potty training

Helen - posted on 09/02/2010

all i was trying to say that some children will do things quickly and at different ages. he may have done potty training in a week or so and at a young age but he did not walk until 16 months. I just didn't want the lady who posted this first to feel that she should hold her child back just because of the ages that other people tried it at. PS did you not read what i put in my second posting

Jodi - posted on 09/02/2010

@ Helen, she said *medal* ceremony. She was referring to turning potty training into a competition and your reference to you patting yourself on the back for potty training early and how training later means you are lazy. It's not a competition, that is the message she was trying to convey.

Connie - posted on 09/02/2010

Maybe just get him a little seat to put on the big potty, he might respond better to that. I've read that you really shouldn't start potty training with boys until 2 yars, but if he is ready it should be fine.

Heidi - posted on 09/02/2010

if he refuses to try... hes probably not ready, but have you tried letting him decorate (with stickers or whatever )his own little potty ..make it super fun and then any time he even tries to sit on it he gets to put another sticker on !!

Helen - posted on 09/02/2010

i was






Sorry if i have caused offence but i was talking about 2 cases in particular. Both children are perfectly normal and one of the is very bright. It would be a different matter if the children had any disabilities or special needs but these dont. The mother of the particularly bright child actually told one of the reception teachers that she had no intention of potty training her child at home as she "didn't want to have her carpets ruined". i feel this is also particullarly cruel as the child is bright enough to know that she is different for still wearing nappies at nearly 5. PS what did you mean about medical ceremony? i didn't understand - is it an american in joke

Constance - posted on 09/02/2010

it is a control thing by the sounds of it so maybe if you can make the potty fun when he is not needing to go. Let him sit and read on the potty. Give him a big happy smile when he sits on it

Jennifer - posted on 09/02/2010

Hi, I started my son with a wee on the potty before the bath then after the bath and I am doing the same with my second boy we don't force the issue I get the potty out and he sits on it does his incredibaly small wee shouts his praise and carrys on he is two but is still not ready to be fully trained we are just getting him used to the idea of the potty. Don't be in a hurry my boy loves to take his nappy off just because he can.

Lisa - posted on 09/01/2010

Don't dispare. You might find that when he does decide to do it.....he might then decide it isn't worth the trouble and will go back to diapers for awhile. Boys DO tend to get too busy to want to take the time to leave his toys even to go pee!
ASK him if he wants to try again and then listen. NO pressure; respect his desire to make choices. It's all about independence. At 12 months my son would actually pee in the potty if he was in the tub and I would mention going pee and hold it up to him. He'd do it! Then I would tell him: good job- you put your pee in the potty this time! Then, he decided he didn't want to do it again ( he was only a year old afterall!). Note: putting him in the warm water will naturally make him want to pee. By immediately holding the potty bowl up and asking him if he wants to put his pee there....gives him that control! And makes it easy to praise him for that choice! Hence; he succedes and gets your praise!

Lisa - posted on 09/01/2010

It's all about his own power. He sees that he can make a choice about where his pee goes! Pretty smart, really. We seem to worry that they won't ever figure it out, but they do! An incentive that I used? I reasoned with him.....Hey, I have to keep buying diapers; I just thought of something...we could save money if I didn't have to buy them. "Hmmmm. I bet if you decided to pee in the toilet, we could see how much we saved and we can get you something special with that money!" You could 'confide' in him. "Honey, would you like to help Mommie and save money, etc." He might LIKE that you asked for his input and figure out that his actions will affect the situation! Good luck, but don't stress! He sure seems like he wants to make that choice himself. Perhaps ignoring?.... Praising when he does it, then make it uneventful when he doesn't ("Oh well, maybe next time. I bet you tried, huh!? Good for you!")

Jana - posted on 09/01/2010

I think he is not too young. I also started practizing with my 14month old daughter. Till now it is more a game for her to sit on the potty but so she get used to it ... acutally my mom insisted to start so early as we have been without a diaper before we turned 2 - okay, this were other times but still. For my son (now nearly 4) it always helped to make a competition out of it...like "who is first on the toilet".

Chels - posted on 09/01/2010

For those people saying 18 months is too young - a few years ago kids were being trained way younger! i really think my generation is just lazy and way too used to disposable nappies! Its up to you when you train your child - A lot of potty training websites say that 18 months - 2 years is a good time to start. I started training my daughter at 16 months. She goes 4 times a day. Its not the age that matters, each child is different. you are the only person who knows if your child is ready so if you want to start training, go right ahead! my advice - practice makes perfect! Do it at the same time every day. We do it when she wakes up, morning tea, lunch, before bath, after bath, before bed and whenever she expresses the need to go, such as pulling at her nappy. Good luck my friend!

Tiffany - posted on 09/01/2010

Don't give up! When they show interest do it. It drives me crazy when people say 18 months is too early. My daughter was trained at 18 months. I followed the book, How to Potty Train in 3 days and it totally worked! It really only took about 4 hours for her to get it. Bedtime training took about a week. I did not use pullups, I feel they just tell the child it's okay to wet at night. I was washing a lot of sheets at the beginning of the week, but it was worth it. After a week of training she was comletely trained. Every child is different, but don't give up.

Patricia - posted on 09/01/2010

i used to put a onesie on and overalls they can't get at the diaper easily that way. :-)

Jenna - posted on 09/01/2010

I know it will sound wierd but throw cherrios in the toilet and give him prizes when he hits them. Boys are hart to train to get in the toilet, but with this trick my now 5 yr old has better aim than my husband.

Katherine - posted on 09/01/2010

Wow Helen, around here we consider that a personal attack. That was a total blanket statement and won't be tolerated. Please refrain from the name calling.

thanks,

Katherine

administrator

Roxanne - posted on 09/01/2010

Hi Helen... good on you for having a child that is toilet trained at two... how was the medal ceremony? I dont think that qualifies you to call other parents whose children are not ready to be trained "LAZY". As a parent you should know that all children are different and learn and are capale of doing different things at different times... I am keen to know why you think it is the fault of the parents if children are not toilet trained until 3 or 4 if that is when the child was ready and capable?

Vicky - posted on 09/01/2010

just try gettin him to wee on the toilet as it will work out better in the long run thats how i did it with my little boy and he is happy to go to bigboy toilet rather than on potty :-)

Bonnie - posted on 09/01/2010

sitting him on the toilet backwards and let him pee on cheerios or teddygrams is entertaining to the child. They will respond better. My grandson who has just turned 3 responds now to not allowing him to play with something or watch tv until he potties when we want him to. Control all drinks and take him every 30 min. even if he says no. we run the water in the sink and he loves to wash his hands afterwards.

Angela - posted on 09/01/2010

18 months is not to young. my son came to me at 19 months and told me out of his own that he needs to wee. he was off day nappies by the time he turned 2.

Ndanganeni Rieneth - posted on 09/01/2010

start giving him potty trainings,

Ndanganeni Rieneth - posted on 09/01/2010

when do you think is the best time@ and will it ever be time!

Ndanganeni Rieneth - posted on 09/01/2010

wel my son is nolonger wearing nappies but he cannot defferitiat the difference of peeing and puuing. what can i do?

Helen - posted on 09/01/2010

praise praise praise. my little boy would do this occasionally then at 2 we decided to go for it - no more nappies except at bed time- it took just under 2 weeks and now his only trouble is getting his trousers off. don't let any one tell you it is to young. a lot of children are trained at 3 and 4 but i feel that is just parents being lazy as the majority of children are quite capable. my son is the youngest in his play group but children 2 years older than him are not trained yet . We even have 2 children coming up to reception class (5/6 year olds) whose parents haven't bothered to train them yet!!!

Roxanne - posted on 09/01/2010

If you son has no interest in using the potty or toilet, then he probably isnt ready to be potty trained. Children that are ready show interest in the toilet/potty and are keen to give it a go - he has probably just taken his nappy off to play with himself... and that has possibly resulted in the peeing on the floor... Unless you have the time and patience to train yourself (not him) to remember to take him to the toilet every hour or so, then just put the nappy back on and put him in a onsie or pants with a drawstring so he cant get his nappy off

Tanya - posted on 09/01/2010

Sounds like he is ready if he is going to the bathroom and peeing on the floor. The only thing I can think of is if you see him pull his nappy off, try and rush him to the bathroom and show him to pee in the potty. Good luck.

Leeanne - posted on 09/01/2010

My son started toilet training on his second birthday. We have good days and bad. I will let him stand and hold the potty for him to pee in when we are in a hurry or when he is being defiant.
What is it with putting food (cherios) in the toilet? - it might be something to aim at but not a behaviour to develop. Anyway, they dont really "aim" at anything until they are already trained. My first son always stood too pee - even when he was too small to reach the bowl (I used to have to hold him up so he could reach)
I also dont treat for peeing in the potty - a high 5 is fine but I have come across kids who wont pee unless they get a treat, also not a behaviour to encourage.
I have never (I have 3 children) used pull ups, I do homebased childcare and the children who have pull ups tend to just use them as nappies(diapers), I would just stick with underpants - they wash.
My son decided to train in the middle of winter - this I wouldnt recommend, let them run free in summer when the washing is easier to get dry.

Juanita - posted on 08/31/2010

I have two boys and the method i used was give him a travel size dishwashing soap bottle of his own and let him pour some of this soap in the toilet . Then try to get him to pee in the toilet . The more he pees the more the bubbles he makes. After this he will always want to make more bubbles. Try this , it always worked for my boys.

Lois - posted on 08/31/2010

I think there's some truth in what Tanya said actually, although it sounds a little extreme. If you look at what's happened to the average age of toilet training since the 1960's its gone up considerably. Apparently this is largely due to diapers/nappies these days being so absorbent that the child never feels wet so is unable to make the connection between bladder emptying and the nervous system. Some mums advocate switching to cloth nappies or less absorbant ones so that he knows what it's like to feel wet and can start making the brain connections. It sounds like he is telling you he's ready if he's taking the nappy off so I would just go with it and keep trying!

Yvonne - posted on 08/31/2010

Ping pong balls with faces drawn on them, for him to aim at do wonders. and don’t forget stars on the calendar for each time he gets it right. Build on increments. Perhaps, 1st month, for each week he gets stars on 3 days reward him with a cheap “matchbox” type car. 2nd month make it 4 days in a week. As you progress he is also getting older and a little more understanding. Won’t be long and he will be a teenager and potty training will seem so insignificant. Getting him off the computer to mow the lawn,... all of it,... today,... will be your stress then.

Jon - posted on 08/31/2010

Praise his efforts. Good he goes to the bathroom. Introduce him to the different fixtures in the bathroom and their purpose. Get him a steps and show him how to use the toilet. Try it a few times. Talk the procedure through, slowly. Understand that he may not get it instantly. Are his diapers "pull ups or easy ups"? To me potties are ancient no matter the design. Children are so smart these days. I was scared of potty training. Didnt know where to start. My son's godmother gave it a try and he used the potty for her. Thats the ONLY time he ever used his potty (and he had 2 potties) He used them as hats around the house. He was fully toilet trained by 2 1/2 yrs. I was so surprised and estatic. I took pictures and praised his efforts endlessly. For which I was rewarded with a big smile for boosting his confidences.

Regina - posted on 08/31/2010

I think he's still too young at 18 months. Most common age for boys to begin potty training is 3 - 3 1/2 years. It's common for toddlers to take their diapers off. It's really not a sign of potty training readiness as much as a sign of being a toddler. My daughter (3 in October) started taking her diaper off around the time she was 2, but she was just potty trained a few months ago. My son (who just turned 1) has already taken off his diaper once, but that was just him imitating his sister. I would definitely wait a while. Kids at that age are more curious than anything...and by him doing it I'm sure he got a reaction out of you.

BONNIE - posted on 08/31/2010

Put cheerios and a little watter in the potty and teach him to aim for them. Works every time they think it is such fun. Takes about a week. Also offer him 2 M & Ms each time he uses his potty. Bribery works wonders.

Lori - posted on 08/31/2010

there is a thing that you can buy to attach to the toilet. It is called a weeman I think. Maybe he wants to stand up. My son was 50/50 with sitting and standing at first. All it is, is a bucket in front of the toilet. Or he might not really be ready. My 19 month old just stands at the potty with his shirt up like his brother. He thinks he is peeing, but does not really get the idea. Good Luck.

Amy - posted on 08/31/2010

@Rachel- Get the Baby Bjorn Little potty. If he's too small for a normal training potty, that one will be just fine. I've put my daughter on it since she was 7 months. Good luck!

Robin - posted on 08/31/2010

You might already know about when he will have to go. If so then take to the potty just before that time.
Taking the diaper off is a sign that kids may be ready for potty training but 18 months is still young. We didn't master it with either of ours until they were about 2.5

Rachael - posted on 08/31/2010

my son is 16 months old and grabs the crotch of his diaper when he urinates. I say do you have to pee pee? Lets go to the potty! He wants to stand because that is what daddy does, but he is too small even for the little potty... have thought about getting a bedpan from a hospital for him to use as it would sit much lower to the ground. Good luck!
and I was fully trained by 14 months when I threw a tantrum to get my diaper off then ran to the potty all on my own, so don't let ppl tell you that 18 months is too young.

Ashley - posted on 08/31/2010

Everytime you, your husband, or anyone else in the home has to "Pee" take him with you and sit him on a little floor potty. Tell him big boys pee-pee on the potty! That way he will associate "hey mommy and daddy peepee in the potty" soon when he gets a hang of his bladder it'll be smooth sailing from there on out! When he gets the jist of that and you want to move forward, have him stand up (like daddy, of course) and throw a cherio or a bit of wadded toilet paper and tell him to sink the object! If you think he is ready, and he's trying... Show him how to do it the right way. Every child moves at a different pace, there is not certain time when you should and should not try. Anyways, if he isnt ready... Introduction to potty training isnt a bad idea, that way when he truly is he'll know what to the idea is! Give him much appraisal when he does it right, an incentive i shall say. Keep up the good work!

Eryn - posted on 08/31/2010

Get "Potty Training in Less Than a Day," By Nathan H. Azrin, Ph.D. & Richard M. Foxx, Ph.D. I used it with my son and it really works. He was trained in 4 hours!!!! It works because you use a doll that wets and your son teaches the doll all the while learning! GET IT! you will have to set aside one day where you are not distracted and can work on potty training. Get the book and get the recommended items. After 4 hours, my son was able to potty, wipe and dress himself with out my help or even knowing he had gone! We too had the problem with the diaper and still use the diaper at night. We'ver resorted to putting packing tape around the diaper so he can't get it off.

Karma - posted on 08/31/2010

my friend told me to sit my daughter on the potty and brib her with candy.books anything that keeps there mind off of what they should be doing

Cheryl - posted on 08/31/2010

I wanted to keep pull ups and diapers on my son for way to long. He was completely diaper free at 21 months. When they are pulling off their own diapers they are communicating that they know they have soiled themselves and they want to be dry. There are a lot of things a little boy has to learn to know when to stand and when to sit. Make it fun and keep it consistent. 18 months is young to be potty trained, be patient with him. Cheerios as targets, sounds just like something a little kid would want to do.

Sandra - posted on 08/31/2010

He will when he is ready to and has the concept down pat. My son was two and one half when he completely was potty trained/

Cheryl - posted on 08/31/2010

There is a cute thing called tinkle targets, you can google them. However, buy a bowl from the dollar store, paint a target on it and have him practice outside. Who knows this type of training may work with dad's as well?

Erin - posted on 08/31/2010

he sounds a little young to me. I didn't start working with my son until he was almost 3 and I didn't have any problems. But if you are going introduce it stick with it because if not you will have more problems when you go back potty training him

Joyce - posted on 08/31/2010

just sit him on the potty .now an agane .then he will get used to it.leave it were hecan see it.then he my go to it.or let you know.try him .with training pants there easy to take down.he will learn .when needs it

Angel - posted on 08/31/2010

Me and my 3 sisters were ALL potty trained at 1 yr. My mother said that as soon as we could sit up on our own and everytime we watched t.v. she would put us on the pot and give us snacks as we watched t.v., then she would check the pot every so often and everytime we went potty/poop she would throw a party. This was done with my niece and nephew. My niece was potty trained at 13 months and my nephew at 14 months. I plan on doing this with my almost 8 month old. Plus my b/f also sits when he pees(so does his brother and dad) and everytime he has to go to the bathroom he takes baby on his lap so he is familar with sitting on the toilet.

Sarah - posted on 08/31/2010

At 18 months! I'd run with it! I trained my autistic son at age 3. He loved to watch Winnie the Pooh over, and over. Every fifteen on the fifteen, I sat him on the potty, he obviously wouldn't stay there so, I would calmly lead him back to the potty and sit beside him sometimes. He was actually trained in my living room first with the potty, before we graduated to the real toilet! Persistance and patience, is really all it takes! I sacrificed a good week, didn't go anywhere or really do anything. Was doing many loads of laundry, which is to be expected when you're starting. Good luck, by the way! Hope everything goes well for you!

Janice - posted on 08/31/2010

At 18 months many children are ready to begin potty training and your son sounds like he is definitely ready. I think waiting too long to start is a major mistake many people make. I definitely agree with all the people who suggest making it a game. Also, it seems like your son may not have quite enough control to climb up and sit on the adult toilet so if you dont have one already get a little potty to put in the bathroom. the ones with removable seats that can later be used on the toilet are best. I was a toddler teacher for 3 years and potty trained many children. Every child is different. Some catch on quickly, some dont but consistancy is key! Also pullups are diapers, they work well at bedtime or during situations when getting to a bathroom quckly may be difficult. However, most children learn best when in real underwear. Goodluck! :)

Jessie - posted on 08/31/2010

My son will be 3 in a few weeks and we have gone back and forth with potty training-he did the same taking off his diaper business so I made sure to always keep some kind of clothing on him that he could not take off without a bit of help. Potty training is rough on most kids under 2, and some just don't get the concept of when it's time to go until later on. If you are going to start training-be consistent with whatever method you choose. Any lagging on your part will be like a catastrophe to him. No matter what though stay positive-if you make him feel like he's done something wrong he could go downhill with it or stop altogether. Either way-I wish you luck :)

Veronica - posted on 08/30/2010

My twins did that at the same age. I put them in pull ups and they are a little harder for them to get off. They are 2 1/2 now and we have been potty training fully for 5 weeks. We did a sticker reward system. I taped a piece of paper to the wall. Every time they peed on the potty they would get a sticker. Every time they pooped on the potty they would get 2 stickers. Every time they had 25 stickers they would get to pick out a matchbox car. When they would get 50 stickers my parents took them to get a treat. THen we would start counting again. It has been 2 weeks with no stickers and we are still going strong. Every now and then they get to pick out a new matchbox car for doing so well on the potty. They still wear pull ups for nap time and night time. Good luck!

Donna - posted on 08/30/2010

Can you keep those shirts on him that dome in the crotch so he can't get his diaper off? You could add some extra tape to the diaper to make it more secure. I don't think at 18 months he is ready to be potty trained. I would wait a bit.