Potty Training Tip #1: Throw a Potty Party!
Monday, January 25, 2010 Posted by Piera Jolly
OK, so for the last few weeks I have been in the potty training trenches. And I survived. I feel like a "real" parent now LOL. There were many moments that I thought, "my child will NEVER get it. He is destined for a lifetime of diapers." I even broke down and cried one day. I made it though. And, so did Mike. More importantly, Lucas made it. He is now pretty much day time potty trained! I thought it would be helpful to share with you guys some of the things that Mike and I did that helped Lucas {and us} through the process--starting with a potty party!
I know, I know. LOL. I had heard of potty parties before and scoffed at how silly it all sounded. However, when it came time to potty train Lucas--I remembered the idea and KNEW that Lucas would not only totally go for it, but that he would LOVE it. The week before we were to begin potty training, I started telling Lucas about the big potty party he was going to have the following week. I told him that there would be cake and a few presents to celebrate the fact that he was a "big boy" now and ready to use the potty. It was funny because I would ask him if we was ready to start using the potty and he would answer with a resounding "NO". I was nervous LOL. Anyhow, even though he didn't seem very enthused about the graduation from diapers to the potty, he was VERY excited about a party.
Fast forward to potty training day. I woke up that morning before Lucas was up and set the "party" up. We decorated with balloons, streamers, set the table, and put candles on the cupcakes. Then it was time to wake up the guest of honor! Mike and I woke him up saying "Happy Big Boy Potty Day!" He literally gasped with excitement. We headed downstairs, ready to party! Seriously, guys--I wish that I had a good camera so that I could have gotten a non blurry picture of Lucas when he saw the breakfast room decorated for his party. He was soooooo excited. We asked him if he was ready to stop using diapers and start using the potty like a "big boy" and for the first time--he said "YES". We lit the candles on the cupcake and sang:
Happy Potty Day to you
Happy Potty Day to you
Happy Potty Day, dear Lucas
Happy Potty Day to you!
After a very "healthy" breakfast of chocolate cupcakes...
...it was time to open a present! We gave Lucas a new pack of Pixar characters underwear since he is a huge fan of Toy Story and CARS. They were a HIT! That was the perfect segue to taking his diaper off and putting on his new underwear. At this point, Lucas was a bit hesitant, but he did it! We also had him throw away ALL of his diapers into the trash can and tell his diapers, "Bye Bye Diapers! No More Diapers!"
The Potty Party really was a huge hit for Lucas and I think it was a fun and positive way to begin the potty training process. Using the potty can be scary for kids--it is the unknown. Something like a potty party helps build excitement and turns using the potty into something to look forward to rather than be scared of.
Fast forward to potty training day. I woke up that morning before Lucas was up and set the "party" up. We decorated with balloons, streamers, set the table, and put candles on the cupcakes. Then it was time to wake up the guest of honor! Mike and I woke him up saying "Happy Big Boy Potty Day!" He literally gasped with excitement. We headed downstairs, ready to party! Seriously, guys--I wish that I had a good camera so that I could have gotten a non blurry picture of Lucas when he saw the breakfast room decorated for his party. He was soooooo excited. We asked him if he was ready to stop using diapers and start using the potty like a "big boy" and for the first time--he said "YES". We lit the candles on the cupcake and sang:
Happy Potty Day to you
Happy Potty Day to you
Happy Potty Day, dear Lucas
Happy Potty Day to you!
January 25, 2010 2:52 AM
What a great idea! I ended up bribing the boys with popsicles and tootsie rolls, lol!
January 25, 2010 8:16 AM
Such a good idea and way to go Lucas!.. More importantly.. way to go mommy and daddy! I broke down on day number 2 myself.
January 25, 2010 10:22 AM
Smart and awesome. Lucas has one bright mommy!
January 25, 2010 11:58 AM
This is great!
I was lucky...my oldest started going at 9 months. He just loved the potty.
My youngest doesn't seem interested at all. I will have to try this.
When you have more then one kid...you'll see that they are so much the same in some ways, yet so different.
January 25, 2010 8:01 PM
Yes, you are officially the coolest mom I know...
So glad he's done so well and you're past the tears! =) Yay Lucas (and mom and dad too!!)!
January 25, 2010 11:17 PM
That is a great idea and great job on getting him trained on the first try! I think THE most important thing to remember, kids will potty train on their own time. I tried and tried and tried with my youngest. I thought he'd train as easily as his older siblings. WRONG! He was adamantly against it so we backed off. Ater a month went by, we tried again. Again he didn't want anything to do with it. I didn't want this to be any more traumatic than absolutely necessary so we waited for several months then reintroduced the whole concept. Books, videos, special undies, stickers, the whole she-bang. At 3+ years old, he is now successfully day and night time trained and I'm not pulling my hair out trying to rush him to the toilet!
January 26, 2010 12:31 AM
Thank you for the idea because I am so ready for my daughter to potty train and so I have been looking for tips on things to do for her.
January 26, 2010 1:22 AM
I think that's a fantastic idea! Not only will it help both parties involved, it will give you guys something good and fun to look forward to throughout the whole process :)
I'm so glad that it worked out for you guys! And Lucas looks absolutely thrilled at is Potty Party :D
January 26, 2010 8:05 AM
I love this idea! I have actually never tried this method. All of my boys were potty trained from 18months-2 1/2 years old. I never had 2 in diapers and now that I am pregnant and due in July I'm really hoping I can get my 20 month old potty trained before the new baby comes! I may have to give this a try! What do I have to lose, right? Thanks for the idea! :)
January 27, 2010 12:26 PM
Piera you are a fantastic mommy!
I think a potty party is a wonderful idea... and Lucas seemed to really enjoy his "healthy" breakfast. Wasn't it Bill Cosby who said that chocolate cake is just flour, eggs and milk anyway??
Great gifts, too... And congratulations to your big boy, Lucas, it's all gonna go really fast now!!
January 27, 2010 4:26 PM
I had never heard of a Potty Party and I absolutely love the idea. Thank You so much for sharing.
gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com
January 28, 2010 3:14 PM
Cupcakes and all! You are the coolest parents. :)
February 2, 2010 5:17 PM
I love this! Lucas is so lucky!!
February 3, 2010 12:07 PM
That looks like a lot of fun and a great idea.
February 4, 2010 8:54 AM
Looks like a great idea! Allie will be starting potty training soon(i hope) and might have to bribe her the way it's going. Way to go Lucas!
February 18, 2010 8:14 AM
what a great idea! i think i am going to try it for my daughter.
February 21, 2010 1:26 AM
This is such a good idea! I never would have thought of this. Way to go Lucas! :)
February 25, 2010 9:28 AM
What a great idea!
And what a cool blog. I found you when I was searching for potty books for children.
May I recommend another good potty book? My new book, _Danny Is Done with Diapers_ is a Potty ABC. Danny and his friends know 26 ways to be done with diapers. Amanda Gulliver's cheery pictures bring the sweet & funny examples to life.
Thanks for letting me mention it here.
Congratulations to Lucas -- and to you!
--Rebecca
www.rebeccaoconnell.com
March 1, 2010 1:29 PM
What a GREAT idea! I'm going to file that one away.
My son (18 months) has his own potty sitting in our bathroom and he often likes to sit on it and 'try' to go - but then never does - but then also hates to put a diaper back on - I keep trying to reinforce if you go pee in the potty you don't HAVE to put the diaper back on... so far that connect hasn't happened or isn't inticing enough. I do have rewards sitting under the sink just waiting for any of amount of tinkle to flood him with praise and bribery!
We're not in any hurry - but if he's an early outta diaper boy - I will NOT complain!
March 19, 2010 7:33 AM
How fun! We threw our son a potty party AFTER he was potty trained. We used the promise of a party to motivate him to go. (He had been changing his own pull-ups instead of going!) As soon as he heard that we would take him to Chuck E. Cheese if he was clean and dry for two weeks, he was done with the pull-ups!
March 19, 2010 9:25 PM
Great idea! I just love it! Thanks!
May 10, 2010 7:12 PM
What a cute idea! he looks so happy :)
May 20, 2010 9:50 AM
I love these pics! Lucas is so cute!
September 25, 2011 8:23 PM
My best friends son was being potty trained and she was having very little success so I went and bought Lil Ashton some underwear (Spiderman his favorite.) And he too was so excited to wear his new underwear as of that moment he stopped using diapers. So were celebrating with a party;)