Potty training tips.....

Na Ree - posted on 09/28/2009

There are ton of potty training tips and books out there, but I think you have to know which ones fit your child's personality. I did a lot of pre-training, like having my daughter watch me go to the bathroom, watching potty DVDs (Potty Power is AWESOME!), reading kids' potty books, etc... Then our official day was no diapers, only underwear. I also emphasized the big kid thing. Being a big kid means wearing underwear, getting a fork mommy and daddy use, brushing her own teeth, putting on her lotion on her own, etc. She loved it. When she refuses to use the potty when I tell her (like before we head out the door), I tell her she had a choice: diaper or potty? She always chooses potty and goes. I tried the whole make-them-go-every-30mins but my daughter was too independent and hated it. She hated having to stop the fun every 30 minutes to go (come on, adults would too). And if she goes every 30 minutes, how would she ever learn to recognize the urge to go and learn to listen to her body and go herself?
She has been potty training for over a month and she has 0 to 1 accidents a day now. She wears diapers during nap and bedtime. She wears pull-ups when we go out but she stays dry most of the time.
Good luck!

Tiffany - posted on 09/28/2009

I just had a discussion on the topic with our new preschool teacher and her main suggestion are as follows:

Don't use a little potty chair, only use the big potty, because then you have to train them twice. once on th elittle potty, then again when they switch to the big potty.

The other main point she made was not to use pull ups, to spend a weekend and use just underwear. You have to take them to the potty every 30 minute even if they say they don't have to go. "Don't ask then, tell them. We are going to the potty now." Then when they have an accident in underwear, they are very aware and uncomfortable. The pull-ups are to much like a diaper and they are not as motivated to not have accidents.

Then of course, if this does not work, then relax and try again in a month or two. They will learn when they are ready.

Hope this helps.

Tiffany

Jordan - posted on 09/28/2009

my son is 2 also he wont use the potty chair we bought him, he wants to use the big potty, everytime me or his dad go to the bathroom he wants to go also so we let him up there first whether he goes or not, we take him in about every 30 mins even if he dont go and tell him how big boys use the potty and he isnt a baby anymore and now he loves going potty, he still has accidents every now and then but for the most part he is doing great... hes only been doing this about 3 weeks now, he wears diapers to bed and nap time but other than that he is in underwear all day, i guess you just need to jump in it and make him feel good about it even if he has accidents or doesnt go in the potty also during the summer we let him go outside with no diaper and he would "water the trees or grass" thats what he liked to say about it!!!