Potty training chronicles

At two and a half years old, Kinsley has shown the cognitive skills and ability to understand routines, mimic basic actions from others, and follow commands. She talks extremely well and often is complimented on how advance she is, so of course comes the question strangers or associates always asks "Is she potty trained" followed up by.. " She should be! She's so smart! If she can_____ she can use the potty."

I've been trying to establish a routine since she was one and a half years old (last summer) and she was NOT ready even with small success of peeing in the toilet every now and then. I remember specifically stating that this was the last time I was buying diapers, to turn around and continue to purchase them because absolute not to my carpets being destroyed.

It wasn't until months ago I began to resume our potty training chronicles. I began to get her daycare on board with helping me with this feat, as she is there majority of the day.

I found this potty training consultant on IG and although I didn't purchase her services, her tips, highlights and posts gave me a lot of great information that I studied when I felt like we were inching our way to establishing a true potty training routine. Now, Kinsley is not fully potty trained, BUT she is having great success with using the potty for peeing and she has began to show understanding that pee goes in the potty. Now poop.. that's another story lol.

Here are some tips and items we used to help establish her routine!

1. Consistency is key. Create a routine that is consistent, doable and works for you and your child. Stick to it! It takes 21 days to create/break a habit. Every morning, I sat her on the potty, changed her pull up, had her throw it away, and put underwear on her. Every 20 minutes I would say "Tell me when you have to go potty" or " in 5 minutes we're going to go potty! " If she had an accident before she made it to the potty, we cleaned it up, changed her underwear, and kept it moving. At daycare, she was in underwear too. It takes everyone on board during this potty-training stage.

2. Ditch the pull ups. Now, experts say to ditch them at night time too, however I know personally we aren't there yet. During the day, however, no more pull ups. You don't want to confuse them of switching between underwear and pull ups because of course they will prefer going in the pull ups even more.

3. Don't give up. We encountered many set backs over the past year as I realized that even though I was ready, she wasn't! Establishing a routine, sticking to it, and creating healthy hygiene habits helps build up to success.

Here is the potty that we used (S/O to my friend for purchasing this a year and a half ago and we are just now using it haha). Click on "potty" to view the chair on Amazon! )

We aren't 100% potty trained just yet (more like 80%), but she is consistently telling adults she has to go and goes when she do, she knows the difference between wet and dry, she can empty out her potty (even when I don't want her to) and she is so proud of herself when she goes! What are some potty-training tips that worked for you?

Tyleeka.