Mikayla and the Royal Throne

Mikayla has started showing some of the classic signs of being ready for potty training. So we decided that we would give it a shot.

Day One – We went to Target to purchase a potty chair for our little Mik. After looking at the small selection they had available at Target, I had picked out a very simple (read easy to clean) potty made by BabyBjorn. Of course, Daddy wanted the potty with all of the bells and whistles…literally. My thought was that if I was doing my business and all of a sudden the toilet started playing a nice little tune, I would be pretty freaked out. This was not a battle to win…I caved and we purchased the Royal Potty by Fisher-Price for $19.99.

“The Royal Potty is themed with a colorful "throne" which includes a child directed potty story book. Features 2 musical rewards, one for sitting on the potty, and a much more royal reward which activates after a successful potty "experience".”

A "child directed potty story book"? What the hell?

A guide also came along with the potty on how to help your little prince or princess in the toilet transition:

“So your little prince or princess is ready…
…to use the Royal Potty! Are you ready with the time, energy and patience required for this giant step? While there is no “magic” process that will instantly train your little one, your Royal Potty can make things more fun along the way.”

Big, freakin’ whoop…can’t you tell I’m so excited.

“Reading a book – keeping some favorite books handy may help your little ones pass the time while sitting on the potty. You can start with ‘A Throne of Their Own’, the book included with your Royal Potty, then perhaps introduce some other favorites as potty training progresses.”

Hmmm…step one…Check. She learned this step months ago from Daddy. If she follows us into the bathroom, she brings her own book.

“Royal rewards – the royal tunes children hear every time they sit, and again when they make a ‘contribution’ in the Royal Potty, is a fun way to reward success and a great motivation for a return trip. For those princes and princesses who need additional incentive, you’ll also find a rewards chart and reusable stickers. Celebrate each successful potty trip with a sticker on the chart. The stickers come in two different colors, representing each type of potty ‘contribution’.”

Lemme guess. A yellow sticker for number one and a brown sticker for number two? I was wrong; a sticker with one dot on it is for...you got it! Number 1! And a sticker with two dots on it is for Number 2! For those of you who might not have caught on…a contribution means pee or poop (I had to keep it clean for the grandparents…my words…not the poop or pee).

Yip. E. Skip. E. What fun.

We were sitting on the couch getting ready to watch Treasurer Hunters when Mik walked into the living room holding the box (that was as big as she was) that contained her Royal Potty. Cullen took it out of the box and put it together for her (a huge task all in itself). He showed her how if she put her hand in the hole it would sing her a cute, little song. She promptly sat on it and shoved her hand between her legs and into the hole (keep your heads outta the gutter people!). It played the song and she did a little dance…on the toilet…feet kickin’ and arms swingin’. “Oh, that was great!,” she thought. For the next half-hour she sat on the toilet and put her hand between her legs so she could listen to the song.

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How we are going to get her out of that habit once she starts making “contributions”, I have no idea. I guess that’s a story for another day.

Day Two (technically Day Five): We are taking the whole potty training thing pretty slowly. She is only 18-months old after all.

I'm trying to get Mikayla to understand exactly what is supposed to go into her Royal Potty. Sometimes she kinda bends her knees a little and stares off into space with this blissful look on her face. To anyone taking a glance, she looks just like a little girl daydreaming. Not so much. She's really just happy now because her Number 1 (pee pee if you don't know) just warmed her up in our 40 degree house. Once I see that peaceful look, I scare the crap outta her and say, "Hurry, Mik! To the bathroom!". She jumps a little and takes off running for the bathroom.

So, on Day Two, before she sat on her Royal Throne, I took off her diaper and pointed to it and said, "Pee Pee," a couple of times. I then pointed to her and said, "You go pee pee," and then pointed to the toilet, "in the potty". A pee pee in the pot-tay...A pee pee in the pot-tay! She grabbed the diaper outta my hand and dropped it into her potty. She was promptly rewarded with a Royal Tune to which she clapped and did her Potty Jig. OOOkkaaaay. I had a different idea, but I can deal with that.

Slowly but surely...that wins the race, right?