There's a reason it's called...

My husband and I made the mistake of thinking we could do potty training boot camp in one weekend, complete with shower curtains spread all over our floors to handle spills, inspirational potty books, and continuous loads of laundry. We literally did not leave the house for two days, our lives centered around the toilet. While Max dutifully tinkled a few times, come Monday, he went right back to his old Pull-up ways. Basically, you have to make potty training your job, and keep at it.

  Get the right props

My son is obsessed with the movies Cars 2. And so while we tried all sorts of potty gadgets, including a musical potty and fun decals to help his aim, it was a Cars 2 seat that best got Max in the potty mood. He picked it out himself online, and so it was more of a sure thing.

Remember, not all kids want a fuss

This is another instance where going by the book doesn't necessarily apply. After Max peed in the potty, I had a habit of doing a potty dance that went something like "MAX WENT PEE-PEE IN THE POT-TY!" as I jumped up and down. One day, Max looked at me and said, point blank, "NO YAY!" Turned out he didn't really appreciate my ebullience, and so I stifled my inner potty dancer and started saying, simply, "Good job." And for him, that was props enough.

Potty-Training Gear

 

Round three. *Ding, ding, ding!!!*

 

That’s right, this will be the third time we are venturing into potty-training with our three year old.

 

I took all of the advice I read and heard. I listened to my gut and didn’t push Wyndham when he completely rejected anything to do with graduating from diapers.

 

Lately, he’s been taking an active interest in using the toilet, talking about being a big boy and using the toilet, ‘just like *insert-adult-person-he-adores-here*’ If those aren’t a couple of obvious signs that our son is ready to make the leap without being pushed in, I don’t know what are.

 

I’ll admit to not having been ready for it myself in the past. We had some regular underwear and a few books and a potty. That was it. Which, some might say is enough. Since we did cloth for a long time with both of our littles, the mister and I both naturally gravitated towards cloth underwear and night-time pull-ups for a couple of reasons.

 Potty Training Chart & Reward Stickers

I'm so down with this. Wyndham loves Dora and stickers. It's not difficult to surmise that tacking this up in the bathroom will entice him to spend more time in there and receive the reward of stickers every time he goes!

 Folding Potty Seat

 Car Seat Protector

Sheets

 

 No one wants to sleep in a wet bed, or get woken up by being in a wet bed, pajamas and undies. All cotton, no poly.

Potty Training Advice


Potty training is a major milestone in a child's life. It symbolizes new found independence and control over their bodies. Some children embrace the new responsibility with ease, while other children would rather continue to pee into their diaper(while playing of course!). regardless of which route your child chooses to take, it is important to know the facts and helpful advice before the day of potty training falls into your lap.

How Do I Know If My Child Is Ready?

On average, children are potty-trained between the ages of two and three years old. According to a study done by the researchers at University of Pennsylvania's Medical School, sixty percent of three year old are potty trained, indicating that children are primed for the new concept by the age of two(3). While age is important(some pediatricians claim that there is a critical window between 24-30 months), readiness is the biggest factor that parents should be analyzing come the time for potty training. There are several signs of readiness that most children exhibit when they are ready to be toilet trained. For example, if you child follows you to the bathroom in curiosity, wants to see what is in her diaper, and/or understands short commands, then it is time to start the potty training experience(1).

Advice on Successful Potty Training

If you think that your child is ready to embark on a diaperless future, then here are some great tools and advice that will ease the transition to a happy, healthy potty trained toddler(or infant or preschooler):

Be a Team

For potty training to be a positive, rewarding experience, it must be approached as a team, meaning mom and dad are the instructors and baby is the learner. Toddlers respond well to parents demonstrating the new concept and then following the advice(1). For example, start the process by bringing your child to the bathroom every time that you go to the bathroom. Instruct her to sit down on her little potty and go potty too. It is more than likely that she will attempt to mimic your actions (2). Demonstrating how to and the proper place to do so is an excellent branch point in the potty training process.

Develop a Reward System

Children love to be praised! When embracing the potty training experience, set up a positive discipline system along with it. At the beginning of potty training, you will be taking your child to the bathroom for potty breaks; give your child a reward whenever he goes to the potty during this time. Toward the end of the training, when he has the process well-learned, a reward should be given whenever he asks you to take him to the potty and is successful in using the restroom(1). Since this is a form of positive discipline, avoid getting angry or chastising the child when an accident occurs. If an accident does occur, remind him where we go to the bathroom and explain that he only gets a reward if he goes to the bathroom in the potty.

Girls and Boys Are Different

You may have heard that boys take longer (or are harder) to potty train than girls, and the statistics agree (on average girls are potty trained by 24 months, while boys straggle in at 36 months), but there is an underlying cause to this problem. Oftentimes, the potty training is handled by mom(2). Therefore, it would make sense that girls would learn to go pee in the potty before boys do because they have an anatomically correct role model. This is when dad become a super important toll in the raising of a son. Allow Dad to be the main component in the potty training team. He can teach your son to stand up and pee, which will give him the confidence to "do it like Daddy."

As previously mentioned potty training is a process that requires teamwork and willingness. You can bring your child to the potty but she is the one has to be ready to use it. Aim to start toilet training when your child gives the cues of readiness and be prepared to deal with accidents. That toddler of yours will engage in potty training happily if you bring a positive attitude to the concept and show him that you can do it too!




 

ianursing, Thank you for your kind words.. I do hope this helps you.. Where was it 35 years ago? LOL  Keep us posted on the progress.. Teresa

ianursing,You can't imagine..We had family members, friends and the pedi. doc that was only happy to give their opinion..LOL Teresa