Potty Training Tips: 10 ways I trained my 22 month old son in less than a week

The Internet has no shortage of potty training tips...many of them from well-intended doctors and other self-proclaimed and actual experts.  If you ask me, when it comes to potty training the best person to ask for advice is a mom who's been through it.  (Hello, nice to meet you!)   That's exactly what I did and with the support of my girlfriend I successfully potty trained my 22 month old son in under a week using the 3 day Potty Training Boot Camp Method.

Now, I'm on the other side and am here to offer you my 10 tips for potty training quickly and successfully:

1. Take advantage of interest: My son started showing signs of potty training readiness around 18 months old.  I made a half-hearted effort to potty train him then, but it didn't work so I quit because come on the kid was soooo young.  However, when at 21 months and 3 weeks old he started pulling off his diaper when he had to pee, I knew I had to take advantage of it -- 6 days later he's telling me when he has to pee and staying dry in his underwear. 
2. Start pre-2 years old:  If possible start potty training your child before their second birthday.  By doing so, you avoid that stubborn and controlling behavior they begin to display... you know, during the "Terrible 2s."

3 Day Potty Training for Boys: Days 3, 4, 5 and beyond

I HATE this potty (it was my daughter's)

So we're 6 days into Potty Training Boot Camp (PTBC) and my almost 22 month old cadet is basically potty trained. Can I tell you how freaking excited I am at the thought of NO MORE DIAPERS!!!  In case you haven't followed this potty training experiment from the beginning, may I suggest you read how Day 1 and Day 2 went with my little guy before continuing...

So as you can see after two successful days, Saturday marked Day 3.  I was looking forward to not being the only one around to make sure he didn't pee all over the house.  But the day quickly turned disastrous.  He peed one or two times in the potty early in the day, but after that it was a fight.  He seemed really resistant and distracted and I'm sure a lot of it had to do with my daughter being home.  What made my frustration even worse was my husband seeming to question if he was really ready.  Sure, he still hadn't pooped on the potty - heck, he barely had pooped at all.  But now it just seemed like he was being stubborn.

Playroom ideas: Decorating with kids art is a budget saver

 

It's been two years since we moved into our house and finally we have something on the walls in the playroom.  I've been searching for playroom decorating ideas for a few months.    I knew I wanted to use the kids' art work to decorate, but I wanted to decorate the playroom on a budget.  The tough part is we have four huge walls, so to cover them with anything -- art or otherwise -- wasn't going to be easy or cheap.   

Easter Basket Ideas for Kids: 55 Non-Candy Easter Basket Stuffers

If you're like me, you're looking for at least a few ideas for Easter Basket fillers that aren't candy.   My kids are honestly more happy about a new electric toothbrush with Dora or Lighting McQueen on it than they are about a chocolate bunny.  Here are 55 Easter Basket ideas for kids -- both boys and girls.

1. Bubbles
2. Coloring Books
3. Crayons
4. Easter themed cookie cutters
5. Stickers
6. Little People Easter Egg Hunt
7. Easter Thomas the Tank Engine trains (girl version too thanks to Easter Rosie!)
8. Cotton tails and bunny trails (marshmallows and mini chocolate chips
9. Bunny & Chick Lego set (or any mini leg set)
10. Foam Easter crafts
    

4 Day Disney World Itinerary with Kids: What First Timers MUST see and do

Since my family recently got back from our first family vacation to Disney World I've been writing on all the tips and tricks I learned along the way -- you did read my Top 10 Tips for a First Time Disney World vacation didn't you? One of the best things I did for my family, was not only plan ahead, but make an actually itinerary.   

My kids were 4 and 20 months when we went in early February 2013 and this 4 day Disney World Itinerary worked out perfectly.  I've highlighted our family's daily highlight in green.
 

First Day: Magic Kingdom

** = MUST DO

Hours: 9am – 10:00pm  (check hours specific for your tour dates)

Leave hotel:  8:15

FIRST THING TO DO: Get FASTPASS for Winnie the Pooh (send one person -- DAD -- with all the tickets to get all the FastPasses, that way you're not all trekking across the park to get them).

·      Dumbo - FP

·      Peter Pan Flight

·      Seven Dwarfs

·      **Winnie the Pooh - FP

·      Country Bear Jamboree

·      Unspecified Counter Service Lunch  11:30 (we ended up eating at Liberty Tree Tavern)

·      Return to hotel by 12:30 pm for naps (click to read why this is soooo important)

·      Depart hotel for Magic Kingdom by 3pm

·      DINNER: 4:15 Cinderalla’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom CONFIRMATION #: xxxx

·      Carousel

·      Small World -

·      7pm: Main Street Electrical Parade Main Street, U.S.A., Liberty Square, Frontierland

·      **8pm: Wishes Nighttime Spectacular -Magic Kingdom Theme Park, Main Street, U.S.A.

For Day 2...