Potty Training: When Where and How.. lol

[chadtm80]

Alright guys help a new mama and dada out here.. Dustin has just turned 15 months.. When to start to install the idea into his brain, how do we start? where do we end?? What works?? What dosent?? When do we begain..

[Miss Mary]

Chad - only having girls, this may be different for boys. But 15 months seems too young to me. 24 at the earliest. My first was over 3, by a few weeks. Her younger sister was a newborn and I had read that you didn't want to push potty training especially with a newborn on the way, otherwise the child will revert back to diapers just for attention. To be like the newborn. I'd say 3 and 1 month was too long but I didn't want to mess Nina up. Now her sister was about 2 1/2. My husband read that you should go cold turkey, skip diapers and go right to training pants. Even for overnight. We used mattress liners and had a clean set of sheets ready for middle of the night mishaps. We also limited evening drinks. I highly recommend the cold turkey method. It worked for us. It hasn't worked for my sister-in-law. Or I should say she wouldn't give up the idea of sometimes putting on a diaper. Her little girl just now gave up overnight diapers and her child is almost 4. We talked it up big time and made many, many potty runs. Praised our girls a lot. And even though I was dead tired during those few middle of night mishaps, I never complained. I just told them - ah, that's okay. You'll make it to the bathroom next time. I'd say it only took about 3 months until we no longer had any accidents. Remember to be very patient and you'll do fine.

But again, I think you need to wait for a while yet. I know you must want a break from the diaper stage but IMHO, it's best not to rush these things.

Good luck!

[stormchazer]

Don't rush it...mine was 2.5 to 3. Started pulling off the diaper and telling us they pee-peed. I would not rush it.

[streetsoldier]

Debi says that, when the child starts pulling at his/her diaper, expressing some discomfort or saying something ("OOOOH, poo-TINK-y" is a DEFINITE sign!), it is TIME...and, Daddy, YOU should take your son into the toilet to show him both "ways" yourself.

Thus it is written...

[Guest]

15 months is too young in my opinion - earliest I would start is 18 months. Trained my stepdaughter at 18 months when we had her for the summer - but mother undid it all - finally at 24 months she started on her own and won't wear diapers - even though her mother would put her in them all the time...

Give Dustin a little more time to be a baby

[hunter84]

yup, you might as well give up the idea for atleast 6 months or more. Boys take longer. watched my cousins try to help their youngest learn for quite awhile then they gave up for awhile because the older son decided he needed diapers again. gotta love em

[bfez1]

Free potty training kit------good luck
http://www.charmin.com/en_us/pages/pt.shtml

Signs that your child is ready to be potty trained:

1. Expresses interest in coming into the bathroom with you to find out what goes on there and perhaps even sits on the toilet by himself.
2. Understands what the toilet is for and what it means to have a wet or dirty diaper. If he also shows a preference for being clean and dry -- fussing when he's wet, pulling off a dirty diaper, or asking to be changed -- all the better!
3. Knows the words for urinating and having a bowel movement (such as "going potty" or whatever words your family chooses).
4. Can stay dry for at least two hours at a time.
5. Has regular bowel movements with soft, formed stools most of the time.
6. Can and will follow simple directions, such as those for washing hands.
7. Can help pull pants up and down.
8. Seems to recognize at least a few seconds ahead of time that he's about to go, and can tell you before it happens. (Many children will squat, leave the room, or get "the look" before having a bowel movement.)
9. Is in a willing, receptive mood and isn't going through any major transitions (like adjusting to a new sibling or school).
10. Demonstrates a desire for independence (for example, wants to be a "big boy" and do things for himself) -- or, better yet, shows a specific desire to use the toilet like daddy and mommy do!

[Miss Mary]

15 months is too young in my opinion - earliest I would start is 18 months. Trained my stepdaughter at 18 months when we had her for the summer - but mother undid it all - finally at 24 months she started on her own and won't wear diapers - even though her mother would put her in them all the time...

Give Dustin a little more time to be a baby

Ticka - sounds like my sister-in-law. Ugh. I've watched her little girl and in the beginning, it was tricky. The child would want diapers but tell you she had to go. Very confusing! We've had her overnight a lot in the past few months (mother works overnight as a nurse) and I established a rule right away, let's go potty right before we go to bed. Boy did she fight me on that, until I said no this is one of Aunt Mary's rules.....LOL It is challenging when the parent fights you on things like this. I was worried my niece would be in diapers for a long, long time but she's fine now. Almost 4. Spoiled rotten in so many other ways, but that's a whole other story!

Chad - I've heard little boys are easier b/c of aiming. They think it's fun! Still too early for Dustin but in time you'll know what I mean. I have another relative that swears by teaching her boys to pee in an empty soup can. Sounds wacky, but they thought that was so cool.

[petal*pusher]

Mornin' Chad! I agree with Hunter that boys take longer than girls to train!

My daughter had no trouble at all at 18 months.....my son was 2 yrs. old.

My "trick" to success with him was to put those little candies that explode in your mouth.....(hmmmm....were they called "HotRocks"???)....in the dry potty-chair!! As soon as they got wet....they just sizzled! He soon learned the art of aiming right too!.........p

[Amanzi]

My son was just under 20months. I knew he was ready to start when he had no wet diaper in the morning (as he obviously had some kind of control of his bladder). I was very lucky with him, he got the hang of it very quickly, and yes he did learn from watching Dad. We left a potty in the bathroom and everytime hubby had to go he would encourage my son and say "wanna give it a try" so he got into the habit, and even when he had a diaper on, I noticed him going into the bathroom and standing in front of the toilet! He was very easy, and has never wet his bed. I know its different for each kid, but I think you should give him more time, unless he is expressing a very keen interest in the white bowl

[Lindaloo]

Mornin' Chad! I agree with Hunter that boys take longer than girls to train!

My daughter had no trouble at all at 18 months.....my son was 2 yrs. old.

My "trick" to success with him was to put those little candies that explode in your mouth.....(hmmmm....were they called "HotRocks"???)....in the dry potty-chair!! As soon as they got wet....they just sizzled! He soon learned the art of aiming right too!.........p

My situation was reversed. My son was the easiest and was potty trained at 18 months. My daughter was 2. My sister's two boys were both trained at 1 year. My Mother told me that both her boys were the easiest to train. It was us girls that drove her insane. lol.

[j]

Hey Chad...you know that the first step is to let him watch Daddy! You know how they are..they want to imitate everything there Daddy does. Mine was closer to 2 before he was ready to hit the bowl consistantly. You'll get into that whole.."your such a big boy now"...clapping and cheering at his first success. They need to feel proud, and to a certain degree (I know many will argue this point), that messing in the pants is for babies...dirty. I also believe that you never want to leave a kid in a messed diaper longer than absolutely neccessary. They get to thinkinh that's the way it oughta be!

[coriolis]

What eveyone else said:

Our 4 boys were between 2 and 3 as I remember. We did not push the issue with them. Pushing it (no pun intended) is the worst thing you can do. We decided that they'd do it when they were ready. It turned out to be an extremely non stressful thing for us.

I have to admit that I was somewhat spooked because I had heard somewhere that forced toilet training was related to a large % of child abuse cases. I decided to take a very low-key approach and it worked nicely. Who cares if the neighbor kid was potty trained at 1 1/2. They're probably lying anyway.

[chadtm80]

Thanks Everyone for the Tips and such.. I realy appreciate it.. Were new at this and what better place to get advice then our s2k family??? Hope you all dont mind me taping into your parent hood every now and again

[Miss Mary]

Chad - you're quite welcome. Main thing is to remain calm and like Ed said, don't force it.

I stumbled upon my own way of dealing with the pacifier issue in case that ever comes up! And be nice, it wasn't my own....LOL

[azskyman]

We have Emma this week. She has a potty chair at her house, but uses it to stand on to wash her hands at the sink (another important part of potty training). She is almost 18 months.

When you ask if she needs a diaper change she will tug at it...but we are a ways away from her being able start the process in earnest.

I was told I was a quick learner...and both our boys were about 2 Kathy said.

As I get older, I'll need to remember all the rules in case my world reverts back to childhood. That DEPENDS on a lot of good things!

Steve

[Miss Mary]

We have Emma this week. She has a potty chair at her house, but uses it to stand on to wash her hands at the sink (another important part of potty training). She is almost 18 months.

When you ask if she needs a diaper change she will tug at it...but we are a ways away from her being able start the process in earnest.

I was told I was a quick learner...and both our boys were about 2 Kathy said.

As I get older, I'll need to remember all the rules in case my world reverts back to childhood. That DEPENDS on a lot of good things!

Steve

'Depending' upon how we view your post Steve, I'd say you have a ways to go before those days are upon you. LOL

That potty chair/step stool stage......in some ways I miss those days! Other ways, I'm glad of the parenting stage I'm in.