The Potty Chair

Okay, we got Kayin a potty chair when he was 19 months old because when he would go pee, he would take his diaper off and throw it in the garbage. So we figured, hey, looks like it's time to try the potty. So we let him pick out a potty, took it home, and let him get used to it. Yeah, he decided to sit on it fully clothed, then pile his toys in it and close the lid. Then he would carry the chair all over the house, and leave it in the only entryways so that you would trip on it. No biggie. Later on, we took off his diaper and sat him on it. He screamed, cried, sat up, threw toys in it, then peed on the carpet. So we decided to hold off on potty-training til he was more ready. At 21 months we tried again. Sat him down, he cried.....and used the potty. He startled himself when he peed, so he stopped crying long enough to peer down at what he was doing, then resumed crying. And peeing. He cried even harder when we congratulated him and put pull-ups on him. Then he wiped his eyes and said, "Yay!" Now, we can only get him to use the potty if we catch him at the right times. He no longer tells us when he has to go, instead he goes and hides in his closet, then comes out with a full diaper. I want to start getting him more accustomed to the potty and using it since he's almost 2, but it seems that he wants to hold on to being a baby and not use the potty like a big boy. If we ask him if he wants to be a big boy, he says "No, baby." At least that's what his garble sounds like. Now he is resisting taking naps until late in the evening (6-7pm), which I won't allow because then he won't go to bed at 9:30. He would rather stay up til 1 in the morning. Not happening. Tell him it's bedtime though and it's instant tantrum. At least I know how to handle those calmly. I walk into another room, and tell him from there that I mean now for bedtime. I know he just does it to take control of the situation. I encourage his independance, but I don't tolerate defiance.

So anyway, hopefully we'll get the potty thing rolling soon. I don't want to be changing diapers when he's 3.

Love,

Allie