Toddler Tips

The Ultimate Potty Training Kit: Potty Training Must Haves

September 13, 2017 by Danielle 7 Comments

We’re celebrating potty success with help from our sponsor, Pull-Ups Training Pants! Find our potty training must-haves to help you succeed with potty training below.

Three weeks ago, my daughter was getting ready for the day and decided to take her Pull-Ups off. Instead of reaching for new Pull-Ups to put on for the day, she wanted to hang out without anything on. What can I tell you? My kids like her freedom.

All of the sudden, 5 minutes later she comes running to me telling me she has to go potty. So we go to the bathroom and she pees on the potty. Woot! Success!

After this potty success, she put her Pull-Ups back on and went on her way. We had a few more successes followed by a few minor accidents but for the most part she would stay completely dry during the day.

This continued throughout the day and into the next three days. There was an accident here or there but nothing major. The next week she woke up, asked for underwear, and told us when she had to go just like when she wore her Pull-Ups except for this time she didn’t have any accidents and stayed completely dry in her underwear.

In no time, she was running to the potty alone, pulling down her pants, and going. So now she goes like a big girl on her own, with only a little help from mom or dad when she can’t get her pants all of the way up.

You guys… when they’re ready, they really are READY. So make sure you have the tools you need to succeed on this potty training journey with your toddler!

Here are our potty training must-haves for success:

Potty Training Must Haves

Small Portable Potty

A small potty seat is a must for any potty training household. Not only is it convenient to move throughout the house as needed, you can even throw it in the back of your car for much-needed potty breaks on the go. Going camping? Or taking a road trip? Avoid icky public restrooms by bringing along your small potty!

We keep ours in the bathroom and take it with us when we’re going places we know won’t have restrooms (or if the restrooms are dirty or hard to find) like the beach and park. I’ve found that my daughter is now starting to show an interest in using the potty so we’ll be keeping this around for a while until she feels comfortable on the big potty.

My daughter also loves her potty seat that goes on the potty that we purchased online. What I love about it is that it includes a small step up so we don’t have to have a stool and a potty seat. It stays on the side of our toilet and she pulls it out whenever she’s going to the restroom.

Potty Cover

For those times when you’re forced to use public restrooms, make sure you have a few disposable potty covers with you! They’re individually packaged for on-the-go ease and fit nicely in a diaper bag or purse. Plus, with children who like to touch EVERYTHING, these will keep your kids clean and sanitary.

Pro Tip: Find the type that covers the whole potty, not just the top of the seat.

I’ve found these to be helpful when we’re at a park or another location where seat covers aren’t easily accessible. And they’re great for wet bottoms because they won’t fall apart or rip on you (ever get out of the pool or ocean and try to use the restroom? Not fun!).

Disinfectant Wipes

My little one still sometimes rushes to the potty a little late. With that, there are a few potty clean ups at home and on the go. We had quite a fun time on our recent road trip in the back of the car… We needed these in to-go wipes too!

Since disinfectant wipes can be easily stored in the bathroom cabinet or close to the toilet, we can just grab one, wipe up, and throw out. I even threw a pack in the car for on the go needs.

Potty Training Kit, Potty Training Must Haves

Pull-Ups

This is a given. Whether it’s for night-time or daytime use, when our daughter started showing signs of readiness to potty train, we ditched the diapers for good and introduced Pull-Ups and she caught on quickly! Once she got the hang of sliding up her own pants, she was ready to use these on her own too and loved the independence she felt when using them.

Pull-Ups really are more than just a training pant – Pull-Ups.com has tons of simple ways to make potty training easy and fun for parents and children to start together, with tons of guidance on how to tailor the journey based on your child’s unique personality. In fact, 3 of 4 moms prefer Pull-Ups^©!*

Pull-Ups provide award-winning design specifically to help teach potty training skills like they did for my daughter. They also provide consistency for any learning style throughout their potty training journey. What does this mean for you as a parent? Less frustration and definitely more fun together!

And last but not least…

Rewards!

We are currently using stickers, lollipops or small chocolate candies as a potty reward. And you know what? This kid love rewards. She is constantly telling friends and family that she goes pee-pee on the potty so she can get her treat.

After a full week of no accidents and filling her potty rewards chart, she was able to pick out two packs of her favorite character underwear as a Big Kid reward. A lot less expensive than the $50 toy my son picked out when he went a week without accidents! But that’s what she chose. And let me tell you, they will not let you forget their reward!

Tools to Keep Them Engaged

We also recently discovered that you can give your favorite characters a call on Pull-Ups.com, which my little girl LOVES! It’s so cool, you can get your child excited about potty training and keep them engaged by receiving a call from one of their favorite characters. This is a great way to keep potty training fun and exciting for your toddler.

Has your child begun potty training/learning? What’s in your Potty Training Kit?

*Pull-Ups offering includes product, packaging and in-pack prizes and activities vs. Pampers^© Easy Ups^©.

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Filed Under: Parenting Tagged With: Potty Training, Toddler Potty Training, Toddler Tales, Toddler Tips

Things to Do With Toddlers at Great Wolf Lodge

June 26, 2017 by Danielle 2 Comments

Is Great Wolf Lodge a good place to stay when you have a toddler? Check out these things to do with toddlers at Great Wolf Lodge!

The day after the big kids got out of school for the summer we surprised them with a fun staycation to kick off the beginning of summer. Over the 4 day getaway, we spent two days at Great Wolf Lodge Southern California. We’d never stayed at a Great Wolf Lodge and have been dying to try out the closest one to our house. So when I saw the opportunity to purchase a Groupon again (we missed the first opportunity), I jumped on it and booked a night.

As we did a bit more research on our upcoming stay, one thing was clear: there is a TON to do for all age groups. Including toddlers. And once we got there, we found this to be 100% accurate. Not only were there fun things for the big kids, but for the small kids and adults as well.

If you’ve planned a night at the Great Wolf Lodge, here’s what you should put on your list to do with your toddler:

Things to Do With Toddlers at Great Wolf Lodge

1. Grab a puddle jumper or bring your own –

While there are quite a few places your toddler can go at Great Wolf Lodge, safety is first. Make sure you either bring your own life jacket (or favorite puddle jumper) or use one that’s provided for you at the various life jacket stations. We preferred our own because sometimes they’re out of life jackets at certain times of days or locations and it’s easier to just grab our own.

2. Park yourself somewhere close to the Cub Paw Pool –

After enjoying an afternoon at the water park on our first day there (you can enjoy the park starting at 1pm on your check-in day even though check in is at 4pm) and exploring everything for the first time, we knew that as soon as we arrived at the water park on our full day at the park, we needed to snag a spot near our toddler’s favorite area: Cub Paw Pool.

Now not only does this area have a zero-depth entry that makes it easier for toddlers and infants alike to explore at their own pace, it only goes to 24″ deep in the deepest area. There are age appropriate slides, water funnels, and fun splash areas that are sure to excite any little one. And parents can just relax (as much as one can when they’re in the water with kids) while their littles play around them and have fun. My husband literally sat at the bottom of a small slide as he watched our daughter go up the stairs and down the slide 100s of times as I took the other two to the “big kid” areas of the park. She seriously did not want to leave to go anywhere else once she found Cub Paw Pool.

3. Enjoy a fun splash area that older siblings can have fun at too at Fort Mackenzie –

While Cub Paw Pool was perfect for the toddlers and infants, if your toddler is a bit more adventurous, let them splash and explore around Fort Mackenzie. The older kids can enjoy the medium size slides while the younger kids take turns trying to shoot water at passersby or stomp around in the big puddles. But watch out! That bucket on top of Fort Mackenzie does fill with water and tips to empty every few minutes.

You may be surprised to find that after your toddler tries out the small slides in Cub Paw Pool that they ask to try the medium sized slides over at Fort Mackenzie! Maybe. If they’re daredevil 2-year-olds like mine…

4. With life jackets on, enjoy the waves of Slap Tail Pond’s wave pool.

There are lulls in between the waves (pictured above) but once the wave machine starts going, the littles LOVE trying to jump over the waves closer to the shore as the big kids swim in deeper. This pool also has a zero-depth entry that makes it easy for all to enjoy. And your little one might surprise you by asking to be taken further into the waves. Just make sure to hold on a bit tighter as you go in deeper.

5. Looking for some sun? Enjoy the rays (with sunscreen lathered on, of course) at Raccoon Lagoon.

Another zero-depth entry pool that gets to about 4 feet deep, this pool has two entrances on either side that offer fun play areas for toddlers to explore. The big kids will take over the center of the pool where the basketball hoops are but that’s ok, the edge is closer to the restaurant and drinks!

In between splashing in the water and played with the water funnels, our 2-year-old munched on a delicious corn on the cobb snack from the Grizzly Jack’s Bar and Grill. I couldn’t pull all of the kids out of here but sadly had to as our day was coming to a close. You can stay the full day on the day you check out but we were ready to dry off and head to our next adventure by then.

6. Staying a second night? Make sure to head down for storytime.

Some littles may be in bed by the time this starts (I believe it was 8 or 8:15pm) but both of our girls headed down with dad to check out The Forest Friends Show followed by Great Wolf Lodge bedtime stories as told by one of their Ambassadors of Fun. Don’t forget your camera because after Story Time, meeting Wiley, Violet or one of the Great Wolf Kids characters is an unforgettable memory you won’t want to miss – and a pretty cute one too! High paws are always welcome and definitely encouraged.

As you can see, there is plenty to do at Great Wolf Lodge when you have a toddler. And some things we didn’t even get a chance to do! Good thing the whole family was in agreement that we’d have to come back soon!

A few highlights I didn’t mention above but the toddler loved: Pizza from Hungry Like a Wolf for dinner, Donuts from Dunkin Donuts for breakfast, brownies and fudge at Bear Paw Eats & Sweets, the mini carousel and candy claw at the Northern Lights Arcade, and ending our trip with a souvenir wolf from the Buckhorn Exchange Gift Shop.

Don’t forget to book a Wolf Den room if you have more than one cub! The bunk beds were a huge hit with our kids. While one night may be great for a lot of families, we’ll be booking two nights next time we head up so we can enjoy more of the amenities offered.

Have you been to Great Wolf Lodge? What was your favorite part?

Filed Under: Parenting, Travel Tagged With: Great Wolf Lodge, southern california, Toddler Tips, Travel, travel tips, traveling with a toddler

Tips for Keeping Kids Entertained at a Restaurant

July 9, 2013 by Danielle 7 Comments

This post contains affiliate links.

Ever have that moment when you wonder why in the heck you thought it was a good idea to take the kids out for dinner? Get to the point where napkins are on the floor, the salt is spilled everywhere, and sugar packets are strewn across the table? Yeah… me too.

So we started to come up with a great ways for keeping kids entertained at a restaurant. While some might sound simple enough, they truly are great at distracting our kids long enough to bridge the gap between ordering our food and being served.