A Potty Training Milestone

Alexandra has been potty trained since the first week in November. After the 3 days she was pretty much day trained and I would have her wear pull ups during the night. When I found she went a week or so dry through the night I took off the pull ups - plus they seemed to bother her and make her itch. So In December I kind of just got rid of them at our house but when we would go to Nana's or Nona's sometimes she would wear them just so I didn't have to hassle with changing sheets if she had an accident. I did take them on vacation too in January and she wore them a few nights there too just as a precaution. Well other than those special places she has been pull up free at our house since early December.

Well she hasn't had an accident in I can't remember when (everyone knock on wood here!) and she has stayed dry through the night for a really long time too. I do try to have her go right before her bath and then maybe even before bed although sometimes she doesn't. Usually every morning she comes into my room when she wakes and she has me take her to the bathroom or she'll be up for a half hour or so and then go.

Well last night she had a major milestone and this has happened one other time. She woke up, came in and got me at 1:30 am and told me she had to go to the potty. I took her over and then walked her back to bed. She slept then dry for the rest of night.

Tonight then again she went before her bath but didn't go before bed. She went to bed at 9 and at 9:40 or so she came to the stairs and yelled down to me that she had to go. I took her over again and she went back to bed.

I'm hoping this trend continues! My ultimate goal is to have her be totally independent and get up out of bed, go over and go, and come back to her room. I'm sure that will take time. Actually I thought she would be in pull ups until 3. I still take her during the day to the bathroom although she can stand on the stool, pull down her pants, and get on. Reaching the toilet paper, pulling a little off, and wiping (really well) are the things we need to work on. I guess I have 8 months for her to master this (she goes to Preschool in September and they have a really low to the ground potty which she can get on herself) but I want her to be totally independent to get herself clean and pull up her pants. I need to continue to have her practice this at home.

But anyways, I am so proud of her for her accomplishments! I tell her every night before bed that she needs to stay dry because waking up with wet PJ's, undies, etc doesn't feel good! Then in the morning when she stays dry I make sure to tell her how proud of her I am and she gets this big smile on her face. She thrives on positive attention to things she does well, so I'll continue to tell her, even if it's every day, that she is doing great.

On a funny side note, she has some bathroom routines she follows. I kind of started some by saying "YAY" and clapping when she goes. I hold Pooh Bear and he encourages her and dances, etc when she is going. I sit in there and talk with her as she is going but sometimes I also shut the door and tell her she needs her privacy. Well now, sometimes when I need to use the bathroom she will come in and congratulate me for going. I feel so special that my 2 and a half year old cheers me on when I am going to the bathroom. haha. It's so funny how she mimics me!!