Potty Training with Tot on the Pot
Alternative title: How I’m Coping with the Frustration that is Potty Training. I tried to be casual. I tried to be low key. I tried just letting him suss out the situation on his own (if you know me, you know that is very hard). But when it comes to hitting developmental milestones… momma anxiety + occupational therapist anxiety = BAER PLEASE PEE ON THE POTTY!
We tried different potty chairs. We tried peeing outdoors (we had 10-foot walls — don’t judge me). We tried peer pressure. And yet… hit or miss. Some days, his diapers were dry; other days (most days), they were falling off, they were so soaked. Super frustrating.
Baer’s an only child, and his cousins are old enough that they don’t want him in the bathroom when they pee. Nate and I let him in the bathroom with us, but he seemed immune to the mom and dad peer pressure. I assumed when he moved up to 3K, he would be more interested in peeing on the potty since the majority of his classmates would be potty trained, but it was the opposite: new toys, new surroundings, new friends meant he would rather pee in his pants than stop for a potty break. I felt like we had exhausted all the advice given to us from well-meaning friends and family. I felt desperate.
Enter the amazing folks at Tot on the Pot. After following them on Instagram and doing a little digging of my own (did you know they started out on Kickstarter and Indiegogo? This gave them the grassroots clout my husband loves so much), I decided to order one. Two days later, Amazon delivered this sweet little box, and I handed it over to Baer. He was so excited! It took a minute to explain that he could not pee in this potty (what is with boys?), but once he put two-and-two together, he put his little buddy — called Peter, don’t laugh — on the little toilet. Baer stood at the big toilet and together they took a pee! Success!
Since then, things have gotten steadily better. With the blessing of his teacher, Baer is now going to school in undies (is there anything cuter than toddler boxer briefs?), and we are on day three of completely dry pants! I will admit, when I pick him up, I hold my breath… but when I see him in the same clothes I dropped him off in, my heart soars! Watching him grow up can be bittersweet on many levels, but seeing him succeed and being proud of himself (even though he pretends not to be — he takes after his father in that way) makes me so happy.
If you’re interested in purchasing your own Tot on the Pot, here’s the link: Tot on the Pot. Four-point-four stars with 258 reviews says this is an investment worth making! Baer and Peter also give it two thumbs up!