This post is sponsored by Pull-Ups® Training Pants.
You would think that with having eleventy-billion kids that I would have this potty training business down cold, wouldn’t you? But nooooo, Baby V was the toughest of all! (This proves even moms of many need help with potty training, too!) Every trick I had up my sleeve didn’t work for her as it did for the other children, forcing me to stop, regroup, take a breather – then start back up again. It took us a LOT longer than it did with her siblings, but, through this push and pull, I can tell you, my partner in crime through it all has been Pull-Ups® Training Pants.
Our Pull-Ups® Potty Partnership Saved the Day
A year and a half ago we began this journey, and, in the beginning, it was just too soon for my little one. While she desired to be a “big girl” like her siblings, she just wasn’t ready for the big leagues. And, y’know, that’s okay! Every child is different, and they have their own timeline. It was frustrating at first, especially because she really wanted to try, but she wasn’t getting the cues on “when to go,” so many accidents would happen. But these proved to be teachable moments for her, and Pull-Ups were there to help her stay dry and embarrassment-free. As you teach and reinforce potty skills with your child, you’ll be successful both in training — and in strengthening your parent-child partnership.
What eventually helped us was to learn her “potty personality” with this Potty Personality quiz from the Pull-Ups Potty Partnership. We found out (and weren’t surprised to discover) she is a PUPPY personality! She’s loving, enthusiastic, has endless energy, just like a Puppy potty personality. I just kept nodding my head as I read on. Wants everyone to get involved in potty training? Yup. Ready and eager to please? You bet! Factoring in your child’s unique personality, with professional potty training tips, suggestions, games(!!), and more that are specifically tailored towards your child’s individual needs, can help facilitate an easier and much more successful potty training experience.
We’ve continued to choose Pull-Ups for our Potty Partnerships with all our children over the years because they WORK! We feel we can’t successfully potty train in diapers, my children simply got too confused, it was what they were used to using. By using Pull-Ups, they not only look like underwear, but slide on and off just like underwear does, too. This helps get them used to the idea of what it’s really like. They’re also easy to use because of their stretchable sides, giving them that independence to do things themselves when they’re ready to try.
If you’re thinking to yourself, “Why choose Pull-Ups instead of switching between diapers and pants?” Fantastic question, and one that renowned child development/potty training expert Dr. Heather Wittenberg is eager to answer in this brief video below:
We recognized our daughter’s signs that she was ready. How do you know if you’re child is ready? Common readiness signs include:
- Pulling at a wet or dirty diaper
- Hiding to pee or poop
- Interest in others’ use of the potty, or copying their behavior
- Having a dry diaper for a longer-than-usual time
- Telling you that they’re about to go, going, or have just gone in their diaper
Once I knew this, I understood why potty training never worked before – she simply wasn’t ready. Then when she did start exhibiting these signs, we began bringing her into the bathroom with us, to show her how the process worked, especially since she wasn’t a big fan of the noise from the toilet. Over time, we’d undress her and have her sit with us to “try” when we tried, so she could experience it, too. The Potty Partnership taught me that her Puppy personality would need an overview of the big changes that are taking place, so bringing her into the process really helped build on her natural inclinations to be curious about the potty and want to please us. Having her wear Pull-Ups made it easy for her to remove her pants, and slide them back up herself when she was done trying. Over time, she succeeded!
Pull-Ups Learning Designs® Training Pants have fun and kid-friendly designs fade when wet, so kids can see the difference between wet and dry, even if they aren’t sure they felt it. But, if you want to help your child feel when they have to go, Pull-Ups® Cool & Learn® Training Pants have a brief cooling sensation when wet to help children understand the signs of when they need to go. Consistency here was key to our success! If you’re wondering “Why should I switch to Pull-Ups training pants?” here are Dr. Heather Wittenberg’s thoughts on switching:
The most important thing to know about potty training is that every child potty trains differently based on their personality. It’s best for parent and toddler to approach potty training as a journey, not as a finish line, and work with your child’s personality, instead of against it. Don’t rush ahead of your toddler’s interest level – read their signals. If they’re interested in taking the next step, he or she will respond positively to your suggestions to give the potty a try.
What’s your child’s potty personality? Take the potty personality quiz at Pull-Ups.com to see if your little one is a Puppy just like mine!