Dora the Toilet Seat

August 19th, 2008 / posted by Jake

When Lindsey returned home from Southern California around July 4th, we thought it would be nice to potty train Tyler but were unsure how to determine when the right time would be.  Some are able to potty train their kids at 2, while others are potty trained when they are 3 even 4.  I don’t think there is a right or wrong time considering the fact that each kid is different so we decided at 2 1/2 we might as well give it a shot.

Because of his obsession with Dora the Explorer (gag), we bought a Dora the Explorer Potty Training seat which fits over the standard seat.  We went this route instead of a little kids toilet for selfish reasons – the idea of simply flushing is a lot better than physically empty out a bucket.  The first week was a learning experience – we had to try and guess as to when he had to go.  When we though it was time, we’d run and fling him on the seat.  Lindsey implemented a sticker reward system so that after every successful experience, he would run and slap a sticker on this chart followed by high fives, loud cheering, and a redbull.

Tyler is very smart about when he needs to go.  Anytime we are in a public location and pass by a restroom, or anything resembling a toilet (buckets, shoes, boxes) his knees buckle, he starts to dance, and screams, “uh oh pee-pee…”  What takes place next often resembles a kidnapping scene at least from a bystander POV.  We drop everything, grab him, and RUN.  Now Tyler has also learned that him having to go “pee-pee” is a get out of jail free card.  Anytime he’s in a situation where he’s bored (nursery, shopping with mom for shoes) he pulls this sacred card knowing we’ll have to stop and take him.  We always do but sometimes it’s really hard.  In the middle of the night we still have him wear pull-ups just in case.  At about 2:00 a.m. each morning he wakes everyone up, announcing that it’s pee-pee time.  My first instinct is to say, “yo dude. 2:00 a.m.  It’s ok to go pee-pee in the pull-up between the hours of 10:00pm – 6:00am.”  But alas we encourage him to utilize Dora… even at 2:00 a.m.  Only no sticker celebration until the morning.

He doesn’t wear Dora the Explorer underwear.  Just CARS, and yes, maybe next month when he hits 3 month of being potty trained we’ll try to get him to stand up and go.  That will be interesting.

Tags: potty train, Tyler