Let me start with the fact that I am not an expert at potty training. I have successfully potty trained one child and am working with my 2nd child now.
I know that the thought of potty training can be very scary, but it was actually pretty easy for me....the first go round, and even now with a boy. I started working with my daughter when she was 15 mos. We bought her a potty chair and would sit her on it in the mornings, at bath time, bed time, and just sporadically through out the day getting her used to it. Any time she made any notion that she wanted to go, we went! And we RAN to show her the importance of getting there quickly! I bought a pack of Pull-Ups one time and quickly realized we would not take that route again. As long as she had a Pull-Up on it was really no different to her than wearing a diaper. There was no mess to clean up which actually showed her what's going on when we don't go to the potty. Instead, as long as we were at home, I always used big girl underwear on her. I will say that I don't have any carpet in my house, so cleaning up messes were not a big deal for us!
When she would use the potty we gave her lots of praise, but when she didn't, we didn't make a real big deal about it. I didn't want to be too negative and turn her off from it completely. It took several months probably of her doing really good at home before I decided to try our hand at wearing big girl underwear in public. That was my biggest battle. I couldn't stand the thought of her having an accident in her car seat or in the middle of a store or something. I actually sat her on a towel JUST IN CASE she had an accident in the car seat for a few of our outings. Also, it was very important to make her go potty before we left the house and at almost every possible stop. I know...it's a lot of hard work but it is so worth it. Our daughter was 17 mos. old when I had our son, so it was very difficult at times for me to work with her and especially to take her and the baby to a public restroom. I don't really recall us ever having any problems in public.
The next task to tackle was staying dry at night. Let's just say I had to change her bed sheets on several occasions, but that's all part of it. One thing we lacked here was not allowing her to eat or drink after a certain time before going to bed to prevent a night time accident.
Our daughter was completely potty trained at 2 1/2 years old, meaning bed time and all. I've said before that I was either blessed or insistent that it work and work fast! Once a child knows how the system operates they should be expected to follow through with it. When a child knows when, where, and how to potty, it's time to do it. There's no reason to keep allowing them to wear diapers when they are not only capable of being potty trained, but they're also way to old to still be in diapers. Maybe a new baby in diapers was my motivation!
I started working with our son at 16 mos. and so far he has been just as successful as our daughter. I was really concerned with him being a boy...seems like I've heard more horror stories on training boys! Now that he knows what to do and how to do it, it's my job to be consistent with him.
I would love for you to join me in sharing your experience with potty training. Your posts can be what has/has not worked for you. If you don't have a POTTY TRAINING post to share be sure to read all of the wonderful posts that will be linked up for encouragement and advice.
You are not alone in your endeavors of potty training. Be encouraged that each of us mothers have had to or are currently facing the same thing you are. For some it seems to be a breeze, but for others it's a real struggle. I hope you find the help and advice you are seeking from the other posts listed below.
If you link up, I would love for you to place our button in your post for others to join us.
I'm linking up at:
14 comments:
This post was exactly what I've been wanting to read! My daughter just turned two and it's high time I teach her to pee on the toilet.
I feel so clueless though! I guess the fear of it not working out is what's keeping me from making the effort but that no way to get anywhere in life. I've bought her big girl panties already....just waiting for the "perfect day."
I'm encouraged by your success story and think I may just give it a whirl this week. Thanks for the motivation!
Jacinda, You can do it. I know it is scary at first. But it can be a fun bonding time for you and your daughter. Children thrive when they know their parents are proud of them. I am potty training my 5th daughter. The smiles on her face when she knows she has done the potty thing right are priceless.
One thing that helped me this time aroung...beings she is my 5th and I get a little side tracked...lol. I set a timer on my phone for 45 minutes. Every time it went off I would ask Melissa if she had to potty, than I would take her... After the potty trip I would reset the timer. When she went we would run out and tell the family and all her big sisters would give her high 5's. Now we are just working on the nighttime thing. She's two and a half.
Just determine to make it fun and not stressful and it will get done. :0)
Heather, I completely forgot that your regular link-up is not until Thursday. Please delete my link. I did not even read post until after I linked up. {Sorry!} I'll be sure to link it up again tomorrow. ;0) Thanks.
I loved your post on potty training. Though, after having 4 children and {3 of those being boys} I have a little different opinion. ;0) My first 2 children were a breeze to train. My 3rd child was one of those horror stories you hear about. {haha} I thought I "had" it "all-together" until it came my 3rd child's days of training. He was SO incredibly different from the rest! {Very humbling experience, let me tell you.} I also have some hopefully helpful tips to share. I will defiantly be writing a post on this! Thanks for the wonderful idea, and for being persistent in your training! Way to go, momma!
Much Love & Blessings,
ESTHER
www.oursimplecountrylife.com
In in the same boat as you! My daughter was first and trained by 2 1/2, but with my son I've haven't had much luck. He's two now and has only used the potty once. :( My youngest daughter is right behind him (only 15 mos. apart), so I think he's being lazy. I hope he gets the hang of it soon or I'll be potty training two at one time! Ugh! *remaining hopeful* Thanks for the encouragement!
Why are so many people linking things that don't have anything to do with potty training? :(
I'm potty training my second currently also. He's just 3. And it's not going well. He knows exactly what to do but he's going through a collossal attitude phase right now. It seems to always happen that when I'm pregnant and sick and exhausted and having a hard time keeping up, the toddler of the house deteriorates into the example of the kid you see pitching a fit in WalMart and think to yourself "Thank You God that's not MY kid!" Well this time it IS my kid. Ugh... :( So while he knows precisely what to do with the potty, he will gladly tell me he's feeling like pooping on the floor today instead of the potty and then do precisely that, despite the consequences he knows he will incur with such an action. I could just pull out my hair and cry... So I guess this would fall under an attitude training issue rather than a potty training issue. But seriously? Not fair to threaten a pregnant mama with poop! Totally out of bounds with that one! :-/
It's interesting to see how children are so different. Some do things a lot easier than others. I'm sure it's probably only because I have two that I have had such great success. I may very well be proved wrong in the future!
I have 4 children (19, 17, 2 1/2 and 5 months) My first I was able to train in about 2 weeks at the age of 2, the second wanted to be like big sister that she really trained herself! Yes, I was one lucky woman!! My third daughter who is 2 1/2 totally gets pee pee on potty but not pooh. I never thought I would have to buy pull ups, but (GASP) I did for the big girl panties just where not getting it. Not sure what is in store for me with baby boy when he is old enough. Potty training is not always easy.
I have 2 posts on potty training & am planning to write a 3rd one as soon as I can find the time & I will most likely post a 4th later on too. Http://www.fraugutentag.blogspot.com
My story is so similar to yours except that My older one is a boy. We did just as you did even down to putting a towel on the car seat 'just in case.' Our second child came when he was 20 months and we ditched the diaper for good the week I delivered her. We didn't push the night time training, and at 3 yrs old we are now just getting some mornings being dry, but honestly I just don't care =) My daughter, 16 months, is in the early stages of training now. She usually tells me AFTER she has gone, I figure it's a good start =)
I just realized that I somehow managed to link the wrong post (oops!) I think it was because of the picture, so I relinked with a generic picture and the correct post. I'm sorry!
@ rgrowingfamily I love the timer idea! I did have a hard time remembering to take my third (since I was toting around the fourth too!). I'll be using this!
Thank you for this post. I don't want to appear negative at all because your experience is YOUR experience, and I am glad it has been a wonderful one! But I really appreciate comments like Esther's as well. I have two children so far, and my oldest turned 3 in June and is still not potty trained. We tried consistently for an entire year and then gave up. Yes, we went completely back in diapers. She is very strong-willed, and her doctor even told us just to give up. She has also suffered from chronic diarrhea since birth. (Long story but we moved a lot doing mission work, etc. when she was a baby and breastfed until she was almost 2, so I didn't really know it was diarrhea until the past year.) For a year, I cleaned up diarrhea from the carpet daily. It has been very, very hard.
Our daughter was just diagnosed last week with gluten and egg sensitivities (along with several other foods that are more minor). In the past week, her bowels are FINALLY almost formed. I know--TMI--but this is a potty training post!
A friend whose niece has the same allergies said her niece was the same way with potty training. She finally potty trained at 4 once her digestive system was healed.
ANYWAY, that was a long comment to say everyone's experience is different! One day--it seems like forever away--I will write a post on our whole, LONG potty training journey. I hope it can encourage others who have had a harder time with it.
Thanks for the link up and tip sharing! :) Blessings!
Erin, I didn't take your comment negative in any way. We all are different as mothers, just as all of our children are different. I'm sure if I am blessed with more children I will realize that even more!
I hate that you have had such a hard go with potty training, but I hate even more that your child is having physical complications. I hope it all gets better from here! :)
Im having a horrible time training my son. We started about 2 and he is 4 and refuses to do number 2. We had number 1 down for about 6wks and hes started regressing there too. Hes my third child, first boy. We dont use diapers during the day and he is perfectly content to stayin his messy pants for hours (not that I would allow it.) We also have a 6mo and she will go every time I take her. She laughs and squeals when shes done. My oldest 2 were day trained within a week of their 3rd birthdays, night trained at 5 and 4.
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