Just because you've put away the diapers, doesn't mean that your child is done with potty training. The "final touches" of potty training, learning to wipe and re-clothe, can actually take more than one sitting. In this episode of The Lab, Daddy Clay and Daddy Brad offer some parenting strategies on what you can do to help your kid transition out of toilet training. DadLabs ep. 373. Brought to you by Kaboom!

DADDY BRAD: You know, Daddy Clay, potty training is a deceptively multi-staged process.

DADDY CLAY: It’s true. You think one the diapers have been put away, you’re done and it time pop the champagne corks.

DADDY BRAD: But not so fast. The kid isn’t really completely trained until he or she can go in fully clothed, and can come out fully clothed.

DADDY CLAY: It’s great when they learn to put the pee in the potty, but now it’s time to put the finishing touches on potty training -- wiping and washing...Final touches...

DADDY BRAD: Are we really going to do a show on this?

DADDY CLAY: It’s an issue.

DADDY BRAD: Rhymes with tissue.

DADDY CLAY: Today’s episode of the Lab is brought to you by Kaboom Scrub Free: The refillable self cleaning toilet solution.

DADDY CLAY: It is a fine and proud day when you no longer have to wipe anybody else’s butt. But it takes longer to get there than you might think. Depending in the age at which you begin potty training. You’ve got mop up duties for three to six months. So for a while, you’ll be hearing the dreaded “daddy, I’m done.” You’ll move things along by talking them through what you are doing every time. (He starts to do this...)

DADDY BRAD: When is comes time for the kid to take over full management of his own butt, some folks will bring in special wipes like these XYZ brand. The upside here is that the paper here is moistened and helps the kiddo do a better job, plus the cute packaging makes a big deal and encourages the kid to want to take over this duty. The downside is that at some point, you have to transition them to regular paper, and these things are about ten times more expensive.

DADDY CLAY: Some kids will resist being fully potty independent, because until this point, going to the bathroom has been a very social activity -- quality one-on-one. Now might be time for some for Dad to introduce some of thee finer things in life. Slip in a nice low magazine rack with Sports Illustrated...for Kids! Good Clean Jokes. And Go Dogs Go. While We’re here in the bathroom. We talk a lot here on DadLabs about the 50/50 marriage and doing our part around the house. We have a suggestion. Tell your wife that you are going to take over one of the least appealing household chores, cleaning the toilet. Then, just take a few minutes to install one of these Kaboom Scrub Free units
and you’re done. All of the points, none of the scrubbing. Kaboom.

DADDY BRAD: In the early going, the kids efforts are all that accurate, which makes hand washing critical. Modeling works here. Wash your hands with the kiddo, experts suggest singing the ABC song through twice will ensure that you are scrubbing thoroughly enough. You can use products like this Squid Soap or these kid friendly bottles to encourage washing. It’s a non-negotiable.

DADDY CLAY: Daddy Brad, you’re just right in the middle of this. What’s the biggest challenge in the wipe and wash phase of potty training?

DADDY BRAD: Without a doubt the smear phase when they say they’re ready to do it themselves but they’re really not.

DADDY CLAY: With my youngest, this phase has dragged on forever, and I think it’s partially our fault.

DADDY BRAD: How’s that.

DADDY CLAY: He’s the youngest, and you know as soon as this phase is over he’s a big boy, so I think we’re sort of letting him drag it out.

DADDY BRAD: Cause he’s ten now, right.

DADDY CLAY: No.

DADDY BRAD: So you are intentionally extending butt wiping, why?

DADDY CLAY: That kid is on his own.

DADDY BRAD: That’s all for us this week, thanks to our sponsor: Kaboom Scrub Free: The refillable self cleaning toilet solution.

DADDY CLAY: We’ve got a couple of these kits to give away, so to pick one up go to dadlabs.com and drop a kaboom comment on my profile and you’ll automatically be entered. See you next week, here in the lab.