EARLY potty training... who's been here? UPDATE post 49

[kwitcherkicken99]

You know your child's personality best. Is it time for her to PT or is she just curious?

That's what I'm trying to figure out! She wants to sit on the pot, but she hasn't gone again since the other night. I put her on the toilet after her nap and before her bath - she just sat and sat and sat - didn't fight to get down, didn't fuss, just sat.

I may start with her what we did with DS when he trained... take 2-3 specific times during the day to go (after waking, lunch, dinner, bedtime) and work our way up. We did that with DS and after a couple days he was starting to go on his own and has only ever had 3 accidents.

Worst thing that can happen is that it doesn't happen... I think I'm content in staying consistant.

 

[Cinbride]

UGH!! That is what I have to say. My almost 2.5 shows interest, she will sit (when she wants to). She doesn't care about treats, stickers. If I mention putting Mickey on she will sit long enough I put in on and she ends up getting off. I will tell her You need to go sit on the potty and most of the times she says no. (oh the 2s I love them ) Then the same time she will pull up her potty and sit down beside me in the living room and play?? She knows what she needs to do but is STUBBORN! We let her walk around naked bum and she does have accidents. Or she gets to the point where she is on the floor yelling for a diaper because She HAS to go. I don't want her to hate the potty and completely not want to do it because I am forcing her. I just don't know. We have not gone any further for now because we are going to Disney in a few weeks. There is no sense of really screwing her up. BUT when we come back, we need to come up with a plan. Probably run around naked and if she has accidents oh well? She is also one that will sit in a wet/dirty diaper. I just don't get it. She did everything else early but potty she just doesn't like.

 

[princessmom29]

I am a firm believer in earlier is better, and going cold turkey. As soon as they can understand what is going on and have the body control to stay dry for a few hours at a time, it is time. Put underwear on them and that is it. I think it is better than the "bare bum" method because the wet cloth agianst their skin is more of an uncomfortable senseation than they would get from wetting the floor.

 

[susykt4]

I trained my son at 20 months because I was planning to return to work shortly after his 2nd birthday and wanted him to be trained before starting daycare. I did the naked from the waist down thing with some amusing results. We spent most of the first week outside and would make a big deal when he urinated so he "understood" what he was doing. We then moved inside and while he would stand and use the regular toilet, he much preferred to open the front door, stand in the doorway and pee outside. Yes, it was as gross as you imagine. We threw out the doormat and kept the hose nearby at all times. Then, since he was so little I wanted to make it as easy as possible to go all by himself. He wore elastic waist pants or shorts with no underwear. The no underwear thing didn't seem like a big deal at all until I had to explain to the daycare why my son was commando. And still commando a year later. And another year later. I finally convinced him that kindergartners were required to wear underwear and he has ever since

 

[Hannathy]

I am a firm believer in earlier is better, and going cold turkey. As soon as they can understand what is going on and have the body control to stay dry for a few hours at a time, it is time. Put underwear on them and that is it. I think it is better than the "bare bum" method because the wet cloth agianst their skin is more of an uncomfortable senseation than they would get from wetting the floor.

Agree and I also explained to them that going to the potty was what was expected out of them it wasn't a choice and it was time to be out of diapers. I really think parents try to give kids too many choices and free will now. Just like not running away from you while out or sitting in a car seat life has things we just have to do and potty training is one of them.

I am also too money conservative to spend money on diapers past 2, I would rather go to Disney!!!!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Well to update... she did it again! She pounded on our door a little bit ago and I put her on the potty... about 5 minutes later, we hadn't heard a sound... she wanted down, I checked the toilet and she had pooped!

Several times I've been sitting her on the toilet with no luck, but I'm sticking with it! I'd rather haul a few pull ups to WDW than a load of diapers in the fall! And frankly, I know we'll be spending a lot of time in the bathrooms at the parks, but I'd take it any day!

I'm still having trouble believing it's happening already, but hey, what to do?

 

[tr-ray]

Very interesting thread, everyone.

PP, my DD is 16 months, and I asked her pediatrician at her 15 mo. appt, and she told me "Not until 2..." which I thought was weird, but I'm very interested in your DD wanting to go...

My DD was looking at the toilet longingly the other day - not sure if she was just curious but I'm afraid of the whole idea!!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Very interesting thread, everyone.

PP, my DD is 16 months, and I asked her pediatrician at her 15 mo. appt, and she told me "Not until 2..." which I thought was weird, but I'm very interested in your DD wanting to go...

My DD was looking at the toilet longingly the other day - not sure if she was just curious but I'm afraid of the whole idea!!

We have a very small house (only about 1100 sq ft), so we keep the doors to all of our rooms closed down the hallway so the kids can run the hall and we know they won't get into places they're not supposed to.

She will watch her big brother go (he's 3) and a few times at bath time, she would go lift the lid - of course we'd tell her no and don't touch. For some reason last week she started banging on the bathroom doors at my parent's house and ours, walking to the toilet and lifting the lid. Humoring her, I'd sit her down. She was so proud to sit up there like a big girl - now she's started to use the toilet.

She has ALWAYS hated diaper changes and I think she's figured out this is a way out of them. She has been using fewer and fewer diapers the past 2 months, not going as often, staying dry during naps, etc.

I'm with you - I thought this was way early! But if she's going there, I need to go along. I figured she would train early (but still not for another 4 months or so!). I'm fully expecting accidents along the way and I'm going to do this gradually. We did a similar method with DS and he was accident free in 2 weeks. I'll ride the wave and see where it takes us!

 

[Hannathy]

That's great! my DD trained very early and she was the same way. Once she decided to do it we never went back. I never bought more than 1 pack of pull ups. I quit putting them on her at night when I realized I was on the second week with the same pull up. I used to throw them away after several nights not because they were ever wet but just because if they were underwear I would wash them!!! She never wet the bed ever and she was trained by 18 months.

Give her a big hug and tell her how happy you are and enjoy!

 

[goofy53073]

When my oldest was that age, it was pretty common to start potty training at around 15 months. While I don't always agree with him there is a Dr that writes a column for our paper who says there is a potty training window that if you potty train them within that window of time, its pretty painless. I think its like 15 months to 24.

Good luck!

That may be the case for some but both my older kids trained at 27 months and it was so painless I don't even remember it happening It was just like one day they were in diapers and the next day they were not.

A good indicator is when a child takes naps and wakes up dry and then sleeps at night and wakes up dry it means their bladder is developed enough to be trained and not have constant accidents.

My third child is 30 months yet and not trained yet. She shows some interest but is not consistent about it at all. Does not bother me at all. Actually since we are driving to Disney (20 Hours) in about a month I am greatful she is still in diapers She did show an interest at about 18 months and I thought she might be ready but it was just a passing interest and she truly was not ready.

 

[Tarabra]

I am a HUGE advocate of infant pottying. There is NO training involved. You set them on the potty and they go. If they don't, no big deal. No pushing, no rewards, no punishment. Whenever I would take their diapers off to change them, I'd set them on the potty. 9 times out of 10, they'd go. It's a great opportunity to read to them. The word books are great. My kids also liked the leapfrog toys. My daughter was pretty much #2 trained at 13 months and my son at 15 months. Even though they would pee on the potty 4 or 5 times a day, they would still go in their diapers. No big deal. No pressure. My dd was out of diapers at 28 months, and my son 20 months. After we got to a certain point, I just basically did the 3 day potty training, naked from the waist down. They HATE that feeling of the pee running down their leg. It doesn't last long. John Rosemond is the Dr. that I believe people are referencing. He also believes in the naked and $75 method. Run around naked for a weekend, then spend $75 for a carpet cleaning. Lol! I read SOOOOOOOO many forums about parents frustrated w/ kids in their 3's and 4's even who want nothing to do with it. I was from the cloth diaper generation and we were all potty trained by 2. Do a Google search on pottying around the world and you will be surprised how many countries don't even use diapers. Also check out www.diaperfreebaby.org. You can also go to youtube and key in infant pottying. You'll be stunned. Count this as a blessing and she is just doing what everyone else is doing. Going to the potty where she is supposed to go. Congrats. You've save a ton in diapers, wipes, and frustration.

 

[MickeyShow]

Our pediatrician started asking if DS had interest in the potty at his 18 month checkup and encouraged us to introduce the concept at that point so I definitely believe it can be done. I know two people who had potty trained 18 month olds. My DS trained at 29 months in a day so I am a big believer in it happening when they are ready, whenever that might be.

 

[disfan07]

I was potty trained at about 2 1/2. My mom has told me that she believs that I could have been potty trained before 2 but that i was just too dang stubborn...lol.

She says the only reason I was out o fdiapers at 2 1/2 was because I wanted to go into teh big pool wiht my cousin at my gradnparents country club and they told me I couldnt go in teh big pool until i was in big girl underwear adn the next day I was usingn the toilet adn in underwear. No accidents at all.
teh fact that I went straight from diapers to underwear witout accidetns is what makes my mom think I was ready sooner, I just refused to go.

20 years later adn I'm still as stubborn...lol


Working at a daycare, it amazes me the age span when it comes to potty training.

The majority of the kids at the preschool adn daycare are potty trained between 2 and 3. We've had a few who were trained between 3 adn 4. What gets those kids to finally be potty trained is seeing all of their friends go swimming (they are not allowed in teh kiddie pool unless they are trained), and not having to miss so much play time to be changed. Bathroom trips are much quicker than 3 year old diaper changes.

 

[Tarabra]

All I can think of is my nephew asking his mom to put a diaper on him at 4 so he could poop and then hiding behind the couch to go. Yuck! I know what my 2 year old leaves in the potty and I certainly would not want to be cleaning that out of a diaper. The kids pee and poop from day 1 so if she's going into the bathroom then why not. I just call it potty sitting. There is a huge misnomer about starting early and training. I wasn't expecting my kids to be out of diapers completely that early, but if they were going on the potty every time I sat them down on it, then why not. It was much more comfortable for them and they really can do it. Once again...no pressure.

 

[crisi]

I'm always remined of my cousin. Her first was a boy and trained well before two. It was so easy. Her second was a girl, and trained even younger. My cousin had it down. She knew how to potty train kids.

Her third was a girl and at four, and was a "diaper artist" (out of the diaper, onto the wall). She did eventually train at four, but not before making her mother pay for every comment she ever made about 'potty training kids is easy if you just.....'

I call it potty training karma.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I was certain I would be potty cursed with DD as DS was a dream to train. I would say he was 100% trained the week after his 3rd birthday. I never dreamed DD would pick it up so quickly. This is the 2nd day in a row she's been insistant of sitting on the toilet (I think we've had 4 trips with 1 success so far).

We've been singing and playing drop my toy (on the floor) games. I will probably start reading to her in the next day or so. I'm over the moon with her progress and she's actively interested in giving it a go. Only time will tell!

 

[gigi1313]

it's funny i should stumble upon this thread as ds3 22mos is suddenly showing major potty training signs... dd1 trained at 22 mos and ds2 trained at 2.5yo but had a hard time staying dry at night... i would be thrilled if ds3's interest is "real"

thanks to all who shared

 

[tyzzle]

My 28 month old daughter was fully potty trained by 19 mos (overnight, no pullups) She showed interest in the potty at about 13 months. We didn't push her, in fact we were just as surprised as OP. It took many months of naked butts, puddles on the floor, soggy underpants, but to me it was worth it. Some people thought I was nuts to even be trying, but diapers upset her once she discovered she could use the big girl potty.

 

[starsweeper]

Wow! I'm impressed! My kids are just now training. DS is 41 months and DD is 38 months. We were snowed in for a 4-day weekend after New Years and I went straight to underwear because pull-ups weren't working. DD was trained the next Monday for preschool, with no accidents since. DS had several accidents but is staying dry most of the day, he just insists on doing #2 in his underwear. Hopefully we can overcome that soon. I'm loving the idea of WDW without diapers in May!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Wow! I'm impressed! My kids are just now training. DS is 41 months and DD is 38 months. We were snowed in for a 4-day weekend after New Years and I went straight to underwear because pull-ups weren't working. DD was trained the next Monday for preschool, with no accidents since. DS had several accidents but is staying dry most of the day, he just insists on doing #2 in his underwear. Hopefully we can overcome that soon. I'm loving the idea of WDW without diapers in May!

DS pulled that one time, and I let him walk around with dirty pants for about 10 minutes. It hasn't happened since.