OT: Potty Training Support Thread!

[Harlie]

I have potty trained three kids now. My first was a breeze (a girl). With her I put the potty in the bathroom once she was mobile and able to follow me everywhere. If I went on the potty she would sit on it. I never "made" her sit on it. At about two years old I one day decided to see what she would do if she had no diapers on (classic sign of hiding behind something to poop in the diaper was my clue that maybe it was time to try), sure enough she would go straight to the potty so I went to the store with her and let her pick her own pretty panties and she was pretty happy about that. Once school started though she started to wet the bed and now at eight she is still wetting the bed.

My DSS (7)was 3 almost four and his father (who was the primary caregiver) was slow to start. With my urging he was four by the time potty training was complete and it was not fun. Now because I wasn't there to introduce the potty to him like I did with DD is the reason why I believe it took longer.

DS(3) was 2 and the story was similar to DD. As soon as he was walking and following me around I put the potty in the bathroom, waited till he hid to poop and then took the diaper off and let him run around bare butt. This back fired a few times as he pooped on the floor 3 times and peed twice. The worst one was when the family dog cleean up DS's poop mess before I got there with the cleaner. It took about 2 weeks of this and he caught on pretty quick. Our babysitter commented at how much younger DS (3) was then DSS(7) and all of her other boys at the Daycare. DS has been potty trained now for over a year!

I recommend moms of youger kids to get that potty in the bathroom as soon as you little one starts walking it really works!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Once school started though she started to wet the bed and now at eight she is still wetting the bed.

I've heard that this has more to do with emotional/stress issues than not being able to hold it through the night. Maybe talk to her doctor and see what he recommends. They really don't have any control over it.

 

[abcboys]

I just started potty training my 2 year old after the new years. He is exactly 2 1/2. Has been doing well. Hasn't quite got the poopy part down. He has pooped in the potty twice. Once he was tooting and stinking so I took him to the potty and he pooped so he hasn't actually told me about pooping yet. He will stay dry for a long time. The past 3 days he has woken up dry. Still has some wetting accidents if we don't take him right away but its only been a week. This is my 3rd boy to potty train.

 

[Drewsmommybear]

Boy, I'm feeling the pain with you guys. My son decided that he was not going to go to the potty. Then we enrolled him in a preschool program where he has to be somewhat trained. I started by putting both of us on a timer and asking him every 45 minutes if he had to go. That really worked.

Then he went to school and since that first day, he'll tell me when he needs to go now. Our problem is pooping. He won't do it. My husband has been bribing him with shake and go crash ups but there's only one more left before he has all of the cars. Then what? No more pooping? As with all areas of parenting, this has been an interesting road.

 

[chiefdragon]

I am so excited....I started PT DD last Wednesday night...I am happy to say that we have not had any accidents for the past two days. We event went out to Wal-Mart and to swim lessons today and she asked to go potty and did. I am so excited....it really worked

 

[llmurphy17]

Well I have 3 children, The first one took about three months, my third one is still young and in diapers.

But my second child is extremely lazy. It's been a struggle for at least 6 months. Right before went went to wdw last Dec. 07 she was 80% but when we returned she was back to 10%. Not sure what to do.

 

[lindsmom]

I'm chuckling to myself as I read, because the response of each parent who posts is different, just like kids who are potty learning.

I've gone through the potty process with eight children and currently four two year olds (child care provider). And the ONLY thing I've found to be consistent is that you're best to wait as LONG as you can stand, because it will go quicker the older they are. Usually. Generally the kids over 3, close to 4 are more eager to learn because their peers are as well. That being said, the key is to find your child's currency. you may say?

As I mentioned, each child I've taught has been unique, just as you with more than one child can understand. One child (unfortunately, the first I taught) disliked being wet and LOVED stickers. Easy peasy. Another hated getting his diaper changed, so each time he fussed I said to him "I'm sorry, but if you dislike getting your diaper changed, you can start going potty. Otherwise, you need to lie there quietly." Heh heh.

Then there was extra lap reading time; extra pushes on the swing; a "grand prize" after a week of successful potty. My own dd stopped with her nighttime diapers when I told her how much her diapers cost per month. Since she was staying dry anyways, if she was willing to stop wearing them (hence didn't have to buy them), we would save that money and she could buy her bitty baby a crib. It worked.

So, nom, it sounds like you're doing really well. Your daughter seems motivated for the party and it should work - the trick will be to continue afterwards.

Also, please keep in mind that this is potty learning, and like any other learning process it takes time. Good Luck!

 

[Marshay]

We have a 2.5 year old and started sitting on the potty with clothes on, then with clothes off. Two or three times I'd ask if she wants to use the potty and she'd scream "no!", so I'd wait another week and try again. It's been slow. We've been using stickers for just sitting on potty and candy or special Baby Einstein cards for P&P.

Just this week, we told DD that if she becomes potty trained she can go to Disney World (trip is planned for May anyway!) -- and we've had 3 pees and 1 poop...with her excitedly shouting, "now go to Disney World!" (just like the commercials!)

However, we are NOT consistent at all...I've been trying to keep it low-key but wondering if we should be more aggressive and remove diapers altogether...

 

[labdogs42]

My DS will be 3 in February. We have tried the potty thing off and on for months now. Some days he's into it, some days he's not! I was kind of hoping that he'd be using the potty in time for our January Disney trip, but now I"m thinking pull-ups or diapers might be easier for the trip! Maybe we'll try underwear when we get home! We'll see. I'm kind of leaving it up to him now. I can't figure out what his "currency" is. He was into stickers and candy treats for a while, but not now. I'm glad to have some fellow parents to commiserate with here!

 

[GabbyMom]

What where the signs you saw in your kids?

I'm new to this whole pt thingie. DD2 she'll be 3 next month, likes to play in the bathroom, she will take her diaper off if it's wet, She likes to sit on the potty and play (espically if it's bed time and she doesn't want to go down). I kinda think those are signs.

Every once in a while she'll pee in the big potty, and once in a blue moon she'll poo.

It seems like i have to keep after her about it.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

What where the signs you saw in your kids?

Some of the readiness signs are:

-holding it for a longer period of time and then going all at once. VS a little bit every few minutes.

-Lining their toys up in a row, all facing the same direction.

-Going to "their" special place to poop.

 

[Nom]

... and it is not too good. WE had about 4 days or so of really good progress, and one day with no accidents. Well, now for the past two days she has had accidents at ma's house. I don't get it!

After the first day with an accident, I told her that if she made it through the next day with no accidents, she would be able to order a movie On Demand that she wants to see. Well, it's been two days that I have been offering that reward and no dice.

With us at home we have not had any accidents since sat, so it will be intersting to see what the weekend brings... but what is up with this? WHy is she suddenly almost regressing? WE are still moving full steam ahead, but it is getting a little discouraging.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

Is it just at your mom's house? Maybe she is testing the waters to see if the same rules apply at grandma's house as at home. You know how grandma's are... maybe she thinks grandma will let here get away with it.

 

[Nom]

I don't know if that was it... I was thinking it was maybe that, because we were having an awesome day with no accidents, until about an hour ago- poop in the panties.

ugh. it's discouraging, although I am keeping at it. We're at the library now and checking out some potty books- maybe that will help.

 

[grlpwrd]

I have 5 kids and 4 of them are already PT'ed. They were all different. Different methods, ages they started, currency, etc.

The best thing, I think, is to use cloth diapers as babies. They can really feel when they soil themselves versus the disposables which basically numb them to wetness. The transition was much easier when they could feel it. Ewww. lol

GL to all! I am working with my 2.5yo dd ... oh happy happy joy joy!