After digesting all the knowledge in the book I agreed with MUCH of the program right away. I hate pull ups and have always considered them a crutch, as a matter of fact up until we started this Kal-el has been in regular diapers. I think really they confuse children..especially older ones. I was certainly on board with throwing all diapers away. It only makes since if you don't want to encourage regression in times of desperation. I also agreed with the constant reminders and the way they are phrased to your child. Instead of asking "Do you have to use the bathroom/go potty?" in question form you approach the child with a statement like "Don't forget to tell Mommy and Daddy when you have to go potty". Small verbal tweaks like this help children feel more accomplished and in control. Super = control freak= like Mommy :) There is LOTS of positive reinforcement with this program which is usually quite effective. I'll be honest in regards to my child though..I really have to not overdo it because I find that he gets bored of it VERY fast, looks at me like I've lost my mind, and opts for a more extreme reaction out of me.. at times even if it takes negative behavior. He's just naturally curious and a tad mischievous. I have to try extra hard to find that middle ground with him.
Chris had a couple of days off and since the system required constant supervision of our child to be effective we took advantage and started right away. The idea is too watch for his "cues" that he's about to relieve himself and then transfer him while in the act to the potty. Simple enough. Condition using the bathroom with going on the potty using repeated exposure type behavioral therapy basically. Still the child has to be able to make the connection so you want to do the transfer as quickly as possible. I consider the last 3 days to be a real success and Chris and I are extremely proud of Kal-el.
Day 1 : He only had 3 accidents. Chris ended up having to take over the evening of the first day..not because I was gave up but because the first accident of the day had me so over eager to get to him that I literally FELL..on his pee no less, and was unable to break my entire fall and hit my head on the hard wood floor. FAIL. Of these accidents I'm proud to report that two of them he caught himself mid pee and said "go potty" so he definitely caught on from day 1. He even managed to make #2 the first day( I know you will NOT like this post when your older..but we all poo son ). Day 1 was spent in white undies that he received as a stocking stuffer this year. We thought it would be even better to introduce some character underwear. Other parents rave on and on about what a big difference this makes. I called my mom and had her bring some over since you basically not allowed to leave the house for 3 days on the system.
Day 2: Kal-el woke up dry! Hooray! We decided to introduce his new big boy underwear. He LOVED them. Umm perhaps a little too much. He acted like a diva and had the audacity to ask me the following " I pee on dis, then get to put these ones on now" How in the world did he put that plan together so fast?!? I had to finally make him pick one pair out and informed him to keep them dry while I hid the rest. His success continued for day 2! Only two accidents...one was pretty rough but he managed to finish in the potty. He's never completely emptied himself anywhere but the potty since we've started. I'm thrilled with the fact that he catches himself in the act and understands he needs to get to the bathroom.
Day 3 : Once again Super woke up dry! This thrills me almost more than anything..no pee on sheets...major plus! He did not have one single accident all day long!!! He has also very effective communicated to us when he needs to go potty. Day 3 was obviously a major break through and things have really clicked now!
Overall I really like this system and would certainly recommend it. I will say that I don't expect complete no turning back success in a matter of 3 days. On the face it does seem to work in "3 days" After all Kal-el went from 3 accidents to 0 on day 3 HOWEVER the system only allows for variables inside the home and fails to take into account outside stimulus. This stimulus may or may not affect all children just as using different pottys may or may not play a role in their training. I'm anxious to see how Kal-el does once we are out and about and actually wearing pants over our big boy underwear and going on trips and car rides etc. Either way I love being his support system and I could not be more happy and proud for him. He has done amazingly well in a matter of 72 hours. Three short days ago our home was full of size 6 diapers. I'm not going to lie I made a little frown face when I typed that. My baby is growing up but maybe not too fast ...at least he still has cartoons on his underpants :) Congratulations Kal-el Borquez!
