Earlier this summer we went to visit my parents, and they have a pool in their backyard. I told Annie that there was one rule for the pool – you can’t pee in it. I was being funny, but she actually understood me and followed my directions. Every once in a while, she would say “out, out” and I would put her on the edge of the pool. She would then bend over and begin to pee – you could see it run out of her swim diaper. It was the funniest thing.
So I just got back from a week’s vacation at the beach with my entire family, and during this visit, Annie continued to get out and pee on the side of the pool. My entire family was in hysterics and my oldest sister, who has four kids announced to me that Annie is definitely ready to be potty trained. I have always looked to my sister for parenting advice since she has been through almost everything, and most things four times. And I shouldn’t be surprised that Annie is ready since she is 23 months – but I think it just snuck up on me. I remember Zoe being interested in the potty at the same time, but I didn’t encourage it which put the training off six more months.
So now that I am back from vacation, and I thought I would do some research to confirm my sister’s recommendation. I looked online at babycenter.com and webmd.com to refamilarize myself with the signs for potty readiness, they provided the following considerations.
Just because your toddler can stay dry during a nap doesn’t mean he or she is ready to use the potty on a regular basis. They have to show signs of being interested and be able to follow simple instructions.
Other signs include:
Being able to walk steadily.
Has dry periods, but also urinates a lot at one time.
Can pull his or her pants up and down.
Is interested in the potty itself and watching others go potty.
Asks to get their dirty diaper changed.
Will tell you when he or she is going potty or display visual signs such as squatting.
Has words for urine and stool.
I also read that in 1940’s the average age for potty training was 18 months and now it is 30 to 36, so I definitely don’t feel the need to rush it. Based on this information, Annie is ready, I just need to make sure that I am. But the idea of not having to spend money on diapers anymore is very motivating.
Jen P. wrote a previous article on potty training her twins that offers a lot of great advice. I plan to keep you posted on my efforts and please share with us any tips or signs that you may have regarding your experience with the right time to start.
8 comments
Jenny, so funny that your post ran today because, I've been potty training my youngest (2 1/2) all weekend. I must say the second child is much easier than the first. The first day, I made him sit on the potty every 30 minutes and I made a game out of it by setting a timer. When the timer would go off, we would race to the bathroom. We also spent A LOT of time outside bottomless. I rewarded him with M&Ms and gummy bears. I had to breakdown and get little wrapped gifts for poops.Day two, he went every hour and he was dry from lunchtime on. I must say that I am "pooped" from this weekend, but it went much better than expected. Best of luck to you.
We finished our PT about 6 weeks ago with my 2 1/2 twin boys. Huge success, but a lot of tenacity was required. That, and a lot of car stickers. We'd tried candy before and mine could care less. What they like are cars/trucks and stickers and so I made a chart, or more specifically a color, laminated Cars chart. Found at http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/CTGY/FREE-Potty-Training-Charts.html Then we took them out to get "special" stickers just for using the potty and we kept thouse is a special box that they could select from when they had a success. As they got better and better, we had to add other sheets of paper for the stickers. They were so excited and so proud of themselves.Finally, we were starting to think about moving them out of their cribs at the same time so we started talking about how if they could get rid of the diapers and be "big boys" with the potty,t hen we would get them big boy beds. This also was a big motivator and they kept us to the promise and we moved them into the new beds 3 weeks ago. So in my opinion, the key is (once yo've established that the child is "ready") is to find out what will really motivate your child. And, to really focus on it, stick around home and "bootcamp" for a week or two. You will be exhausted from all the potty trips, praise, rewards, etc….but it is short-lived and so worth it!
Kaylee – congrats to you! I need to get on it with Henry!
JennyI am in the midst of potty training Fallon (2 1/2). She's been ready for a while but I needed to find a time where we could be home (not traveling) and have our renovation done before trying to start training. I'm happy to report that 3 weeks in we have had 5 days of NO accidents! YAY! I think she may have finally gotten it! Meanwhile, her bro, Cannon, while not really seeming to be very interested has started mentioning "pee outside?!" and of course tattling every time Fallon has accidents on floor. He doesn't seem quite ready but I MAY try to give him a shot before summer is over completely. These warm days make it easier since we are doing bare bottom approach.
I have a nearly 3 1/2 yr. old boy who I started potty training about 6 weeks ago. The "peeing" part was quick and easy with the help of Matchbox cars for rewards! BUT, we are having serious issues with "pooping!" I have tried everything and he still insists on pooping in his big boy pants once or twice a day. I only use Pullups during his nap and at night, but I am SO TIRED of cleaning poop out of his underwear. No rewards seem to work… EVEN CARS!!! He knows that if he poops in his pants that he can't watch any more TV for the day! He poops his pants and walks over to turn off the TV!!! Does anyone have any advice on getting him to poop in the potty rather than his big boy underwear??? THANKS!
To Anonymous with a mr poopy pants…I've seen this issue talked about online in my twin mom group. One mom had a similar issue & had her son help clean himself & his underpants out after each time he did this. He saw how much easier it was to go in the potty & not his pants and finally stopped going in his underwear. That's the only situational advice I have to share. I wish you all the best, I can only imagine how hard and frustrating that is for you!
My son pooped in his underwear when he was 3 and 1/2 for 1 month. Based on advice from his doctor he had to help clean out his underpants w/ a glove. He was stubborn as heck! The Dr. explained he probably had a fear of potty and putting his poop down it that he was unable to communicate or understand himself. He drove us crazy but we tried to be non-punitive/emotional about it. I would just lay out a mat in the bathroom and he'd stand and poop. Stick with him cleaning for a while and try to be matter of fact about how we all need to use the potty. The day I made the appt. with the psychologist (I was sooo over it) is when he finally used the potty to poop… and he was so scared but he's never had an accident since. Good luck.
I had a friend whose son refused to poop on the potty, but everytime she put the pull up on him for his nap he would poop – so she got rid of his naps and kept him in big boy underwear all day. I am not sure if that will help your poop situation, but when I potty-tained Zoe, she was scared of the toilet but had complete control of her blatter. So I had to take her diaper off with no underwear or pants for one weekend and force her to use the potty. She learned to pee and poop on the potty in one weekend. Not sure if that option you might want to try – it could get messy. Good luck and just know that you are not alone.