Ditching the Potty Chairs Pt. 2

Our new IKEA stools arrived yesterday, thanks to the girls' Aunt Jenna, who didn't need much prodding to go to one of her favorite stores. The girls were excited to start using the real toilet... and felt the need to go to the bathroom every five minutes just so they could use the stools.
Ditching the potty chairs could turn out to be an expensive endeavor. No, the stools didn't cost very much, but I'm afraid my water bill is about to go sky high. The stools provide easier access to the sink and all I hear all day long is running water. Thank goodness my girls demonstrate good hygiene, but, seriously, how long does it take to wash your hands?
Until now I mainly had them use hand sanitizer. It was much easier to do that than hold them precariously at the sink while I helped them wash their hands. Now I think they are going to the bathroom just so they have an excuse to wash their hands. Hopefully the novelty of having full access to the sink will wear off soon.

Ditching the Potty Chairs

A new year brings new beginnings, which means it's time to switch up the routine. I'm ditching our potty chairs. I know I should have done it awhile ago, but none of my girls were ready for it. Both of our potty chairs have a feature where you can attach part of it to the regular toilet. The bottom of the chair then becomes a step stool. Tried it, didn't work. Somehow the girls managed to pee all over themselves rather than in the toilet. I quickly gave up that plan.
But now it's time to give it another go, with a twist. How do I know it's time? Because they do their business and often times don't tell me. If they can do that, then they can use the regular potty and flush.
I'm not going to use the attachments. Instead, our kind Aunt Jenna is making a trip to IKEA for me (since I don't live remotely close to one) and buying me three step stools (we already have one of them). (Side note to IKEA: wouldn't it be great if you made these available to order through your website? hint hint) There will be a stool in front of each toilet and one at each bathroom sink. Why no attachments? I discovered something just before Christmas. The preschool doesn't use any type of toilet seat attachment and the girls have no problem using that toilet. If they can do it at school they can do it at home.
Like all changes, it's going to take some getting used to... mainly for the girls. I'm sure there will be some resistance (for awhile Roo was convinced she would fall in a big toilet, which is why she prefers the potty chair). So, wish me luck!

Potty Training Confessions

I should probably be embarassed to admit this, but I'm not. Here is my confession: my daughters are nearly four-years-old and only two of them are potty trained. I can hear the gasps around the country. I have been casually working on potty training for more than a year. I am NOT going to be a potty training obsessed mom.
Before you write me off as a bad mom, let me explain. When one wants to go, they all want to go. I absolutely let everyone sit on the potty. But I don't have the time to let them sit... and sit... and sit... only to be told 20 minutes into it that they'll "try again later." When it comes to peeing, I don't believe in pushing it. I would rather have my daughters pee in a diaper than feel pressured to use the potty. Basically, I'm letting them decide when it's time to become "big girls."
I was fortunate to be able to put my daughters in preschool through our local school district. Very few preschools will let you attend if you're in diapers. But because this is through the public school system there are going to be special needs children who, to put it bluntly, may be in diapers for the rest of their lives. Preschoolers in diapers are no big deal to these teachers. I really thought once my daughters started school and realized they were among the few in pull-ups they would quickly decide to use the potty. Yes and no.
Tortilla was the first to be potty trained. The day she started wearing underwear Cakes was livid and wanted underwear, too.... so she immediately began using the potty and has had maybe one accident in the 7-8 months she's been wearing underwear. (Side note: Cakes is a diaper-free girl. She doesn't even need a diaper at night).
Roo and Sue-Sue are a different story. It doesn't help that they are typically my most stubborn children. Roo and Sue-Sue will always use the potty at school... but when they come home they could care less. They would rather sit all day in a wet pull up than stop whatever they're doing to use the potty.... until this week.
I'm resorting to peer pressure and bribery. I bought new underwear (my daughters have finally put on some weight and outgrew their 2T/3T underpants). Every morning I make a big deal out letting Cakes and Tortilla pick out their underwear.... Dora, Minnie Mouse, Tinkerbell and the Disney Princesses. You know what? It's working. Based on the past two days I'm planning to put Roo in underwear tomorrow. I'm hoping to have Sue-Sue in underwear by the end of the week. I cannot wait until the day I walk into Sam's Club and walk out without spending hundreds of dollars on diapers and pull ups.
Very few parents like my method of potty training. I don't care. It has (almost) worked for us. Did it take a loooong time? Yes. But now they think it's a big deal to use the potty... so I guess as long as it's fun that certainly has to count for something. Right?