Potty training

Hi Moms!

I have a son that turned 2 in May. I know that he isn't ready to start potting training yet but could anyone give me some tips on how to know. I am trying to let him tell me when he is ready, but I am so ready to be done with diapers. Any advice that worked for you would be highly appreciated! Thanks!

Hi, my daughter is only 6 months old, so she hasn't been down that road yet. But I had a hand in helping my best friend potty train her children since I'm their godmother. First off, I would advise you not to use a seperate potty. Invest in a potty seat that fits over the toilet, and a small step that your child can learn to stand on in front of the toilet, and turn around to sit on the toilet. If you potty train with a seperate potty, you'll have to teach your child to use the big potty after you've just taught him to use the small one. This cuts out the "middle potty." Also, whenever your child has accidents, whether he's wearing diapers, pull-ups, or underwear, don't yell or smack him. If you get down on the same level as your son and tell him it's okay to have accidents, and kindly remind him that next time he can try to use the potty again, he'll feel more encouraged. Punishing him for his accidents will only make him more afraid to use the big potty.

Hey,

I started potty training my son when he was just over two.  I tried candy rewards, a sticker chart, letting him pick out his own underpants from the store, but what really worked for me was letting him pee outside.  He loved peeing on the tires, off the porch, on the plants, anything that he could aim at!  Good luck.

Hey there, I have potty trained my four boys and I would have to disagree with the previous post. I have found that all of my boys loved having their "own" potty at first and had no trouble at all transitioning to the toilet. One of the best things to do is be patient. But other than that I would suggest serveral things:

1. talk about all the aspects of potty time all the time

2. make it all positive, happy, and lots of yea, you did it.

3. start with getting him to just sit on the potty with pants down EVERY time you go potty. and talk about what you are doing as you are doing it.

4. If there is a man in the house, try and talk him into letting your son watch so he gets the idea of how boys go potty.

5. I got a book and a video by Elmo about potty training and watched them often.

6. One of the things that worked best was to spend time with my boys running around without any clothes on. Then they get to see the pee happening and have an easier time associating the feeling they just go twith the act of peeing. I really think this helps. I know I had to take the risk of having to shampoo spots on the carpet but I really tried to do it outside most of the time.

7. I really think it helps to move to underware as soo as he starts trying, even if it means lots more laundry. Pull-ups, even if they have a "cool feel when a kid wets" its not the same feeling. I think it really slows down the process though it is more convienent. I only used Pull-ups when I had to go to town. And diapers at night are a must until you are really much more sure of the control. But then again 1 nighttime diaper is a vast improvement over all diapers.

8. I know I am a little long-winded but one more thing, we made up a song, or a chant really and used it all the time..... "no more diapers,, no more diapers,, no more diapers" and on and on while we were stomping around playing and on walks and such.

I guess my success ( all my boys were trained in a couple of months at between 22 months and 2 1/2 years depending on their independence level which varies for each child) was mostly about keeping it at the forefront of their sweet little brains until it clicked and making it FUN!

1.  Have him go to the potty with you and your husband every time.  Make it an event

2.  Talk about what your doing give it key words, ex. pee pee and poo poo. Repetition is       the key

3.  Be positive, have him flush, put the lid down, open/close the door

4.  Buy the Elmo potty time dvd and potty set.  Even if he's not ready they will reinforce the key words and make it fun.

5.  Be Patient, its not an easy task, even when you see he's ready he will protest and refuse.  Be firm and don't back track

6.  Have him sit on the potty and get familiar with it.

7.  There is more but you will learn how to adapt your training to your child's needs.