Potty Perfection!

About a half hour ago, Justin installed a new combo toilet seat that includes a regular-sized seat, a smaller child potty seat, and a cover[photo tbp]. We have been thinking about potty training for a few months, and I just finished perusing some literature to get some clue on different methods. We have also shown V an Elmo's Potty Training video the past two weeks as well as Once Upon A Potty [for her] just this morning. Meanwhile, we have always modeled going on the potty, how to use toilet paper to wipe, pulling up our pants, closing the lid, flushing, and washing and drying our hands.

Just five minutes ago, V says "peepee, peepee," so I ask her if she has to go and she replies "yes." We take her to the potty and within thirty seconds, she pees in the potty for the first time!!! I can hardly believe it. I have been concerned about how she would respond, if she would reject it, if she would fall in the toilet!, etc...but I should have known better than to underestimate my daughter. She has some kind of internal adjustment mechanism where she transitions into the next phase of her development seamlessly [i.e. starting solids, weaning, drinking whole milk, sleeping early, falling asleep alone, sleeping on a pillow, you name it!]

Thank you Lord for an anxiety/stress/mess free potty moment!

gerber lil' snackin' bowls

Baby products always carry the potential to cause a headache and push you towards Starbucks, or in our case, Slave To The Grind. Especially in our household, where my husband and I slave over our computer trying to read as many reviews as we can so as to obtain the best bang for our buck.

This time, it was actually a cinch. Because, I chose to visit our local Babies R’ Us store instead of the all-inclusive BuyBuyBaby, where I know there will be enough variety to make my head spin. Normally, I would have gone with the latter since the more choice the better, right? But for the sake of my 15% off coupon and our tight budget, I caved. Strolled right on in, toddler in carrier, coupon in bag - no reviews read, no research done, no headache…yet. Or ever?

At the display filled with bottles, and sippy cups, utensils, and other feeding supplies, there was surprisingly only a handful of snack bowls. And only ONE with the rubber slits that I wanted so that my daughter could grab the food herself [we got tired of handing her the snacks and thought that she was old enough to indulge herself].

In the double package is one pink bowl, one blue bowl, one pink lid, and one green lid. Easy enough to match any lid to any bowl and still look tasteful. The cover is a relatively soft rubber with a wide fringe-like opening so your little one can stick her fingers in without scratching her hand. Since the fringes move, I noticed if my daughter sticks her entire hand in, her hand gets caught on the way out - this taught her to only use her thumb and index finger to pick up the snack. Despite the “trap door,” it does not hurt her one bit nor discourage her from going back for more. The cover also fits on any other Gerber Bung-A-Bowls to boot [which we already own]!

Downside: Sometimes, really small snacks fall out of the door when the bowl is turned upside-down. Also, you can’t prevent dust or other small unwanted fragments from getting in if you put it in your diaper bag, etc. [But you can always cover it with a Bunch-A-Bowls cover, then switch it when in use.]

Price: $4.29 Price PAID: $3.65 [15%off] (before tax)

Store: Babies R’ Us, Yonkers

Thumbs: 5/6