Odegaard Toddler Potty Trains

Odegaard Toddler Potty Trains

The Odegaard household was left stunned on Wednesday when Kalina Odegaard, 23 months, completed the waking-hours transition from diapers to underwear.

"Underwear is way better," the girl commented. "Let's go to Goose Park."

Daddy and Mommy Odegaard varied in mood from proud acceptance to wide-eyed, ecstatic, bubbly relief.

"I knew all along she'd do it," stated Daddy calmly.

"I can't believe she's potty trained!" trumpeted Mommy, with tears in her eyes, to anyone/thing with ears.

Mommy later mentioned that a week ago, potty training wasn't really even on the household's radar--except, possibly, Kalina's, as the toddler later admitted.

"I'd been considering giving up diapers for a while, but I didn't think Mommy was quite ready," Kalina explained.

"We were going to wait until Kalina was a little more ready," Mommy said in a separate conversation. She attributes the success almost exclusively to the young girl. "All I did was provide the underwear. Sure, I had a few helpful tricks up my sleeve, but Kalina caught on fast. She really took me by surprise."

When asked what motivated her to make the switch, Kalina listed a combination of detesting diaper changes, receiving marshmallows, and the fact that "Mommy, Daddy, and many other people I like wear underwear. Mine are pink."

Repeating several times during the interview, "I'm just so glad it's over," Mommy cited potty training as the thing she's dreaded almost as much as labor and delivery. "Fortunately, Kalina made this one rather easy for me," she smiled wearily.

The transition process wasn't all fun and games, though--at least not for Mommy, as she told reporters. "I think on Day 2 I came close to giving up just about every hour. The only thing that stopped me was the fact that I'd have to coax Kalina back into a diaper, and I figured cleaning up accidents would actually be easier."

According to Kalina, though, the process was easy. "I even convinced both Mommy and Daddy to give me a marshmallow if I just 'tried' to use the toilet! However, I've noticed that they brush my teeth a bit more carefully in the evenings nowadays."

Going out has been a bit more of a challenge, but the girl has weathered it in stride.

"Thank goodness for bribes," Mommy said.

Another challenge came on Friday morning when Kalina spiked a 103-degree fever, and then threw up when Mommy tried to put her in a diaper since she was so sick and drowsy.

"There's no going back to diapers. Gross," said Kalina. "I think Mommy understands that now."

But potty training wasn't all that was going on in the Odegaard household this week. With all the at-home time and in between educational trips to the toilet, Kalina also mastered her alphabet.

"Have you ever heard the Alphabet Song? It's hilarious!" Kalina told the press, giggling for about five minutes after singing the first three notes.

At the end of the busy week, all family members report optimism about the future.

"We still have to work on using public restrooms, but, really, who wouldn't rather hold it?" Mommy said. "The big challenge is going to be our big family trip in three weeks. Fortunately, we have three weeks until then."

Kalina added, "Rumor has it, Mommy found cat underwear for me! Cats! On underwear!"

Resident Expert Mommy Odegaard offers her top three tips for potty training a child who's exactly like Kalina:

1. Motivate. Also called "bribing." While the best motivation is the child's own happiness in her accomplishment, marshmallows work in a pinch. If one particular motivation doesn't do the trick, ramp it up until you find one that does.

2. De-motivate. Our best success came when Kalina was dressed in underwear and clingy cotton pants. Turns out, they're quite uncomfortable when wet, providing the best de-motivation of all. Another thing--don't rush to change your child out of her wet clothes. First, clean up the accident on the floor together while your toddler walks around bowlegged, and then change into new underwear and another pair of clingy cotton pants. Remember that accidents are a good learning experience for both of you--your toddler learns that it's much better to use the toilet, and you learn your toddler's patterns and capabilities.

3. Communicate. First, teach the rules. 1. No potty or poop in underwear (your child learns that wearing underwear is a bit of a privilege) 2. Potty and poop go in the toilet. 3. Tell Mommy/Daddy before you need to go potty/poop (or, older kids may be able to head straight to the bathroom by themselves). Repeat these often and have your child repeat them. For accidents, use words like "Yuck, your pants are wet, now we have to go change," and "Too bad! We have to clean this up. If you'd gone in the toilet you'd be getting a treat right now!" Lavish praise for all success.

Photo: Toddler Kalina Odegaard proudly holds her catch of cats.