self-motivated try.

This did not happen.

About a week before her fourth birthday we decided to plunge into the idea of diaper-free Julia once again. We had recently shipped most of our household goods (including all of our rugs) and so we were down to tile floors and minimal stuff. We were preparing to leave Italy in a few weeks and dreaded the thought of returning to the states with no progress. And quite honestly Momma was over the two in diapers thing. (E and J overlapped for 10 months; J and our third baby, Agent A, were going on 18 months at that point.)

We developed a plan: No diapers during the day (only at bedtime). Potty stays out in the family room or whatever room she's spending the most time in. Potty breaks at regular (we chose two-hour) intervals. Special Princess Underwear if she peed in the potty; plain boring underwear following accidents. Lots of positive reinforcement, praise, and rewards. (No; I don't think those things are evil, and even though prizes as motivation hadn't always worked in the past, we were a tad desperate.) 

The first day we only had one success, and day two we had zero. But . . . by day four we had more successes than misses and she realized she had to go even if it wasn't a designated "time." By day seven we could see the light, so to speak. We knew there would be no "let's give up, this is not working" this time. We were well on our way to having another Agent out of diapers.

There was nothing really magical about this plan; in fact, these were all very similar tactics from previous failed attempts. However, this time, it worked! Not right away, but we stuck with it and made steady progress over the next few weeks.Why now? Was she was simply doing things on her own timeline, and her "readiness" (whatever that is) just happened to correspond to my desperation? Perhaps. Maybe no matter what I did (or did not do) Agent J still would have been one of the 2% of children (if you believe statistics) who don't master independent toilet skills until after their fourth birthday.

Honestly, though, I believe it was the combination of her being "ready" and me taking it seriously. I think I had been too wishy-washy and too willing to give up too quickly when things hadn't gone well in the past. I became overwhelmed with Agent A's toddler-ness, and I wasn't focused on helping her the way I had been with Agent E. And she needed my help. Julia might not have been independently "motivated" for another year. She needed a little coaxing. She needed this to be a team effort. She needed me to take charge a bit. And I don't see anything wrong with that.

She was almost 4.5 by the time we were completely confident that we were "done" with the training part, had stopped night time diapers, and had stopped worrying about having extra clothes/towels constantly with us at our disposal. She turns five next week, so that was only about 6-7 months ago. And it already seems like a distant memory.

What I learned: Don't wait for a "good" time, because there may never be one. I'd been warned not to start too early or too close to a major event. She showed signs of interest just before Agent A was born (at just shy of 2.5) and I ignored them, because no one in their right mind starts potty training their toddler when they're 36 weeks pregnant, right? Looking back, I should have just ran with it then.

What did not help: Listening to stories about how other parents trained their kids by [insert random age here]. Ridiculous commenting threads that always have that one troll who "doesn't understand" how anyone could "let" this happen. People who suggested I should have used EC from the beginning because it worked so well for them. (Um, I'll let you know when I get that time machine up and running.) Books and articles that implied I would cause psychological damage by putting a little verbal "big girl" pressure on her. Mothers of older children making condescending statements how they wished they were in the potty days again. Anyone who voiced a tired version of, "don't worry, it will happen," "she won't go to college in diapers," or "she will learn when she is ready." 

Because when it's you, and you're on diaper duty 10-12 times a day between two kids, and you're washing cloth diapers every 48 hours, and you've had to change a child standing up in the bathroom stall one too many times because no changing table in the world is designed for a kid that big, and all of your friends' kids the same age have been out of diapers for over a year, you don't really give a flying chipmunk about such drivel. You are just. so. over. it.

What I will do differently with Agent A: We have had a potty chair out at our new house since we moved in ten months ago, and just this week Agent A has started using it. When I see him taking an interest, I encourage it. Of course, we have a ways to go . . . I don't expect quick results, and if nothing happens I'm not going to stress. But, I'm going to see where his obvious curiosity leads. And if need be, nudge him in that direction.

Did you potty train an "older" child? What worked for you? What kind of (good or bad) advice did you hear?

Thanks for reading and have a blessed day.  Valerie is a Navy wife and homeschooling Momma to three Secret Agents. She loves coffee, chocolate, and all things Disney. Find her blogging about her parenting and child-led education adventures at Momma in Progress and connect with her on Facebook.

Thank you Valerie for sharing your struggles with us, I'm sure there are many that can relate! I would LOVE to share your Potty Training Stories and Tips.  You can email me at Lindsey@Happyhouseof5.com today.  

You can catch up on the other posts in the series here:

Potty Training in Our Happy House: Train in 3 days

Potty Training Tips and Tools

Potty Training in Our Happy House: It's a Stage by The Koala Bear Writer 
Potty Training in Our Happy House: When ready doesn't come by Spectrum of Blessings
Potty Training in Our Happy House: Training by Personality Type from Naps and Roadmaps

Potty Training in Our Happy House: When "Ready" Doesn't Come

When “Ready” Doesn’t Come: Potty Training With a Side of Autism I’m a major bargain shopper, so when I saw an awesome sale on children’s clothing at our local Sears department store one afternoon, I stocked up big time. Luke was only nine months, but I bought an entire wardrobe all the way through size 2T – including (you guessed it) underwear, because certainly, we would be potty training by then. Looking back, I have to laugh at my presumption – at how much I took for granted back then. Instead, just as Luke was fitting in to those 2T sizes, we were learning that Luke had autism. I figured that potty training would just have to wait until Luke could speak and understand language, but by the time he was three-and-a-half, he was still only speaking a few single words, and his understanding was extremely limited. He also didn’t seem to mind being wet or dirty in the slightest.  I started to realize that for Luke, my idea of “ready” might never come. There aren’t many books for parenting special children. How would I ever make him understand the concept of toilet training when words failed? Like teaching most things to an autistic child, potty training is a total commitment. You approach it as a soldier prepares for battle. You stiffen your resolve, put on your battle armor, and send for reinforcements. My first step was to enlist the assistance of Luke’s therapists. They gave me a procedure to follow that went something like this:

Give Luke plenty of fluids.

Have him sit on the toilet every 15 minutes for 5 minute intervals (this gives him many opportunities per day to get it). Prior to taking him, make the sign language sign for “bathroom” and say the word “bathroom.” Prompt him to do the same.

If he goes, he may get up immediately. Praise him with great excitement and give him several rewards. (In Luke’s case this meant he received the iPad for five minutes and yogurt bites to eat). Reset the timer for another 15 minutes and start over.

If he doesn’t go reset the timer for another 15 minutes and start over.

If he has an accident, say “bathroom” while making the sign. Prompt him to do the same. Then have him sit on the toilet for a minute. Have him help clean the mess and change his clothes. Reset timer and start over.

Every three days Luke goes without an accident, increase the time between each potty break by five minutes until he is going every two hours on a schedule, or preferably using the bathroom as needed.

I can’t even begin to tell you how overwhelmed I was when I realized that I would be living my life (with two kids) in fifteen-minute intervals. Thankfully, Luke’s therapists helped me for a good portion of the day. I just had to keep it going between therapy sessions, in the evenings and on the weekends, and to my surprise, it wasn’t as bad as I had feared. I really did adjust to taking life fifteen minutes at a time. After weeks of practically living in the bathroom (and plenty of tears on both our parts), Luke finally understood the concept of using the toilet, and even if he could only squeeze a few drops, he would go every time and receive his rewards. Once we had worked up to 25 minute intervals and I started making short trips outside of the house on outings where bathrooms were readily accessible. The first outings were a little awkward. I know that it must have been strange for the others to watch me run to the bathroom with Luke every time his timer went off, and it felt constant, but an advantage of autism parenting is that you get over what others think rather quickly. It is what it is. You just accept it and do what your child needs. It wasn’t long after this, however, that Luke started independently signing and requesting “baa-toom” when he had to go. Around this time, he also started to dislike feeling wet. We were able to discontinue the use of the procedure and just take him on demand. We also gradually faded out the use of rewards. Since then, there have been triumphs and setbacks. Learning to poop in the toilet took several months longer. I would dump the contents of his dirty underwear into the toilet and let him watch it flush so he understood where it was supposed to go. I also had to start making him sit longer at the time of day when he would usually go. Eventually, he did go, and after that first time (and an overload of praise and rewards), he improved rapidly. Another setback was that every few months Luke would suddenly start having accidents again. I can only attribute this to the fact that there were other things that were much more interesting than going to the bathroom. My response to this is to start making him sit on the toilet every hour whether he needs to go or not. Since he doesn’t appreciate the interruptions, he gets back with the program immediately. Today, at age six, there are still things we need to work on. Luke still needs to learn to wipe himself thoroughly (he does try), and he still wears a diaper overnight (although I’m convinced this is a problem for many boys – even typical ones). Also, in new places, I still need to insist that he go every couple of hours because he won’t go on his own if the bathroom isn’t familiar, but these are all very manageable and I expect he will continue to make progress in this area. So, dear parent, if you find yourself faced with the seemingly insurmountable task of potty training a special needs child, do not despair. It can be hard, and it takes time, but it is also very possible.
Joyce Rohe is the blogger at Spectrum of Blessings, where she writes about raising her Happy House of *Almost* 5 and being the Christian Mommy of an exceptional child. She was recently published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum. In addition to her blog, you can find her on Facebook.

Thanks so much for sharing with us Joyce!! I would love to have YOU share your Potty Training story and tips, email me at Lindsey@Happyhouseof5.com today.

You can catch up on the other posts in the series here:

Potty Training in Our Happy House: Train in 3 days

Potty Training Tips and Tools

Potty Training in Our Happy House: It's a Stage by The Koala Bear Writer 

Potty Training in Our Happy House: When ready doesn't come by Spectrum of Blessings

Potty Training in Our Happy House: Training by Personality Type from Naps and Roadmaps

Potty Training in Our Happy House: It's a Stage

I'm so excited to begin a new series here on Happy House of 5.  

I've had a lot of interest in my Potty Training Posts and thought that I would expand the topic by inviting other bloggers to share their tips and experiences.  Today I would like to welcome our first guest blogger, Bonnie from The Koala Bear Writer.  

"Mommy, I went pee and poo in the potty!" Lily's voice is high with excitement as I come around the corner to check on her activity in the bathroom.  In the last couple of days, she's started telling me she can go by herself—and going when she needs to go, instead of just when I tell her to go.  It's a huge, rewarding step in what feels like a long potty training journey.

I have two girls in underwear now (and one more still in diapers!), and while I'm not an expert on potty training, I have noticed a few things that helped both of my girls learn.

1.  They were ready.

Before I started potty training, I scoffed at the idea that children had to be ready to do it.  It was more about the parents, I thought, and when they were ready to work with their children on this.  Sunshine changed my mind on that.  With both of my daughters, I've had potty and underwear ready for them... before they were ready for it.  I made suggestions and encouraged, but didn't have much success.

Then there was one day when each of them woke up and said, "I want to wear underwear" and that was the beginning of their potty training.  After that, they didn't want diapers.  They wanted to be "big girls" and, even though they still had accidents, they generally kept trying to go potty on the toilet and to be motivated themselves to do it.

2.  Don't scold or punish.

Accidents are frustrating.  Very frustrating.  Especially when they happen at the perfect times (like when you are getting ready to go somewhere) or in the perfect places (like on the couch or the bed).  I've gotten really upset at a few accidents and noticed that doesn't help either of them—or me.  Instead, I've learned to take a deep breath and to talk calmly to them about what they could have done instead.  They could have come inside instead of playing outside.  They could have gone potty before getting in the truck.  They could have told Mommy.  And if they told Mommy, we'd be ready to play again already instead of still cleaning up the mess.

Since Lily was also old enough to get dressed herself, I had her change her wet clothes if she had an accident and put the dirty clothes in the laundry.  Sometimes I also got her to mop up the puddle with paper towels.  These natural consequences helped her learn about her mistakes without either of us getting upset.

3.  Let them feel wet.

Sunshine was potty trained around the time that she was two years old (just before Lily was born) and it only took a few months.  She wore cloth diapers and knew when she was wet and asked for a diaper change immediately.  By the time Lily started potty training, our cloth diapers had worn out so she was wearing disposables.  She was much less motivated to start training and is now almost three and finally (I hope!) trained.  I strongly believe that the sensation of being wet helps children learn to go potty.  Whether that means cloth diapers, potty training pants, or simply going cold turkey and putting them in underwear (and putting up with the accidents for a while), let your child experience his bodily signals.  Disposable diapers and pull-ups don't let children feel the wet to the same extent and so they don't learn the signals that precede feeling wet.

Finally, remember that potty training is a stage.  It may seem like it takes a while (and some children may take longer than others, like Lily!) but eventually, they all figure out how to do it... so buy more paper towels and keep smiling.

Bonnie Way is a freelance writer, editor and blogger.  She has three daughters (ages 5, 3, and newborn) who enjoy reading books, building with their blocks, and playing in parks.  When she's not on her computer, Bonnie can be found baking cookies, rock climbing, or trying to take pictures of her girls.  She and her husband have been married for six years and live in Victoria, BC.  Bonnie blogs three times a week about motherhood or what's she reading and also hangs out on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.

Thanks so much for sharing with us Bonnie!!  I would love to have YOU share your Potty Training story and tips, email me at Lindsey@Happyhouseof5.com today.

You can catch up on the other posts in the series here:

Potty Training in Our Happy House: It's a Stage by The Koala Bear Writer 

Potty Training in Our Happy House: When ready doesn't come by Spectrum of Blessings

Potty Training in Our Happy House: Training by Personality Type from Naps and Roadmaps

Share your Potty Training Story

I have been so amazed to see the response that my Potty Training in our Happy House post has received.  It's my number one viewed post thanks to Pinterest.   I've been getting lots of comments, emails and Facebook messages regarding Potty Training.  I've had friends use the 3 day method I blogged about and had wonderful responses with their children too. 

I do realize that the 3 day method is not a one size fits all for training.  I would love to help other readers who are having a struggle or questions about potty training, that's where you come in.  I am looking for other Bloggers who would be interested in being featured here on Happy House of 5, by sharing your Potty Training story, experiences and recommendations.  It can be similar to my 3 day training, completely different techniques, how you decided your child wasn't ready yet, boys vs. girls, training multiplies, I'm sure your story could help encourage another reader if you shared it!  If you are interested please email me at Lindsey@Happyhouseof5.com

Potty Training in our Happy House

Potty Training in 3 days is possible!

If you missed our Potty Training Tips and Tools click here, it is extremely important that you are sure that your child is ready before starting this. 

Before you get started:

• Pick a week that you don't have much on the calendar so you can devote your time and attention to potty training.  You will need to stay home for at least three days straight before heading out into the outside world with big kid underwear. 
• Plan easy meals and have your house chores (laundry etc.) caught up before you start. 
• Talk to your child about starting to wear big kid underwear the days before so they start to get excited and know that they will be using the potty soon!
• Make sure you have all of your supplies in the bathroom (potty seat, books, wipes, stool, stickers, chart  and m&m's)
• You need to push fluids for the first couple of days so that your child will need to go a lot.
• Make sure you are mentally prepared to handle this week with a positive attitude.  Talk with your family about staying positive and encouraging their younger sibling about using the potty.  The next few days are going to be stressful and tiring but so worth it!

Day One

Make it a habit for them try to go potty after they wake up every morning.  After this initial potty session, set a timer for every 20 minutes.  When the times goes off, its time to sit on the potty.  Read your potty books to them while they try to go, this can be a fun time to sing songs and tell stories. Give your child a small sticker and one m&m every time they try to go, even if they didn't actually go.  
If they do actually go potty make a big deal about it-sing a happy potty song, dance and be silly.  Just don't do what I did with my first daughter and get so excited that you scare her, lol!  Make sure you help your child wash their hands every time they try to use the potty so they also learn a good washing habit.


{This is such a cute idea!}

{Little Sis had at least 6 accidents on the morning of day one, but something clicked after her nap and she started going potty almost every time she tried.  She only had a few accidents the rest of the day}

Day Two
Continue to set the timer and still give the sticker and a m&m for each try.   

{Little Sis went all morning before her nap without an accident.  She thinks its fun to re-start the timer on my iphone so whatever it takes to keep her excited. She had a few accidents in the afternoon but not nearly as many as yesterday}

Day Three
Today we stop setting the timer and this is the last day that we will be giving rewards when they go potty.  At this point they hopefully have started to learn the feeling that they need to use the potty and will tell you,  plus you are going to ask them throughout the day if they need to go.

{Little Sis was accident free on day three!  She had been dry all morning and when she went down for a nap I put a diaper on her but she said that she wanted to wear panties, so we compromised and she wore her panties over her diaper. Surprisingly she woke up dry, which is usually not the case. I thought for sure there might be at least a couple of accidents this afternoon or evening but she did awesome!}

~*I'll still be putting on diapers for nap and bedtime for awhile until it becomes consistent.  I'm more concerned with day time training for now*~

Leaving the house

Now the next big step is leaving the house and staying dry. I do not put my girls in pull-ups when we leave the house.  In the past I have used the Gerber plastic diaper covers over the underwear, but Little Sis was doing so great that we skipped this. 

~*Make sure you have a couple of change of clothes, underwear and a wet bag or something to put wet clothes in case there is an accident.*~

This is not a necessity but a few friends told me about a great travel potty that I bought and am keeping in our car.

{Kalencom 2-in-1 Potette® Plus Travel Potty & Trainer Seat}

The bags have an absorbent padding in the bottom and then you just tie it up and throw it away.  (I don't see me buying more replacement bags, I'll just recycle my grocery store bags and fold up some paper towels in the bottom) 

I have Little Sis try and go potty before we leave the house and then again before we go into the store or whatever errand we are running.  That way this germaphobe Mom can try to avoid using the public restrooms but that isn't always possible.  I also recommend carrying hand sanitizer in case there isn't a clean sink and soap to use. 

An Update on Little Sis

We potty trained almost three weeks ago and she is doing AWESOME!  She has only had a couple of accidents and I take blame for them.  We were busy and I should have paid more attention to how long it had been since she last went.  

There were a couple of times where #2 was scaring her so I went back to giving her a m&m for that and since then she is doing much better.  It's very bittersweet that Little Sis is potty trained.

I'm looking for other bloggers to share their Potty Training Stories, tips and recommendations for a new series, email me at Lindsey@Happyhouseof5.com

I would love to help with any questions or concerns you may have.  You can find me on Facebook, leave a message on this post or Tweet me.  Please share your success stories too :)

Potty Training Tips and Tools

Today I'm sharing some of my Potty Training Tips and Tools. 

I used to own a licensed daycare that I ran out of my home when Middle Sis was 18 months old so not only have I potty trained my girls but I also helped the daycare kiddos too. 

My number one tip is to wait for signs that your child is ready to train.  If you do it on your own schedule it can turn into a stressful experience for your child.  You want to keep the training a positive and fun learning time. 

What are signs of readiness?

• Your child shows interest in the potty, wants to sit on the potty and practice wiping. 
• Your child is able to pull their own clothing up and down.(Avoid one piece outfits) 
• They acknowledge verbally when they are wetting themselves, not wanting their diapers to be wet or dirty. 
• They are starting to keep the diapers dry for longer periods of time.

What will I need to train?

I use potty seats like this because I don't want to have to clean out a potty chair and I want them to be comfortable using big potties when we aren't at home. 

A stool, books and wipes are useful too.

I really like the "Once Upon a Potty" book because it explains the body parts using kid friendly words and shows a little girl trying to use the potty.  I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've read this book, I can practically read it from memory!

There are some really cute potty chart printables all over pinterest

{source}

(I kept it simple and used construction paper)

I like to use the old fashion Gerber training underwear, they have a thicker center that helps the child to feel wet and absorbs more so you don't have such a big puddle to clean up. 

{source}

I use M&M's as a reward plus small stickers. 

In the beginning I give her a sticker on her chart and an M&M every time she sits on the potty and tries to go. 

(After a few days I only give M&M's for going #2 as I don't want to continue to give candy for going potty and eventually do away with that as well.  I'm not a big candy kind of Mom ;)

Tomorrow I will share how Little Sis is doing with her training!!

{Make sure you check out part two of this post here to see how we Potty Train in 3 days!!}