Potty Training! (some Qs)

[JRSut1000]

-How old was your child[ren] when you began to potty train them?
-How long did it take for them to get the general idea?
-Which method did you use?
-Any tips??

My child is almost 20 months old and I'll be starting tomorrow. I know she's not yet 2, but by time that occurs our next child will almost be here, so things will be pretty hectic.

 

[JRSut1000]

It's been a week and I've decided not to potty train yet anyways, so just delete this thread.

 

[akmom]

Oh, don't get discouraged! She is still very young, so it will be a little slower than those who begin potty-training at 2 or 3. You can still sit her on a little potty and encourage her to try. It will go a long way in making her comfortable with the idea when she is ready.

I potty-trained my first child (a girl) at 22 months and it took 2 weeks. My second child (a boy) got it at 24 months, and it took him a little longer - but once he got it, he got it. I'm a proponent of early potty training. It's so good for them to get that milestone out of the way! With the little ones, you just have to be realistic.

What I did is set them on a little potty (not the ones that attach to a real toilet), because it is just their size, it's easy to get on and off, and they recognize that it's just for them. Encourage them to sit there as long as possible, and when they finally use it, congratulate them. You can sit with them and read them a story, or whatever it takes to make them want to sit there. Don't force them. Let them get up and explore the idea of sitting on the little potty. But the longer they sit there, the more likely they are to go potty (a coincidence at first). I gave my kids lots of juice those days, to speed things up. Try to get them on the potty every 15 minutes at least. One of my kids had a musical potty that played a tune when the bowl got wet; that makes it a little easier to notice right away, which helps them make the connection faster.

Once she makes the connection that using the potty is good, you can put her in cloth training pants and help her learn that wetting herself isn't good. Don't use pull-ups, diapers or plastic pants, because they need to feel wet in order to make that connection between the bodily urge and what actually happens. There is no need to punish or discipline. When your child is wet, just say, "Oh no!" and take them to the potty to try again, then change their clothes. Try to prompt a potty break every 15 minutes. Once she starts getting the hang of it, you can start saying "No" when she wets her clothes, but scolding is not necessary at this age. She will get it at her own pace.

I potty-trained my daughter when I was pregnant, before the second was born. But I started potty-training my son just days before my third was born, so most of the potty-training occurred whilst caring for a newborn. Either way is possible. Just introducing the potty with no pressure won't hurt anything, and you may be surprised one day!

 

[ChildByGrace]

I would advise that you wait and make sure that your little one is showing signs that they are ready to train.

I started my son at 2 and he just didn't get it at all. I then left it nearly a year before i didn't again. He still wan't showing signs of being ready but i was getting pressure off people that he should already be trained etc. Well he did get the poop quite quickly but nearly 2 years later we are still having wee problems. I think that had i waited until he was actually ready rather than 'forcing' him then he would actually of got it.


If you think you lo is ready then what akmom said is really good advice.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

-How old was your child[ren] when you began to potty train them?
-How long did it take for them to get the general idea?
-Which method did you use?
-Any tips??

My child is almost 20 months old and I'll be starting tomorrow. I know she's not yet 2, but by time that occurs our next child will almost be here, so things will be pretty hectic.

Started with C at 2 years old,because his mom was pushing it.Tried every thing like putting him on toilet ever 15 min,stickers.He wasn't into and screamed every time he was put on one.Well he was over 3 years old before he was potty trained.I never plan on potting training a kid again,until they beg me.Not worth it,to me.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

It's been a week and I've decided not to potty train yet anyways, so just delete this thread.

Lol,not worth the stress.

 

[Hetta]

-How old was your child[ren] when you began to potty train them?
-How long did it take for them to get the general idea?
-Which method did you use?
-Any tips??

My child is almost 20 months old and I'll be starting tomorrow. I know she's not yet 2, but by time that occurs our next child will almost be here, so things will be pretty hectic.

20 months may be a little too early for your baby. I did not start to teach my children until 2.5-3yo. I was fortunate to start in the summer with both of them, and I took their diapers off and let them run around. By this age, they can start to feel the pressure of their internal organs, and if you are watching, you can see some distress beginning, at which time you can ask if they need to use the potty. Don't make a fuss about the potty. Just bring it home, set it down, explain about it - then leave it alone. I have seen people having all kinds of "potty parties", and it sets a high expectation on those kids, and so much drama about the process. They should know that this is a lifelong, simple way that everyone - mommy, daddy, grandma and grandpa, older siblings - do their business.

One thing that I did that worked with both my children was to take them shopping for underwear which had their favorite characters. They got to choose - and of course age appropriate. For your dd, maybe pretty pink ponies, or whatever she really likes. My children were excited about the underwear. They knew it was about growing up, and being a big girl/boy. I told them that when they could use the potty/toilet, they could wear the big boy/girl pants (LOLing at that).

You need a lot of patience, and not to get angry at the inevitable mistakes. Don't (please please PLEASE) don't "reward" your child with food or snacks or cookies for using the potty. I see so much of that. It's not good to reward with food. If my kids had a good day with the potty, if they had used it, then they could wear their underwear. They didn't want to mess up their underwear. So, it would have a positive influence the whole way around.

Remember btw, that your child will need to wear a diaper at night for a little longer, even though she is dry during the day. Maybe just a couple of months, but that "connection" in her mind will take a little longer.

Good luck whenever you go for it.

 

[JRSut1000]

Thanks ladies, some great input to consider when I do finally start potty training. I guess I wanted to do it before she turned 2, since I'll be having our next little bundle of joy around then. But I can always wait about 3 months or so and try again.

 

[CRAZY_CAT_WOMAN]

Thanks ladies, some great input to consider when I do finally start potty training. I guess I wanted to do it before she turned 2, since I'll be having our next little bundle of joy around then. But I can always wait about 3 months or so and try again.

I'm my experience girls have been easier. So easy I don't recall potting training them at all. It's like one day they take off their diaper and go to the bathroom on their own.

 

[MessianicMommy]

JD was solidly on his own by 1 yr, had a setback due to due to diet (ARGH!), retrained by 2, another setback due to surgery and finally OK for all day at 3yrs. He still wears a diaper at naptime/bedtime. His bladder just is not developed enough to hold for that long yet.

TB however, he's not yet trained. He's 2.5 and still in diapers, but has started asking to go often - and has been doing really well. He has taken initiative, as I have no energy to chase a child who is not going to go when he asks to. I just am not able to be that active and up/down constantly.

I chart with stickers on a calendar - small stickers for #1 big, bright stickers for #2, more for me to remember than to praise him. You never know when a Dr might ask how frequently a child goes...

The books I had to help me with a jumping off point were these:
http://www.amazon.com/Diaper-Free-B...454&sr=1-1&keywords=elimination+communication
http://www.amazon.com/Infant-Potty-...454&sr=1-2&keywords=elimination+communication
http://www.amazon.com/Diaper-Free-B...454&sr=1-4&keywords=elimination+communication

Laurie has an EC group on Yahoo that was very nice and active when I was on it a couple years ago. I quit when my health was just getting too overwhelming. I couldn't keep up with everything after having TB.

 

[dessydell]

Generally potty training can start after 16 to 18 months so baby can properly set. I always use the potty seat for my 2 years old baby which is a good habit. I think everyone should trained their babies especially for potty training.