Alexa is my Peeing Princess

Alexa started showing interest in potty-training a little before Christmas. She was 17 months old and I thought no way. Well she just kept wanting to go all the time and so I started preparing her. For Christmas she got some "big girl" Princess Underwear (unders). I bought a few "prizes" and suckers and started talking up "potty day". I told her when her diapers ran out, that was it. NO MORE. She seemed okay so I checked out my favorite book from the library--Toilet Training in Less than a Day and re-read it to make sure I had all the basics down and we did it.


That morning Rook went to play with a neighbor so Alexa and I could be alone. I took off her diaper and helped her learn to put on her unders all by herself. I did this first by helping her teach her dolly how to put on her unders. Then she fed Dolly lots of drinks and helped her go peepee in her own potty. When she went, we cheered and clapped and gave dolly a treat, which Alexa ate. Along the way, Alexa learned to go by herself too and it was a great experience.

Just a few pictures from our training.

Notice Dolly's potty on the table. Alexa insisted on feeding Dolly on the couch...so I put a blanket under Alexa every time.

That first morning, I prompted Alexa to go and set the timer for every 10 minutes. She faithfully sat down every time, though most of the time, nothing came. When it did come, she was so happy she would open her mouth really wide, like I did, to make a super happy face. After Rook got home I let her roam a little more free, but kept setting the timer. She had a couple of accidents when she was playing outside or sitting at the table, but those accidents were so valuable in teaching her to control her bladder.

After 2-3 days she was doing well with peeing, but she seemed to be holding in her poop. So I got out a prize and told her when she pooped, she could have it. She sat down and went. She had held it so long it was difficult for her so I started putting fiber in 1 drink a day and she has been going regularly ever since.

People told me girls were easier to train than boys and I thought, well Rook was pretty easy. Alexa was a princess. I was so proud of how well she did. She even started holding it during naps and the night-time. Problem--waking up at 4 and yelling "NEED TO GO POTTY". So we decided to move her to a bed and hope Rook would do well sharing a room.

The first night was rough, because Rook has nightmares and wakes up screaming alot. That first night, I went in while he was screaming and he was still asleep but Alexa was sitting on her bed. She looked at me and said "Rookie screaming". I smiled and told her to go back to bed...and SHE DID. How did I get her? They love sharing a room and our night-time routine has gotten easier since I can read books and cuddle them both at the same time.

I'm so loving this phase of talky-talky relationship building that's going on between these two. I like to stand outside their door and listen to what they say after I leave. They stay in bed pretty well because they want the door left open and that of course is the punishment if they get out...door shut. TORTURE.