Potty training - the failed first attempt theory

So a week ago I ventured to potty train my third child. I have developed a whole theory on potty training (which I am sure my fourth child will debunk....). This theory is called the failed first attempt theory. The idea behind it is this -

pick a time to potty train your child when you think they might be ready but are not quite sure.

Commit yourself to staying home for a week.

Buy some underware and pull ups (for nap & bed times).

Buy a LARGE bag of whatever treat you are going to reward your child with for making pee pee and poo poo in the potty. Our treat of choice is M & M's.

Wake up on Monday morning and put child on potty. Spend the rest of the day cleaning up pee pee messes ALL OVER the house (eat a lot of m & m's yourself since child is not getting any and the stress of cleaning up urine all over your house is a lot to handle)

Repeat this same process on Tuesday

Give up on Wednesday and put diapers back on the child. Eat the remaining M & M's yourself. (This is a very important part of the process)

Wait two or three months.....

We have found that the failed first attempt really seems to work for us. The second attempt really goes much better. That is not to say there aren't accidents. Still plenty of those and Tuesday is still the worst day but by Wednesday it seems that we are coming out of it. That the little one has figured out (at least partially) what we are asking him/her to do.

So now, after a week and a half of potty training, Kailyn has gone to stores, church and some one's house and been accident free. She is excited to use the potty and even tells us she has to go once in a while!!!!!

Wooo Hooo!!!!! in another two years we can do it all over again with Ryen!