I have been putting so much pressure on myself lately to get Kennedy to do everything I want her to do before the new baby comes...it's like I feel once he is here, it will be the end of the world and I won't be able to do anything. I know that this is not the case, but my brain keeps telling me that it is! I do have some good news...I am finally getting my 2 year old off of the bottle. I have been avoiding it because I thought it would be really hard, but that has not been the case. When she asked for her bottle this morning, I just said "no, the bottles are for the baby now, but you can have a sippy cup." She complained about it for a minute and then said "bottles are for the baby." Later on, she asked again and I said the same thing. She agreed once again to a sippy. She had a small meltdown when it was time for her nap, but she went to bed without a bottle or a sippy and I was so happy. She even went down to bed without it! Let's hope that it will continue to be this easy!
My other project has been potty training. She has gone a few times in the past few days, and then today? Nothing! She sat on the potty for 15 minutes and then she said she was all done. I feel like we take 1 step forward and 2 steps back. Any advice is welcome. (And if you still think she is not ready, she really is! She is just stubborn)
My last project has been to try and keep her in her big girl bed all night. She goes to sleep in it at night, and then at about 3:00 am, she comes into our room and wants to sleep with us. Christian tried to put her back in her bed last night and she threw a major fit. Nobody wants to deal with a tantrum at 3:00, so we just let her sleep with us. BAD HABIT I KNOW! But what do we do???
This is probably the most boring post for most of you, but I really need advice. I don't care if I know you or not. I am desperate to know what has worked for you. Thanks!
7 comments:
Potty training: We have an open door policy, so basically our kids are comfortable with the fact that going in the potty is a normal, grown-up thing to do. And they know the difference between girls going and boys going. That may not be for everyone, but it's worked well for us. It also has to be HER choice. Try not to make a big deal out of it, but when she does go, reward her with something cool. Hard candy or jelly beans are great motivators! We give L a piece of candy (that he picks out of the jar) for pee, and a tootsie roll pop for poop. And don't worry, Kennedy will remind you if you forget! :)
Some people just sit down with their toddler, tell them no more diapers, and then do it. I find that a bit traumatic (and messy), but each child is different and will react differently. Remember though, you as a parent have to be ready to tackle this, too! That's how it was for me; I just wasn't ready to tackle potty training and L was super ready and got the ball rolling for me. I just had to be consistent.
I can't remember what your other questions were, so I'll post this then go back and post more! Blame it on the pregnancy brain :)
*I meant to say, try not to make a big deal out of her not succeeding, but when she does, have a blast with it (ie candy, little toys, etc)
Okay, big girl bed:
This sounds horrible, but we have a lock on the boys' room. As in, the doorknob is flipped, so it locks from the hallway. We've done this for two reasons; it keeps them safe in their beds when they wake up at night (L tends to sleepwalk sometimes), and we have a full night of sleep!
It was pretty horrible at first, and I felt like monster mommy, but once we set some rules in place, we enforced them and everyone understood what was acceptable. Their door is only locked at nap and night time (rarely for nap time these days), and it isn't used as a twisted form of punishment. So it works. But GETTING it to work isn't a cake walk.
Kennedy sure is going through a lot of big girl changes right now, and believe me, she is very aware of the family addition! There will be some backsliding and wanting to act like a baby once Liam comes, so be prepared to give her lots of big girl attention and as much individual time as your exhaustion level permits! You will realize that the things you couldn't have imagined doing with just one kid will seem much easier and do-able now! Go supermom! :)
just read on a friends blog about a book called potty training in one day- i'm going to check it out as jones has NO desire. maybe set up a reward system for K if she stays in her bed all night she gets to choose a treat in the morning. luckily jones stays in his bed at night (not nap time though) so we haven't had to deal with this. xoxo
It is hard..and your trying, I can tell. The # one thing: if your going to make a rule..stick to it! Does she understand rewards, and I mean earning rewards? Maybe make up a fun chart for her, with all the days of the month, or week whatever she can understand, and then give her a sticker to put on the chart for going potty AND sleeping in her bed all night. Once she has earned so many stickers let her pick out something cool..non expensive of course..then when she's done training, but she still likes the chart, have her earn stickers for chores she does.
I feel your pain, I have been there four times. Hang in there MOM your doing GREAT!
This is probably not going to help you, but Makoa is still not potty trained and now he and his brother are both in the same size diapers. I don't mind changing diapers vs. potty training right now. AND both my boys sleep in our bed.... so yah. I'm going to be reading your comments because apparently I need advice too... :)
We tried everything with the girls when we were working on the potty training - charts, stickers, rewards jars, special treats, big girl undies, pull-ups, timers, little potties, big potties....everything. Nothing really seemed to stick. I read a bunch of books, studied up on blogs, asked all of my sisters and friends for advice...and finally realized it was all about patience, perseverence, and letting the girls figure it out in their own time. Every kid is different, so don't be afraid to try something but don't get upset if that something doesn't work. Hang in there...you'll make it through this!
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