The Dress Trick (A Potty Training Tip)

If you had asked me six weeks ago I would have told you that Big Sister was more or less fully potty trained. She was having almost all accident free days. And then she got a stomach bug. And she had a few accidents but I really was not worried about that because it happens. But after that she took a nose dive. She started having accidents all the time again.

First it was only when she had to go #2 and even then only if we were at home. She never had accidents while we were out. Which I was grateful for. I did not have to worry about dragging several spare outfits around or changing her all the time. I was glad for that. But when we were home I was pretty frustrated that she was having so many accidents. Now, I know that she is at the period when she knows how to do it and she just did not always want to take the time away from playing. I also know that she is at the point where she is testing how good she is at it. So, I tried my best to let it go and just keep working through it.

But then she started having accidents while we were out too. All of a sudden she would do things like sit on the toilet and do nothing but then pee on the floor as soon as she pulled her pants up. On Saturday we took the kids to a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese (which I feel similarly to the way I felt last year about that place). I went to the rest room and she came with me. I asked her if she had to go potty and she said no. She was adamant about it. And as I was getting ready to leave the rest room she said "Oh no!! Peeeee!!" I looked down and sure enough she had peed all over the floor. UGH!!! You have got to be kidding me.

I knew then that something had to be done. This was her third accident of the day and really it was hardly an accident. She was in the bathroom, next to the toilet, refusing to use the potty. So, on Sunday when we were getting dressed she asked for the same thing she asks for everyday. "Pretty dress?" So, I came up with my new potty training trick. She can wear ONE pretty dress (which is just any dress really - but she pretty much only wants to wear dresses) per day. If she has an accident and has to get changed she will have to wear pants.

And for two straight days she has been completely accident free. Granted there have been a few extra trips to the bathroom because she was a little nervous. Tonight we traveled the entire way home from the bookstore with her practically in tears telling me "Oh no!! Potty!! POTTY!!! PRETTY DRESS!!! Mommy!! MOMMY!!!! PRETTY DRESS!!!! POTTY!!!!" But she made it. She was very nervous but she made it. And she was very proud of herself. She told Hubby all about how she was still wearing her pretty dress when he got home from work today.

So, at the moment I am doing extra laundry to make sure that her dresses are always clean. And as soon as I get a few extra minutes I will make her a few more jumper dresses and pillow case dresses. But if it makes her happy and helps her to remember to use the toilet it is fine with me. I am not above bribing her with dresses. :)

I am linking this to Tackle It Tuesday and Works For Me Wednesday.