Notes from the Field: Potty Trained!

I think I can officially declare Lucy potty-trained! I am so excited and I think I know what did it: underwear.

About a month ago, we changed Lucy over from cloth diapers exclusively (except at night), to a few afternoons in a cloth pull-up. As we only had two pair, they were used sparingly and Lu seemed to have no qualms using them as she would her diaper--in other words, she peed in them. She was, however, charmed with her ability to pull them up, and seemed to enjoy the less bulky aspect of wearing underwear vs. a diaper.

Thinking it was time for a more drastic change, we then switched to your standard, run-of-the-mill little girl underwear, replete with pink flowers (her dad picked those out-don't get me started!) and zero absorbency. On one of her first days wearing them, Lu discovered she didn't care one bit for wet underwear. So different from diapers--even cloth!

After only one or two 'accidents,' she started alerting us when she had to go potty. Still, I was hesitant to declare her potty trained. And so we waited, wondering if the pattern would hold. I'm happy to report it has! For the past week, Lu has "told" us every single time she has to use the restroom--and even came up dry from a long nap!

Woo-hoo!

While she still wears a diaper at night and for naps, I just had to write this and celebrate the fact that my little girl is growing up. I don't know how the rest of you feel about making the switch to underwear--I imagined several trips to the washing machine, lots of baths--but it's worked like a charm in this house. And now that we're no longer washing those cloth diapers every other day, our carbon output's gone down considerably...as have my chores!

Comments

[Baby Advice]

Congratulations! This is a HUGE step! I am in the process of getting my son trained so I know what you are going through!

[Elena]

I was laughing all the way through this posting. Our little one has started "telling" us every time now and even wants to do it all by himself. TOO sweet!

[Bugaboo Frog]

I am so glad that my daughters are already potty trained. It was difficult at first bu after three days, they want to do it on their own. Goodbye to diapers.