Potty Training!

Tammy - posted on 04/03/2010

I started potty training for my first son on his second birthday i have been told that you should wait till the can talk to you and tell you when they have to go potty. My first son took about 2 weeks and went well from there.

Sara - posted on 04/02/2010

We went through some of the same thing. We decided from the beginning not to push it, though. When she's ready, she'll let us know. As for now, she knows the concept, and has the communication skills... so when she decides she's tired of diapers we figure she 'll let us know and it'll probably go much more quickly.
A friend of mine spent 2-3 intense days potty training her 20 month old, who did a great job using the potty all the time for about 3 months. Then she decided she wanted NOTHING to do with the potty anymore, and refuses to use it. She's back into diapers at 2 1/2.

Kara - posted on 04/02/2010

I would wait until he's a bit closer to two! I was a day care teacher and hated when the kids were forced into "training". If you get him a potty on his b-day you can introduce it and make it part of his party. Show Teddy using the potty etc. Read "I'm Two by Me" should help. The whole problem with training is that the child has to be ready physically and mentally. There really is no training involved apart from learning how to sit on a toilet. Don't worry about it for a couple of months and eventually he will show interest. again.

Hayley - posted on 03/31/2010

I haven't as yet thought about putting my 20 month on the potty as yet, but my Aunty and Uncle had some trouble with their kids using the toilet so they put a ping pong ball in the bowl, of a normal toilet and got them to see if they could hit it when they used it. Might not be suitable but could be worth a try, especially if it means he can use they same toilet as mummy and daddy.

Andrea - posted on 03/31/2010

I think if he is content in his diapers right now I would wait, I am contemplating whether I should start with my little girl who is 19months because she constantly tries to take her diaper off and wants to sit on the potty so I will probably start in the next month or so but she is also not dry for very long which is one of the main reasons I havent started yet.

I also have a 4 yr old boy who I started potty training when he was 2 he didnt like it at all when we first started but I would put him on the potty every half hour and he slowly got the hang of it and then I would put him on every hr and as he got used to it I made the time in between longer also I kept a little box of treats aside so whenever he successfully used the potty I would give him one and that helped alot, that got him more excited about using the potty and within a few months he only needed to wear pull ups at night time. Its not always easy when you start but if you think your child is ready to be potty trained you just have to stick to it. I hope this helps you :)

Dacia - posted on 03/28/2010

My oldest also wanted to stand like Daddy. I got him a stool and then he could get up there. It really helped since he felt like such a big boy. I also tried things like putting Cheerios in the potty and and having him aim at the "targets". He loved it and it kept his interest. Just a few little things I tried...hope it helps.

Danica - posted on 03/28/2010

Hey Amber, I bought my son a potty, an ELMO potty, to get him into the potty training mode as well. He was interested in sitting on it, climbing on and in it, but not really using it. He peed in it with my help once and on the regular toilet once as well. Every time I asked he would say "No" too. Then he would tell me when he started to go in his pampers, "Potty", but when I asked "Nooooo". I back tracked and had him start to practice taking off and putting on his clothes. Then I read "Potty Train Your Child In Just One Day". It's a good guide and read. They say that you should practice and build pulling down and pulling up clothing, washing and drying hands, and wiping themselves skills. You should also help him to recognize and voice when he has to go. They call this potty teaching, which leads to potty training. Another thing is not to ask questions that he can say "No" to, but rather say, "Let's go to the potty" or "Let's practice" and race (or some action) to the potty. They have great ideas and advice. Good Luck & Don't Loose Hope : )

Gemma - posted on 03/25/2010

hi my daughter used her botty at 12 months too. once a day for a few months, but then she got really poorly and obviously didnt use it and hasnt since. shes 19 months now. i leave the potty out so she can see it and role play with it, and i think i going to wait untill the summer when she can run around with pants on. hope this helps xx

Anne - posted on 03/25/2010

I have two girls 3years and 18month, both hate the potty but love the toilet like grownups. the 18month like her big sister sits on the seat, have her feet on the first step of a heavy office (a heavy step stool, bought i IKEA) and holds on to the carryhole in the topseat. I sit infront and holds on and destribute toiletpaper, which is part of the event. They both love it and have started that way. we have allso used a mini toiletseat that goes on top of the normel seat but its a little rocky construction that scares them a bit.

Paige - posted on 03/23/2010

My son is 19 months and I had the same thing happen, really excited at 12 months for a while and was doing all poo's in the potty for about 2 weeks and now everytime I ask him he says 'no' about going to the toilet. I have done some research and the trend seems to be saying that girls can be trained at about 18 months and bys should not start to be trained until 2 years. If you start to put pressure on them too early, it turns them off.

Danielle - posted on 03/21/2010

I have experienced the ups and downs with my oldest, who is 2 1/2 and still not potty trained. In fact, we are taking a break right now. The interesting thing is, my 1 1/2 year old is closer to being potty trained than the oldest. She stays dry most days and occassionally at night! So, no two kids are the same. I am trying to remind myself to be patient about it and accept their differences. My newborn is a boy, but I'm obviously not potty training yet; however, I saw this little thing on a website that attaches to the potty for boys to be able to urinate standing up. If you're interested, it was on the site where I've puchased cloth diapering supplies, www.diaperjunction.com. That might motivate him. By the way, our little boy is Elijah too!

Laura - posted on 03/19/2010

Hi Amber! I Maybe these will give you some ideas. My little boy is19 months now and he's dry most days. I put him on the potty as soon as he wakes up (bed or nap). We also go before naps and baths. He sits on the toilet when I go. I also take him any time I notice him grunting or needing to poop. He can hold it, contrary to popular opinion... but it takes practice. He will say "poop" or hold himself when he's got to pee. We've been doing this for a while and try to make as normal as eatting or drinking- we don't do stickers or big deals. If goes, great, if not, he's only one year old. We use cloth diapers for back-ups so he knows when he is wet. I recommend www.diaperfreebaby.org and read the tips for "late" starters.

FayeMarie - posted on 03/19/2010

Hi Amber I am a new mom, and getting this potty training down has been up and down also! The approach that we take in our house is much like the others, but when ever we see our daughter straining to go #2, we rush her to the bathroom. That is how we started her out and now she tells us when she wants or needs to go. i even had a day where i didnt have to change her till 3:00.
On onther note my sister-in-law, has a 2 year old that is still trying to get the potty down and they as Ashleigh says they award him for having dry pants and even when he uses the potty. Good luck to all the moms!

Ashleigh - posted on 03/18/2010

I decided to try potty training Taryn just after christmas, santa brought him a potty. It was going ok, he wouldn't go in it for me but he went in it by himself one day when he was running around without a diaper. Then we had a huge incident with poop and a box and beige carpeting. I tried not to make it a big deal but now the only thing he wants to do with his potty is wear it and step on it.

His doc said to start rewarding dryness and then once he's able to know when he has to go then move on to the potty training. We are hoping to have day potty training done by september because I really don't want to be changing 2 babies everyday as we are due in october.

Nicole - posted on 03/18/2010

We have the same type of thing going on here. We catch pee before bed every so often. Maybe 3 or 4 nights out of the whole week. She likes the potty but it's hit or miss and she doesn't know to tell us she has to go and often if I "ask" she says no. So I just stick to having it as part of our bedtime routine so she knows what it is for and we try and if nothing...we just put on pajamas...if so....we call daddy and make a big deal about it clapping and letting her flush the toilet etc. I'm not going to push and let it happen at her own pace (even if I am HOPING for that to be this summer)

Angie - posted on 03/18/2010

I am going through the same thing with my daughter. She has always followed me to the bathroom since she could walk. She has a potty of her own beside the toilet and one of those cushions for the big potty. She would use the cushion. After about 2 weeks she decided she didn't want to use it anymore. I still ask if she has to go, but I let her do her own thing. Sometimes if I leave her diaper off she will tell me she needs to go potty. Its one of those things they have to do at their own pace.

Victoria - posted on 03/10/2010

Hi Amber, I'd leave it for now. Most kids don't have bladder/bowel control until they're at least two years old. If you try to pressure him it'll take longer. Just wait for his que, leave the potty around and let him watch you and your husband use the bathroom. I know it's pain cos it would be great to get rid of the nappies sooner rather than later but he's still a baby and its not that important to his life right now x