OT: Potty Training Age?

[Aristomommy]

DD was 3 when she was fully potty trained. I think she knew for a long time what to do but it was a control issue for her. When she was ready and we didn't make a big deal of it, she asked for big girl underwear.

DS will be 2 on Wednesday. He sits on the potty before his bath and has used it once or twice. Not sure if he's made the connection yet. I also debate the sitting vs. standing for #1. I think it's messy at this age, but DH thinks it would be easier to just teach him how to stand. Any advice there?

 

[alloyd1170]

Our son was 18 mos when we introduced a potty to him. He would sit in his diaper on it when we used the potty (our daughter does the same now at 18 mos). We did not show him the stand up routine (though he did try after watching daddy). When he did start going this way, what a mess! We tried the Cherrios routine which helped (shoot the Cheerios in the potty). By the way, we have several potties-a potty seat that went on the big potty (that was hard for him to use initially since it slid around and was high up), a potty that looked like the big version and had a flushing sound, and the potty that is part of the dvd/book series Once Upon a Potty. This one was his favorite and moved around the house with him. We would cover it in stickers when he used it. Another one we tried was rewarding him with Matchbox cars. That only worked for a little while, and now we have amassed lots of them.

A few times after he finished a drink I would remove his diaper and he actually would go in his potty. We never forced the issue really, but did start putting more pressure on him around 2. He really had no interest and was constantly on the go. I was worried at 3 he would not be able to go to preschool because he couldnt wear pullups. We spent the summer really working on it. He was able to go and only had one accident at school (he was too busy playing). However, he refused to go #2 at school, and if he hadnt done so before school, he would hold it until he got home. He didnt like to wipe himself after #2. This went on until he just turned 4 and at that point I finally said Im done wiping your butt, you do it yourself. Ever since, he hasnt had any issues with #2. He stopped wearing pullups at night a few months later too. No accidents to report either. I just hope DD isnt as bad! For what its worth, I just ordered her an Emma drinks and wets doll (they make a Paul version). Its by Corolle and Dr Phil (and many others) say its the best for training. They say if they can see a doll or older sibling going, it helps a lot.

alison

 

[LaraK]

My DD was about two and a half. My DS is two and a half right now and does not show any signs that he is ready....in fact, he seems resistant.

The teacher at school saw him start his "hide and squat" routine, so she put him on the potty. Well he DID poop in the potty, but he then had a terrible reaction...he thought something was wrong with him. He was trying to figure out where that thing came from. (you should have heard them describing his looking at the ceiling and behind the toilet ) Anyway, we tried to praise him for doing it, but he would just get this pained/paniced look on his face and start to cry. We haven't pushed the issue since.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

My DD was about two and a half. My DS is two and a half right now and does not show any signs that he is ready....in fact, he seems resistant.

The teacher at school saw him start his "hide and squat" routine, so she put him on the potty. Well he DID poop in the potty, but he then had a terrible reaction...he thought something was wrong with him. He was trying to figure out where that thing came from. (you should have heard them describing his looking at the ceiling and behind the toilet ) Anyway, we tried to praise him for doing it, but he would just get this pained/paniced look on his face and start to cry. We haven't pushed the issue since.

 

[3littleHalls]

My 3rd kid is "in training" now. My oldest was pretty easy except with the #2 portion of going on the potty. She was done at age 3. My middle child a boy took much longer to get the concept other than he loved urinals! He would have been much easier if we had a urinal at home. He was fully done at age 3yr 3mos. And my youngest has so far been a breeze. She gets it and is basically doing it by her own drive. She is just now 2 1/2. I think another huge difference is that I am not using pull-ups except at night. Good luck!

 

[tedhowe]

Our oldest DD was just past 3 when she decided she was done with diapers. She had shown interest a couple of times in the previous year, but we didn't push until she really decided she wanted to wear underwear instead of diapers... it took about a week at that point with a few accidents, but after that it was fine.

Our younger daugter is 26 months old and last week went both #1 and #2 on the potty for the first time (two different times she said she needed to go potty).

I told my wife that we have 3 weeks to get her fully trained now (we arrive at WDW on Feb 4th). (Just kidding, but a guy can hope, huh?)

It seems like she's decided she'd rather be doing her business on the potty, so I think its only a matter of time now.

I've often heard that second or third children train themselves at an earlier age because of the example of their siblings... but I hadn't really hoped. Now I see light at the end of the diaper tunnel and I can't wait.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

With 7 kids I've truly run the gamut. One child was trained at 18 months (girl) and one child wasn't trained until almost 4 (boy). The average seemed to be right around age 3. I remember with the oldest ones I felt pressure to hurry up and get them trained and was much more relaxed with the younger kids. Believe me they'll all be trained before they start kindergarten.

 

[rt2dz]

DS#1 was about 2 years and 3 months when fully trained. After we introduced the concept at his second birthday, I never changed a poopy diaper again. And barely changed wet ones. The day I ran out of pull-ups and couldn't get to the store is when he never had an accident at night again.

DS#2 was 2 1/2, closer to 3 when fully trained, half trained at shortly after 2 (just was afraid to poop in the potty, and went and put on a pull-up till his comfort level was up). Night was a big issue for him too, although not nap time.

DS#3 is 16 months and were going to start training him in March. Actually, he probably has already started for the most part by just watching his brothers and wanting to do everything they do.

I'm a big believer there is a window. Wait too long and they just don't care anymore (especially with boys who don't mind being dirty) and then you are really going to wait. Especially watching friends & family who have trained children at various ages. Plus, as our pedi pointed out in his 40+ years experience, kids have never changed, but 25 years ago 80% of kids were trained between 18-24 months old. He says it is partially the parents and mainly the fact the diapers are just way, way, way better. He swears by changing to cloth diapers (I don't do it; just too yucky for me) at 15 months & kids self training by their second birthday.

Personally, I don't push it, just bring out the seats that set on the big toilet (and a stool so they have somewhere to put their feet) and the portable potties. We introduce the concept and just let them take it from there. Our oldest always stood, our middle one started out sitting, but soon wanted to be like Daddy & big brother.

We don't reward, beyond the potty dance & lots of cheering. We tried the target/cheerio thing, didn't do anything but encourage them to dump the cheerios and other things in the toilet. Which is why we don't do anything beyond saying "here's where you go when you're a big boy. And this is how you do it."

 

[MindyLuvsMickey]

We just started potty training this week with DS. He is 2 1/2. He's been really good so far. He goes nearly every time we put him on the potty, but he goes very frequently. His diaper is always wet. After we get back from WDW next week, I'm taking the diapers away.

Big Boy Underpants rule!!

 

[mericletwins]

I think I saw this someplace a while ago, but can't find it.

For those of you with boys, how old were they when they were completely potty trained??

TIA

One was was three and a half and the other was a month beyond three.

 

[mericletwins]

Our oldest DD was just past 3 when she decided she was done with diapers. She had shown interest a couple of times in the previous year, but we didn't push until she really decided she wanted to wear underwear instead of diapers... it took about a week at that point with a few accidents, but after that it was fine.

Our younger daugter is 26 months old and last week went both #1 and #2 on the potty for the first time (two different times she said she needed to go potty).

I told my wife that we have 3 weeks to get her fully trained now (we arrive at WDW on Feb 4th). (Just kidding, but a guy can hope, huh?)

It seems like she's decided she'd rather be doing her business on the potty, so I think its only a matter of time now.

I've often heard that second or third children train themselves at an earlier age because of the example of their siblings... but I hadn't really hoped. Now I see light at the end of the diaper tunnel and I can't wait.

I found it was much easier to have a child in diapers at Disney then a newly potty trained one. With the newly potty trained we went on a tour of the Disney bathrooms!!!