Potty Training - Pine City, MN

I started training my daughter around 2 because she expressed extreme dislike for going in her diaper, and enjoyed using the potty. In my experience, you have to wait untill they show some interest or the progress is pretty much pointless and they just get frustrated and mad and wont use it.

I have helped potty train lots of little ones, the best advice I can give you is to wait until he is ready he will tell you I have to go potty, every child is different and in my experience boys are usually closer to 3 to completely be pt
good luck

Usually kids start to show an interest in using the potty around age 2 and I personally jumped on that interest and got books and potty movies. Most moms I talk to ( including myself) say their kids potty trained around 21/2.

Have you talked to your daycare? How old is your child? Is he showing an interest? My son is potty trained and he's 2 1/2, it can take longer depending on the child. We let him pick out his own toilet seat that fits on the regular seat, he was excited and wanted to sit on it all the time, so we started training, being sure he sat on the toilet every 2 to 3 hours. If he wasn't interested we would offer a treat, ours was a piece of chocolate (Hershey kiss, or chocolate chips) He would gladly sit on the toilet for a treat.
Good Luck.
S.

I used to be a daycare teacher for two year olds (I now have a 16th month old son). Basically your son will tell you when he is ready to start potty training. I would buy a little potty and just leave it out and let him go on it when he wants. As he starts wanting to go, you can start asking him and encouring him. You should also be able to work with you daycare provider so you can all help your son figure this out. Good luck!!

Hi. It's good that he's practicing standing in front of the potty. That's a start.
The professional advice, these days, is to wait until a child is 2 1/2 to three years. Just keep watching the signs. Is he dry in the morning? Does he typically have a wet diaper once every 3-5 hours? Does he stay dry the whole time you're out running errands with him?
Don't force the issue to soon. It causes regression. But, if he wants to go, let him. (They typically are reluctant about doing the 'yucky' on the potty 'til a later time.)
Have you put him in pull-ups yet?

S.:

This is fresh on my memory as I have a 3 year old little girl...who is still going through this stage.

Usually between the ages of 2.5-3.5 years is a good age to start. Every child is different... Your child usually will give some hints that they are ready. If there have been none given, you need to take the initiative to start reading about it, have them pick out Big Boy or Big Girl underwear and even have them go into the bathroom with you to peak their curiosity. Since you and your husband work, I would ease into this slowly and start with Friday and through the weekend. Partner with your daycare provider and let them know of your plans because it is crucially important that you are on the same page during potty training. They may even have some ideas for you. The best thing I have found is to make a BIG deal when they go (some type of reward system) and NOT so big of a deal when they have an accident...because they will learn best by positive reinforcement. Remember, even when they are trained for day, it sometimes takes awhile for nighttime dryness. This is normal.
All The Best,
K.

I run a daycare and know how hard this time can be. I agree with all the other moms. Look for signs from your kid and make it a good time for you too. But I just want to let you know that almost all kids take longer to potty train at the daycare then at home. So it will take time. Don't force it. It'll just be a "CHORE" if you do. Good luck!

Hello
I recieved your question and i thought i would put in my 2 cents. My son is 31/2 years old and has been potty trained since a little before 3years old. I knew he was ready when i noticed his diaper was barely wet in the morning when he woke up. Then i moved into pull ups. Then i stopped giving him beverages after 6pm. I took him on the potty even with a pull up. Then we moved into big boy underware during the day and pull ups at night. As soon as he was dry we moved into all big boy underware. So in other words as soon as he showed a little interest in the potty and will sit on it with help. Then as soon as the diaper is dry or almost dry in the mornings.
I hope this helps a little bit
S.

Hi S.! I also have a two year old, and we have started potty training, but my son is so stubborn that he does not care to learn. He can mess himself, and keep playing. What is Peter Potty?

P. Cordova

When they start getting interested in the toilet and how it works. And they have less frequent urinations. A.

Hi,
I have worked in the early childhood education field for 13 years. In my experience some signs of readiness are:
Telling you when the diaper is wet or poopy
Waking up from naps with a dry diaper
Showing awareness when going to the bathroom
Showing interest in the potty, which it sounds like your child is
The best advice I can give you is to follow the lead of your child. Additionally, I have seen great success in kids right around the age of 3 years. Usually it is just a matter of a few days of training. Boys sometimes like to have a target in the toilet such as a cheerio or something, which makes much less of a mess in the bathroom. :)I have a 20 month old. He is interested in the potty, so we talk about it and he sits on it (with his clothes on), but he just freaks when I try to put himm on without a diaper, so I am just waiting a while. Unless your child is truly ready, the ones being trained will be you and your husband who will be taking him often and hoping for success.
I hope this helps a bit!
A.

My daughter is 18 months and she just started to pat her diaper when she would poop though her diaper doesn't bother her, she could probably sit in the stuff for hours and not care. We bought a potty book and a potty chair just to have her sit on it. When I go she sits down too. She kind of says potty, but it sounds more like baby. I figured it's a start.

Well, if he is showing interest that's your first good sign he is becoming ready. If your daycare is willing to work with him on this as well, I would definitely start trying. If you start trying and he does not do well after a couple of weeks, then stop and start again in a couple of months. The key to potty training is consistency-don't switch him from undies to pull-ups to diapers. Put him in undies all day long, no matter how many accidents he has and then put him in diapers at night. They get confused when you constantly switch them. I reccommend a book called potty training in a day, it worked for me and four other of my girlfriends. They say that boys take longer, but every child is different. My daughter first started at 15 months and then we stopped and she was potty trained before her second birthday. Make it fun for him and constantly praise his acheivements and overlook his accidents.

Good Luck!

I started potty training my son very early and I thought for sure he would be potty-trained by the time he was two, but he wasn't. I think it is so important to remember that each child is different, and if you encourage them, they will be potty trained when they are ready. My son was nearly 3 years old before he was completely potty-trained, and is 3 1/2 now and wets the bed at night occasionally. Potty training was a very difficult process for me because I pushed him too hard and started too young. I will not start potty-training my second son until he is 2 years old. I think you just have to be patient and wait until they are ready, and be loving and encouraging. Never punish them for s. Boys especially take their time getting potty-trained, in general. Mine sure did. Anyway, I hope some of that helps.

Heidi and I were told by many not to force the issue, but rather enhance their natural curiosity. It may seem weird, but my little girl loves to come into the bathroom and see what all the fuss is about. Then I got her flushing after we are done "Bye Bye PeePee"....

Once she was naturally curious about copying us, we broke out the little training potty. It's not like she's fully trained yet but she is making great progress.

No age is the right age. Part of poty training has to do with the endocrine system. you body has to make chemicals that alloy you to be abel to "hold it". keep trying now and then, when he is ready... you will know.

Hi- I have a slightly different take on this. I am a mom of four children so I have had a little experience with this. I have an opinion that there is a window of opportunity for potty training around 20-24 months of age. If you go over that age (I have friends who have) it seems to drag on and on.
All children are different,true, but potty training has as much to do with the method and the mom as with the child. My oldest, my son, potty trained at 22 months and was completely trained in one week. My hardest to potty train was one of my daughters who hates change. She took about 2 1/2 weeks total but was still totally trained at 22 1/2 months.
A child needs to have some time each day that they are naked or at least without a diaper in the weeks leading up to potty training. In the summer works great for this. Then when they do pee, they realize and associate the feeling they had and their body's response to that(peeing). When they do pee, say "pee" so they learn the word and then in a few weeks when you go to potty train, they are familiar with the word, what it feels like to have to go and their body's release to go.
I potty train gently and have never forced my children past what they were comfortable, and for me the easiest age (I was given this age by a mother of 9) is 22 months.

Well my son is 3 and a half and he finally really got it at 3 years and 2 months. I tried since 18 months. I am home with him except for preschool (which was supposted to help him be interested as other childern were doing it) but it just wasn't happening. The only way he would consistantly do it was when he wore no bottoms at all. He walked around like that for probably 8 months at home. The minute he was in a pull up, he didn't use the potty. He finally made up his mind when i took him to visit a preschool this summer at age 3 and told him that he absolutely could not pee in his pants if he wanted to got to the school in the fall. I told him the teacher would be very sad if he peed in his pants. He really took it to heart and made his mind up that he would use the potty. I was quite amazed how long it took him to finally be fully potty trainded and then how he just decided he would do it overnight, but i really knew he was capable just not motivated. HOpefully you can have success sooner, but don't feel like a failure if you don't. J.

I would start gradually, when they start waking up at naptime or morning time dry, bring them to the potty and have them try and go cause you know they definately need to go... As time progresses and they get used to it and you can kinda predict when they will need to try again gradually bring going on the potty more and more into your day. It's really hard with daycares though, they kinda do what they want with your kid but you could definately try at home on the weekends.

peditricians suggest not to start until the child is at least 2 years old. however, ever child is different. i would talk to your childs peditrician about it.

Boys do take a bit more time then girls. If he is 18 mos or younger you may want to wait till around 2.5 or 3.

I really treasure "Kurt & Heidi"'s responce about leading by your actions, that is really the golden ticket in this situation!

Good luck!

Well I was always under the impression that if your child was in daycare at the time of potty training, that they would start it for you...You should ask your daycare provider what they're plans are for children who are potty training and use their ideas since your son will be in their care most of the day. You don't want to be doing one thing and the day care another...he'll get so confused.

You really have to wait till they are ready, but start getting him excited about it now. I have 2 boys my oldest was easy, but my little one I had them sit down start that way. I used quarters I tried cookies candy, but everytime he went potty I would give him a quarter and that worked, but it also helps if he sees other kids doing it to so he can be a big boy like them. But I suggest sitting on the potty when they first start it's much easier and their aim isn't very well standing yet LOL

I think the latest I read was that the average age for girls is 2 1/2 and for boys it is 3 1/2.

I honestly think that when your child is around 2-3, the best way to figure out when they will be ready to potty train is just to try it out. Put him on the potty chair a few times and see how he responds. If it doesn't seem like he's ready (which he probably won't be at just 2), leave it there, but don't try again for a couple months. And don't put pressure on him because like everyone says, it will happen when he's ready.

I also don't think what chair you use factors too much into the equation. Good luck.

We have been potty training for a while now as well. The thing about Potty Training is that the child has to have the muscle control to hold it and to feel the urge. If they don't have that, it doesn't do any good to start. Pick up a potty training book and look for the signs that your child has the muscle control, there is a list of signs that your child is ready. We had about 4 of the approx 10, when we decided to start the process. We put a potty chair in the bathroom and would try at various times and when we thought she might be able to let a little out. Her reward was the excitement we showed her for her accomplishment, we called grandma, high fives, telling daycare providers, etc. They all offer encouragement. Now she tells us she has to go, or when she's having an accident. She still wears diapers at night, but we went to underwear during the day. The pull-ups are just confusing because they are just a different kind of diaper. My daughter didn't do well with pull-ups, we saw a huge difference when we went to just underpants. Also, those little plastic pants things that you can put over underwear and they're suppsed to catch stuff, didn't do anything. They just made more of a mess because the urine would pool in those and there isn't a good way to get them off without spilling it all over? Don't waste your time with those. I think the key is being consistant with getting them on the potty, 20 minutes after a drink, and every 2 hours, and CONSTANT reminders to tell me when she has to go to the bathroom. It's not an overnight thing, expect accidents, and it won't be so shocking to you. Too many accidents in a row could mean that they lack muscle control, then you can put it off for a few months and try again. Good luck.

Hi S.,
One thing I have heard from almost every mother is that the training pants during the day doesn't really work. It just prolongs the process. One mother even said as soon as she stopped using the training pants, her daughter never wet her pants after that.

I also hear that boys are harder to train then girls. And again, they will let you know when they are ready.

Good luck.

I am not familar with the Peter Potty, However when my daughter was a 1 1/2 I started having the potty chair around in the living room to sit on and get aquainted with. So that when she was interested when I went in to go she would tell me she needed to also. I then started a sticker reward system and everytime she went on the potty chair she was able to pick out a sticker and put it on a calender i made out of poster board and she was then excited by the idea of getting stickers and knew she was rewarded. After a week I stopped the stickers and she was potty trained. A.

The answer to your question is: You start potty training when your child shows signs of being ready. Developmentally, the experts seem to agree that a child is ready somewhere between age 18 mo. and 2 yrs. Also, it has to be a good time for you (i.e. you're not in the middle of a move, new baby, etc.) Since your child is in daycare, you must team up with your provider to achieve success.

Here are a couple of resources I used to train my now 3 yr. old son: "Toilet Training in Less Than a Day" by Nathan H. Azrin, Ph.D. and Richard M. Foxx, Ph.D - members of my mom's group swear by this one! "Toilet Training Without Tears" by Charles E. Schaefer, Ph.D and Theresa Foy DiGeronimo - was referred by my doctor.

Hope this helps!

T.

I THINK THAT YOU WILL KNOW... WHEN HE IS INTERESTED IN SITTING ON THE POTTY CHAIR WHEN YOU ARE SITTING ON YOURS AND WHEN HE IS NOT AFRAID OF IT. NEVER FORCE IT!!! I THINK BOYS ARE AROUND TWO AND A HALF OR THREE
GOOD LUCK
A. B

Hello! We thought we were starting late with our son when he turned three and still wasn't potty trained but I guess when they are ready, they will let you know. I have been told by several friends that have had kids that it is best not to push them too hard too soon otherwise they have bed wetting problems. But I have also been told by my son's daycare teachers that he will go through a period where he regresses. My son's daycare teacher actually could tell that he understood what going potty was and that he was ready. He started asking a lot of questions about his private parts and being interested when we went to the bathroom. We also started talking a lot about underwear and made it a big deal when we bought a pair. We also had him wear pull ups versus diapers and that changed how he felt when he wet in his pull up because he could feel it more.

Not sure if that helps any.

First off, as my Grandmother always told me, you never see a normal adult who is not potty trained, so your child will get it eventually no matter what you do (or do not) do. The best thing you can do is to "introduce" him to the potty as much as possible. Let him play with flushing it (or get a book with flushing sounds), get a kids potty ring so that he can sit up on the potty "like a big boy", and have him try to use it (best after giving a large drink of water). Odds are, he's seeing other kids go to the potty at daycare, and he's eventually going to get interested in what's going on, but just letting a child get fimiliar with the potty is the best step. And, if you're not too squeemish about it, you can allow him to go in while his father "does his buisness" to see how Daddy uses the potty. Seeing their fathers do something tends to be one of the largest motivators.

Hi! You don't mention how old your son is. I'm assuming he's ready to be potty trained. We just trained our daughter last week. She is a little over 3 and we thought that was kind of late. We did the 3-day cold turkey method and it actually worked for us - no pullups or diapers! The 1st day was awful with a lot of screaming and crying. She finally gave in and now, a week later, she's even totally dry when she wakes up. I was at Target last night and couldn't believe it when I walked by the diapers and knew I didn't need to buy them anymore.

Since your son is home Fri - Sun, I would start on Friday. On Thursday start talking about "big boy pants". On Friday, tell him he gets to wear his "big boy pants." It really takes determination on your part. After Day 1, things get easier, just make sure you have a lot of underwear handy. We were lucky and only had 4 accidents the first day, but I was running her to the potty every 10 minutes.

Training my son was easier because he didn't like to be wet. What I did with him was put underwear under his pullups. He hated that feeling and eventually got it. My daughter, she couldn't care less about being wet so the pull ups did not work with her at all. The 3-Day method really did work for us.

Good luck.

S. R
I think your child will let you know when to start.
Don't force them.
My first, he's 37 yr. now I was after him all the time.
But the last three I just let them go when they were ready. That way they didn't feel like I was bugging them all the time.
( But you can ask if they have to go, you can tell by the way they act )
Hope this helps.

Hello,
It all depends on your child. My daughter was trained at 18 months we put her on the potty just for the heck of it and she loved it, my son was well over 2. I suggest about 18 months give or take, but don't push your little one, they will when they are ready.

Potty training is as individual as the child learning it. I started introducing my son to the "big potty" when he was about two. I never bought a child-size potty chair, which may have helped a bit, but money was tight. I'd take him every day to sit on the "big potty" even if he didn't do anything, so he could get used to the idea.

As time went on, he'd start asking if he could try. Most times he didn't do anything, he just thought it was fun to sit up so high. Once he started daycare, some of the older boys were potty training, and that really gave him the incentive to start, too. After that, he took off like a pro.

He mastered going potty in the toilet by about age 3 1/2. He lapsed back about a year ago, and started having accidents again though. I asked his pediatrician, and she said it's normal for kids that age to do it. Once they learn something, it's learned, and they can move on to something else. In his mind, he knew how to use the toilet, what was the point in continuing? This only lasted about two weeks, though.

The biggest thing to remember: be patient.

Another thing for when kids hit about three, is use a reward program. When I was little, my mom got me my own calendar, and little star stickers. Everytime I used the toilet during the day, I got to add another sticker to that day on the calendar. At the end of the week, if I had enough stars, I got to make a bowl of popcorn and watch a movie with my dad (which was a big deal when I was three!) :) It doesn't have to be anything big, but my mom said it worked like a charm.

I potty trained my son when he turned three. I waited until he showed interest. Boys are normally older than girls to start the process. I bought cloth training pants so he could feel when he started to go. I used a regular kitchen timer, and set it for every 30 minutes where he goes to the regular toilet and tries. If he goes then he gets a small treat. I used baby marshmellows one each time he goes. Then reset the timer for thirty minutes. Put him in a diaper for nap and bed time. after he masters thirty minutes then you can move it up to 45 minutes and so on. I potty trained my son in a week and he didn't even need night time diapers after two weeks. But again he was ready to do it.
Hope this helps!

it really depends on the child. is he interested in sitting on the potty, does he know when he has to go potty or dont like to sit in wet diapers? My 2nd son was potty trained just before he was 4 yrs old. We just kept taking him and sitting him on the potty and would get so excited when he went on the potty.

I am not sure if I should be giving advice given that I have not been successful in getting my 3.5 year old son fully potty-trained, but we do have a Peter Potty and he seems to like it. He tried to sit in at first which was rather humorous to see but it is helpful. He like to flush it, overly flushed it at first so I had to keep water out of it unless he was using it, but its height adjustable and I recommend it. There is also a product called "PODS" which is, for lack of a better description, a maxipad for kids. It has an adhesive backing and you can use it with regular training pants or underwear. Great for pee-ing mistakes...useless for pooping mistakes. However, no matter what you do or when you start training, don't get crazy about it. Kids figure it out sooner or later.

I have three children, ages are a four yr. old girl, two yr.old boy and a one yr. old boy. My best advice is start when him/her become interested in the toilet itself. When they are curious and try to sit, stand or pretend to be on the toilet. Then I feel that child is ready to be potty trained. We tried to potty train our daughter before she showed any interest, also at this time we just had our second son, She totally reverted back to daipers' and all our hard work went down the drain. With my second child I did not even try, I just waited until he showed interest in the potty. Once he was curious about it my husband and I would sit him on the potty every 20-25 minutes. We did this for two weeks and he also wore big boy undies. He was potty trained fully in a month. I would also say it depends on the child too. My daughter was three before she was fully potty trained and my son is two. So it is all up to them.

I know some daycares will help parents with the potty training thing. One I looked into said they assist with the process. Maybe that is something they can help with?
S.

I am about ready to start potty training my first as well. What I have been told is that your child is ready to be potty trained if they have the words to tell you what is going on. If they are able to recognize when they are going to the bathroom and if they seem mentally prepared (whatever that means :))

We have let our daughter sit on the big potty and we have made that experience fun and easy (ie not scary :)) So she asks to use the big potty (she doesn't do anything but sit there but its been positive so far.

I am looking for some books that will just give me the "how to" on the whole thing but that is where we are and I hope it helped a little :)
H. P

Hi, most boys potty train between 3-3 1/2 years old. At some point as younger children they seem to be easier to train though... once they get to be 3 they tend to get control issues and become stubborn. Consistancy is the key. Positive reinforcements and peer presure work wonders. Ask your child care center to take him to try every hour. They should have a problem with this. I even offered a bonus (I figured I'd save a ton on diapers) to the teacher who potty trained my son.
Cherios make good flushable targets, too..hey whatever works!
Good luck!

Dear S.,

Melissa and Jennifer S. seem to have a good info. My son was almost 4 when he got potty trained. Being a single mom, my step dad helped this process by allowing my son to watch him. The other thing I noticed is that standing up to potty was still a challenge so, he would sit to pee until he was comfortable with using the toilet. He also was very afraid when he would poo, but that passed after a few weeks. I noticed he was ready when he stopped needing to be changed as often as before, hence the ability to "hold it". Good luck and have patience....C.

S.,

I read an article in a Parenting magazine that helped me a lot potty training my 2 year old son. It was written by a female doctor and mother of 3. It stated that as always all children are different, but that there is sort of a check list of things that should be on track for it to be a low stress and successful experience.
1. Your child should be aware when they need to use the bathroom.
2. The child should have words that they use to describe their anatomy, urination, bowel movement, and the toilet.
3. It also suggested that your child be a willing participant and that it is also a good time for you and your family to actively participate.
If you have any major things going on such as a wedding, long road trip, or something that is making life hectic for you then wait until you and your child are ready.

An additional thing that worked for my son was that I had him in underwear the entire time we were at home together so that any accidents that he had were very noticeable and uncomfortable. This worked much better than pull-ups full time and he was completely potty trained including not wearing pull-ups to bed within 6-8 weeks. (That was just how long we waited to make sure that all was safe)
The article also reminded everyone that if you start and it seems like it is the wrong time, then quit and try again when it seems like the right time for everyone.

I also feel that your child will pick up on how well you are doing with the experience. If you are positive, patient and up-beat they will really pick up on that.

I hope this helps.

M.

Really you need to watch his ques. He should be able to tell you when he needs to go and pull his pants up and down.

I worked in a toddler room at a daycare and they should work hand in hand with you. Normally your child should be ready by age 3. The best way is to start at home every now and then to get him used to it. When you bring him to the daycare without diapers you should also be going without diapers at home.

Hi there- I have two boys and this one is always fun- I am a firm believer- if they show interest, by all means let them do it- My oldest started going in the potty at 2 1/2 and my youngest is 20 months and goes in the potty when reminded, only because he wants to be like his big brother, not because we push it. If your son is wanting to try it- encourage him. Its always fun to throw a few "Froot Loops" in the toilet for aiming practice, (:-( unfortunately now that he is old enough to go in the potty, your seats will never be clean again.) Neither of my boys learned standing up though- they mastered peeing seated and then learned to stand up- at two it is hard to distinguish pushing and for the pressure to go to the bladder or the colon, so if he learns standing up, beware... Maybe start with every morning when he wakes up, and encourage him to go empty his bladder- then he will work up the sensation of knowing when he needs to go. Have fun!!!! PS- Never tried the peter potty.