started potty training today anybody else get fustrated

Janae - posted on 02/12/2010

I just trained by 18 month old 2 weeks ago. I have to agree Hilary Gottschall, put regular underwear on him, or none at all! I think feeling the pee run down their legs really helps them with the whole concept. I "fenced" off all the carpeting in our house and let my daughter run around in the kitchen and dining room without a pamper. Everytime she started to pee I quickly set her on the potty. In 3 days she had pretty much caught on and I started wearing panties on her. Now she hasn't had an "accident" for a week! I do undersand how frustrating it can be, but, just try to keep your cool! It's a hard thing to learn! I gave my daughter a mini-marshmallow and let her put a sticker on a chart every time she "went" in the potty! Also, don't scold or punish him too much for his accidents, you don't want him to be scared to pee! Just praise him a lot and even act a little silly when he does it! He'll catch on, just hang in there!

Hilary - posted on 02/07/2010

Hi Sara. Here is my advice: Your son needs to learn cause and effect so accidents are good!

1. Put your son in regular underwear (not training underwear because they soak up too much pee) so that the pee will run down his legs (he won't like that!)

2. Get a timer and set it for a certain amount of time (30 is good for starters). When the timer goes off, tell (don't ask) your son that it is time to sit on the potty. Do not stress about the amount of time he actually sits--he's sitting because you told him to and this will help him to make the connection. Make sure to reset the timer each time.

3. When your son has an accident say, "Oh look you went pee pee (or poop) Pee (or poop) goes on the potty" Set him on the potty. Be very matter of fact--this is no different than teaching him how to feed himself. It is going to be messy and that's ok.



This is how I trained my son. We spent about 3 days in the kitchen so that the messes were easier to clean up. I was very bored but Caleb began to understand very quickly. Now pooping on the potty for us was another matter but I just put him in cotten training pants and cleaned him up after his accident. It took about 15 accidents for him to learn to poop on the potty over 3 months.



Good luck and don't stress--if this is causing you too much frustration, stop the training and try again in a couple of months.

Gina - posted on 01/30/2010

well a few suggestions put the potty in the same room just so he can remember that its there and he can make on time he wont get so discouraged if its to far away. Also you got to ask him several times after he has drank, make a chart for him with stickers and remind him "if you do pipi or poop in the toilet bowl you get a sticker" you also have to make it a great event for him. He does it you right away do a pipi dance it shows him how proud you are and you tell him he has made you happy. Be patient, I know its hard, I am going through this with my second daughter and well we will get there. You have to praise them alot it gives them that confidence as opposed to if you yell all the time they become insecure and then they become afraid to disappoint you. Its crazy to say but its like training a puppy. Let me know how it goes. Good luck