Any tips on potty training?

Comment by Keem on August 16, 2012 at 6:54pm

When my daughter was about 2 1/2 I wanted so badly to potty train her.  I had heard lots of other moms say how their kid was already PT.  It made me feel like I was doing something wrong.

The worst thing you can do is compare your kid to others. From the picture, I'm guessing your daughter is around 2?  I was so stressed about it because she would pee in the morning on the potty, but, not have luck any other time. Her prepreschool teacher gave me the best advice.  She said that each child is different and that at age 2, their muscles generally aren't developed enough there to have full control.  (no matter how much you bribe them or get upset with them) She said to take a break from it for a few months and then see how it went.

Anyhow--I approached it 2 ways:

1.  I used something called PODS.  Here's a link:  http://pottytrainingsolutions.com/product_info.php?products_id=335

Basically, they're sort of like panty liners or pads that absorb pee.  They wear them in their undies.  You can use it for doing the pee part and gaining control over those muscles. You have to take her to the bathroom once an hour (to at least try) and a little after each meal and watch their fluid intake during that time.  Act as though the liners aren't there and make a big deal about her not wearing diapers anymore-and graduating to big girl undies.  One warning: This works to train them with pee.  The liners don't catch poop so it could lead to messes. 

Another thing you could try is cloth diapers.  Why? Because when they pee in regular diapers, they don't really feel the wetness.  If they do in cloth ones, they feel it and it's a cold/wet feeling and they might not like it.  Again, it doesn't help with poop, but, with the cloth diapers you can put rice liners inside to catch it so if there's poop, you just replace the liners without having to wash the whole diaper.  I got some at walmart online (not in store) and when I was done using them, they had a good resale value on ebay so it was like using them for free. :)  In the end (no pun intended--ha ha) the pods got us started, but, the cloth diapers sealed the deal. When she was really close, I started rewarding her for like a week of dry days, she would get something good of her choice.  I  never did diapers at night-that's just regressing them.  I did either the pods or cloth diapers and as soon as they woke, we RAN to the bathroom. :P  Good luck!

Comment by Keem on August 16, 2012 at 6:55pm

BTW--my daughter was about a month shy of turning 3 before she was fully potty trained.  :)

Comment by Lynette S on August 16, 2012 at 7:39pm

So, I'm with Keem on the wait a bit, depending on the age, get her used to the idea.  My kid wanted (on his own) to be diaper free at 2, I wasn't ready for it.  So I did some 'pre' training by bringing out the seat, leaving it in the bathroom and explaining to him what it was, but not making him use it.  I let him familiarize himself with sitting on the toilet, but usually only when he asked, and tried to let it be self-directed.  At 2.5 my kid no longer fit into the largest "normal" sized diaper so it was time.  (He's still a giant, age 6 size 10 pants, no cuff.)

I bought some padded underwear, but only used it for #2, since i knew when his schedule was.  What I did was the following.  An entire weekend dedicated to only potty training.  The kid walked around almost entirely naked that weekend, and we stayed home for the weekend.  No dinner out, no park, no walks, all home all weekend.  The first time he peed all over himself, he freaked out.  Was. Not. Happy.  Pretty much, the next time, he started, he felt himself get wet, and held it until we could get to the bathroom.  Poop was pretty much the same, but with the padded underwear.  Freaked out the first time it came out freaked out, these were not like diapers at all!  Second time, was able to make it to the toilet.  Most kids don't like the feeling of pooping/peeing on themselves and diapers are so absorbent that they don't feel it.  By the end of the weekend he was consistently going on the potty.  Within two there were zero problems.  I will say, though, my kid was ready, he told me constantly for about 6 months that he didn't want his diapers anymore, he wanted to be a big boy (all hi friends were a year older then him, so they were all potty trained) like his friends.  

My kid did wear pull-up's (night-time underwear) until he was 4, but rarely had accidents, and would go to the bathroom/toilet at night, even with them on.  I used them more so I did not have to change the entire bed in the middle of the night, since I had tried diaper free at night but waking up every couple of weeks to change the whole bed wasn't my idea of fun. ;-)  He would wake up and tell me he had an 'accident' in his pull up an I would have to change them.  But usually the pull-ups wore out before he had an accident at night.

Good luck!

Comment by Cindy on August 16, 2012 at 7:56pm

Look at Keem and Lynnette's responses!! I love 'em (although I admit that I didn't really read them. lol) I'm just here to plop down a two-liner of 'Sorry. I don't have kids.' Good luck!

Comment by Nubia on August 16, 2012 at 11:38pm

Thank you, thank you.  At least I know I'm doing some things the right way!  I keep getting peer pressured!!  "She doesn't talk three languages yet?"  "She still wears diapers??"  Goodness, you'd think she's running for president.  Awesome, I have some products to look up.  Thank you again!!

Comment by Jill Mace on August 17, 2012 at 12:53am

All kids are different.  We were lucky.  Molly told us she would pee on the potty when she was 3.  We said ok.  On her 3rd birthday she peed on the potty and then everyday after that.  When we asked her when she would poop she said when I am 4.  We said ok.  She would wear underwear all day- put a pull up on to poop and then back to panties.  I think a lot of potty training woes comes from a battle of control.  We gave total control to Molly and it was soooooo easy.  I am not saying this would work for every child... but that was our experience.  I hope this is helpful.  You will get through it!!!!  Hang in there!

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