expiration date 

after two unsuccessful tries, we’re starting aina’s potty training again today. the first try was when she was only 13 months old. at that time, it was too early and she wasn’t interested at all. the second try was when she’s about 22 months old. i think it would’ve been successful if i had more patience and didn’t give up too early… oh well.

aina is now 2 years and 3 months old. i think it should be a good time to start because:

• last night, aina actually asked to poo in the toilet. it wasn’t successful, but she asked for it. i thought it was a cue that she’s interested in potty training.
• aina is not sick (in fact, she has just recovered last week).
• we don’t have any travelling plans in the next few weeks.
• no friends or relatives are coming to Singapore to visit in the next week or so. this means, no distraction.

so, this morning, as soon as she’s awake, i took off her diaper and changed it to training panties (it looks like a regular panties, except that the lining on the bottom is just a tiny bit thicker) and brought her red potty downstairs. i also sat her on the potty every one hour for about 5-10 minutes.

by 11 in the morning, i have washed 3 training panties. none of her pee went into the potty. they were all scattered around the house… and even managed to get to both snowies’ feet! now, both Snowy smell like pee. and our carpet, too.

it wasn’t even noon, and i was already frustrated.

so, i went online, looking for help. and i found this: Baby Center’s Potty Training in 3 Days, which reminds me that the first rule is not to lose my patience. and reading successful stories help, too: ie. the daughter finally get to pee in the potty on the third day! that’s encouraging… that means, i shouldn’t be frustrated… yet.

i took of the training panties and let her go commando for the whole day. at the beginning, she wasn’t comfortable with not wearing anything underneath. but it didn’t take long for her to get back to her usual routine.

of course, that didn’t stop the accidents. she still peed on the floor, on the carpet, etc.

but then, it happened. right after dinner, we sat aina on her potty. after about 5 minutes or so, all the sudden aina said, “I can do it! I can do it!”… and viola! there is liquid in the potty! ari and i danced around in happiness. and aina beamed proudly.

it actually happened twice that night. not long after dinner, aina had her night milk. after she finished her milk, we sat her on the potty again, and not long after, she peed. proudly.

so, the first day of potty training ended really well. let’s see what happens tomorrow :)

links to the other potty-training-saga entries:
- day 2
- day 3