Potty Training My Son - Jacksonville,FL

Let me know what works for you. My almost 2 yr old will sit but does not go, he tells me he went by squeezing himself and going ahhh! Too funny but not what I am looking for. www.DiscoveryToysLink.com/LisaRyan

LisaM

Believe it or not, I tried potty training my son at six weeks old. Needless to say, I think what I saw on Opera was a gimmick.

I read up on the subject and there are signs to look for in a child.

Usually, they show interest, they start to tell you that they went to the bathroom. I tried again throughout his first year; and I got lucky at year; I put him on the potty and he went doo doo all on his own. However, as I said, I kept researching and talked to other mothers and they did say not to push them; it ends up more of a power struggle; so when my Ethan wants to go use the potty, he uses it. Sometimes, he uses his diaper and we still say hooray. Never yell, because it can be frustrating when they take off their diapers and poop on the rug or the bathroom floor.

Ethan is two and now he actually used the big potty without any child potty. We are still there to supervise but this is what he wants.

It always seems that he wants to do what adults do. He wants to sit in adult chairs and brush his teeth. He also uses a cup; he's weaning himself off the sippy cut.

Go to parenting.com and huggies dot.com; they actually have articles and you can order a dvd on the subject for free:)

I never had to watch it; Ethan decides what he wants. He can be very independent.

Have you tried getting him to stand up to pee? Boys just think it's the neatest thing and it worked for my son.

Hi K.,
We just trained my son at 2 1/2. We started introducing him to the toilet (never used a "potty chair") with the bjorn seat attached at about 2 years old. I have twins who are 7 months, so I wasn't ready to full blown train until about a month ago. We followed the book mentioned in a previous response - Potty Training in Less than a Day. There were a few things we didn't agree with, but for the most part, we loved the philosophy and it worked very well for us! I'll have to admit, my husband really "ran" the full day training with me supporting him (I focused on keeping the babies occupied). We spent an entire Saturday -Sunday to really practice and help him take responsibility for everything from pulling down his pants to washing his hands when he was all dressed/done. It took a couple of days for my son to really get it and sometimes his two year old stubborn streak (refusal to go when we directed him) gives us a little trouble from time to time. For the most part, I would say he is trained now. He wears a pull up at night, but it is usually dry in the morning when he goes to the toilet.
Also, if we are going somewhere "far" in the car, (over 20-30 minutes drive) I put on a pull up just to reduce my own stress level. It's always an adventure taking all three kids out, anyways! He had never gone in it, though, he will use the toilet wherever we go as we continually remind him and take him to help him remember. Overall, we're so excited that it's working!
Good luck to you! ~E.

Give him the old seat back, hide the new one, or just get rid of it. Reward him when he uses it, and for now let it slide when he tries but doesn't get it. My two youngest daughters refused a potty seat all together, using the toilet instead. The two youngest daughters and two of my grandaughters were VERY specific about what potty seats they would use, and did not cooperate until they got their way. The old one may not be desirable for you, but it was for him, and it's only temporary :)

If I read this correctly, sounds like the new potty seat you bought isn't as easy to use as the other one. I'd go back to the first one if you haven't already. If I've misunderstood what you said, then just pay no attention! :)

My advice, as the mom of a 32 month old girl who has been potty training (because of school) since she turned 2 (and it seems like it's never going to end): It's great that they show interest... but until they are truly ready, there is no point starting, unless you just want to do it for a longer time. You can potty train in 2 weeks when they're ready. Mine's taking almost a year (and may take even longer) because I can tell you she wasn't quite ready at 2, and perhaps we "missed the window" or now she's gotten bored with it, or whatever.

Good luck, go with your gut, we're always right! :)
K.

Potty training doesn't happen over night--it's really a process of introducing the ideas and concepts and I think you are doing fine! Having it there, getting him comfortable with it, talking about it, etc. Is he ready to underpants-probably not though! So don't sweat it and be patient--he may show interest now and not care in the least about it a month from now--which is perfectly normal. At his age, I would be having a potty time with him at night before his bath and possibly in the morning when he gets up as just part of his regular routine. If he goes-- yeah! if not, no biggie.
As far as signs when to really bump up the potty training and go with the underpants? Here are some signs I found helpful,
Does he stay dry for 1 1/2-2 hours at a time?
Does he have regular BMs?
Does he stop what he is doing to use the bathroom in his diaper?
Is he over his facination to walk and run and enjoy sitting and playing with toys?
Does he let you know when he is wet or dirty?
Does he know when he is in the process of peeing or pooping?
Does you child give any signs or indications that he needs to go (think pee pee dance)?
Does he like to put things (like clothes, shoes books, etc) where they belong?
Does you child imitate your behavior?
Does he follow adults or want to participate with adults while they are using the bathroom?
Is he not afraid of the toilet or sitting on it?

Once you see most of these signs, then I would try just moving him to underpants. This is a big step and there will be accidents, but as long as he recognizes then as accidents, then he is ready--if he just sits there in his wet underpants, then you probably want to wait anther 3-6 months and give it a go then.
We introduced the potty early too--my son was never really uncomfortable sitting on the potty, but when we tried him with nderpants--he just didn't care if he was wet or dirty--and this was so stressfull. Finally when he turned 3, I just said, we are getting rid of the diapers and going to deal with it until he "gets" it. He was trained in 3 days. he only wears a pullup when he sleeps now...
so no matter what you do--he will get it when he is ready--try not to worry or push too hard--just keep upbeat and follow his leads...

Hi K.,
Potty training is SUCH A DRAG so I will just give you my experiences and what did and didn't/is and isn't work(ing)ed. My 1st child started to show interest at 18 mos. so I got all excited and bought a potty seat. Then, I spent the NEXT 18 months of all our lives driving myself and my child CRAZY about going potty. Everyone I knew kept telling me there is no point in pushing it; whene she is ready she will go. Well, I'm a little stubborn so I thought I knew better and continued to drive my self and my daughter crazy. Anyway, just like they all said, literally one day, she decided to start going on her own (at 3 years of age). So, with my 2nd child I decided I wasn't going to push it and right about the same age as my first she began to show interest. So, I put the potty seat out and just let her go to it and pretty much do as she pleased. Again, at about the age of 3 she, one day, started to go on her own all the time. Now, my 3rd child (a boy) as with everything else in his life, has been a little harder. He didn't show readiness signs as early and he is 3 and still not doing so good AT ALL. In fact, my 23 month old daughter is doing WAY better than him by following the same techniques as with my 2nd and 3rd child.By the way she is doing now, she will be 2 and completely potty trained.Moral of the story:the more you push, the more they refuse :-) Good luck.

I know it sounds weird but my son sat on the potty in the beginning and went pee pee. He has an older sister so I guess he has seen her do it that way. When he was older and used to going on the potty, we had daddy show him how to stand and do it. They also have little flushable things that go in the potty for them to aim at (but that's when they are a little older). Good luck.

Please, Please K. do not make the same mistake I made.
I lost my temper and then my son would just cry when he got the urge.

It seems he preferred the first potty and the new one does
nothing but confuse and turn him off.

Good Luck/ if we cannot teach with love joy and patience, all we do is traumatize. Please don't make my mistake. M

K.,

One, go back to the old potty chair.

Two, be patient and let him go at his own pace.

Three, if he begins to pull the diaper off and acts like he is really interested in going, he is ready.

Four, if you are having to run him there everytime and he seems disinterested, he is not ready.

Take Care,
T. (mom of 4)

As a mother of 3 (almost 4) of which 2 are potty-trained, I believe your child is showing interest because it is something new. My 2 potty-trained children were not completely trained until they were approx. 3 years old (my daughter 1 week before 3 and my son a few months after due to a long move and a separation between his father and I during the middle of his training).

I recommend leaving the potty chair where he can see it and sit on it when he wants, but I do not recommend forcing him to sit on it or constantly asking him if he wants to sit on it.

Do not stress yourself out about it right now as he still isn't old enough to fully comprehend why we use the potty.

HTH

S.
www.gourmetcandlemom.scent-team.com

All in all, if he's willing to sit on the potty give it a try. My son's daycare takes him to the potty every 30 min. We do a rough time frame at home too. If there is a time he doesn't want to sit on the potty do push it. He just needs to figure it all out before it fullly clicks for him.
If the potty you recently bought for him is not suiting him you might want to concider purchasing a new one. Just let him be apart of picking one out.

Don't forget that toddlers are figuring out what they want and when they want it. Don't push but also stay constent.

Why don't you leave the old potty chair, some children don't adapat to changes when potty training. And if the chair that you bough him, feel unconfortable, he will not use it. Change back to the old chair and see what happens. All children react different during this stage of development.

It seems that he may have liked the first potty chair better. Have you tried putting that one back out? I would try that but I also wouldn't push the issue. Generally kids aren't ready until about 2 1/2 so give him a little more time. And don't get frustrated because you want it to be a positive experience for him.

Hi K.,
Your window of opportunity is now. The best time to train is between 18-26 months. Get the book "Toilet Training in Less than a Day," by Azrin and Foxx. It has worked for everyone who tries it. In actuality, it takes about 3 days, but it's so worth it!
Good luck,
S.
www.createwealth.myarbonne.com

Why get a new one? The one you had was working fine.
He is at the perfect age to start training. Watch when he goes potty, right after or half an hour after a meal, when he gets up in the morning, after napping. This will help you see the signs and respond in time. Don't nag or scold him if he has any "accidents". It takes time and patience. Good luck!

When my son was between 2 and 2 1/2 he started using the potty, but after a few weeks he pretty much quit cold turkey until he was almost 3. We kept encouraging him, but didn't force it. He got back into the idea shortly before his third birthday and was completely trained after about a month. That period in the middle drove us nuts, though! Note that we got one of those kiddy potties, but he never actually went in it. It has a detachable seat that can go on the regular toilet and he's always used that.

Treats work very well. We gave him Hot Wheels instead of candy. We also discovered that he didn't mind us re-sealing cars in the boxes and re-gifting them to him -- he just liked opening the box and getting a "new" car even if it wasn't really new. :)

You can also go cold turkey, like they do in a lot of other countries. Depends on how much mess you want to clean up. My nephew in China was trained by 18 months because they simply stop wearing diapers (they actually wear pants with no crotch at all, which is funny to see).

Good luck! As with everything, try to not let it drive you crazy. :)

Do you still have the other potty chair he was using. If you do, go back to it. It seems like he was doing just fine with the other one and he didn't feel as intimidated. What I've read so far is that kids will start pointint at their parts when they are urinating or having a bowel movement. They also, start feeling uncomfortable when they have a wet or dirty diaper. But just the fact that your son was going to the potty chair like a big boy for a couple of days tells me he was ready and didn't like the change of chair.

Hi K.,

I can see how this is your first son, I can understand how you feel and it get so excited and interesting. He is just 22 month old and it will take time for him to show sign of watned to go and he went for a few time in few days some time can be a set back for him. So just bear with him. Whenever he is ready to be full traing then you will see the differnt in him. MY daughter is 26 month old and she went and now it was a big set back she keep going in her pull up. I am still working on her.

The only sigh is when he keep holding his wee wee or his body language is seem strange like moving around or looking for your attention to go or sometime he be in one area of the room to hide himself to not let you see him went so that is a few sign you can see. You had to be very alert when it come to that.

I'd say wait a while. My kids were both potty trained right about their 3rd birthday. From everything I've read, thats not uncommon. They say if you push a child, they may become potty trained, but then keep reverting back because they really werent ready. Give it time, certainly he wont go off to high school in diapers! :)

Hi K., It sounds like your son got attached to the first potty chair. I would use that one and see if it works. If not, I would wait and try later. Each child is different, so don't worry so much. M. H.

I would say just give him what he's comfortable with. Encourage him to go and be patient. If he doesn't want to go now, he will eventually. With my son (27 mos.) when he lost interest in his potty seat, I showed him how to go standing by the "big boy" toilet. I had one of my older sons take him to the bathroom and show him. My two year old thought it was cool and has gone potty with no trouble since. The only problem I had, was finding a stool the right height for him, I ended up giving him a big book to stand on. I am still working with him to poop on the potty seat. Eventually it will happen. All of my other kids were potty trained completely by 3.

I have 3 children. I have been told by other well intentioned moms that children show you "signs" when they are ready. Children don't show us anything. Instead, we have to be the ones to guide this learning and most importantly, we have to be persistent, consistent, and be patient through it all. With all 3 of my children, I began introducing the toilet (not a toy potty seat) to them when they were 6 months old. I began making a ritual of it. They sat on the toilet (get yourself one of those toilet seats that rests in the hole of the toilet seat) before their bath every night. With my daughters, they were both potty trained by their 2nd birthday. I began removing their diapers and letting them run around the house naked when they were about 18 months or so. My 3rd child is a boy. He just turned 2 in July. I began actively potty training him in late May. I use rewards (Gerber gummy treats ~~ he gets ONE treat for every time he goes poopy in the toilet). My son has been keeping his diaper dry all night, so night time training is underway. During the day, my 2 year old doesn't wear a diaper during the day and he lets me know when he has to go. When he's wearing a diaper out of the house (like to the store, or church) he lets me know he has to go. If I can't take him to a bathroom, I ask him if he can hold it and he has. Don't wait for signs. You need to initiate this process and you must be consistent. No diaper during the day and show your son where the toilet is and explain that pee-pee and poopy goes in the toilet. Show him how to flush the toilet so he understands how the toilet works. My son flushes and puts the toilet lid down when he is done. He points to the toilet paper or wet wipes I keep on the toilet tank when he needs to be wiped. IF he has an accident on the floor, just remember he is learning. Use those unfortunate experiences to teach him that pee and poopy must go in the toilet and that he must let you know when he as to go. My son runs to the bathroom or he points to the body part that has to go. He says to me, "boo-boo" and it lets me know that he has to go.

In my family parents start very early to potty train. They don't wait for signs, they start a routine. When the baby wakes up they put him on the potty, eats, put him on the potty, every two hours, put him on potty. In time the routine trains his bladder to control. I waited with my only son until he was 3, to the disgrace of the family and even the pediatrician. It was more convenient for me. I found that the secure, no wobbles, comfy size, free standing potty chair worked best. The ones that fit on the toilet meant I would have to help him on and he didn't like that. Doing it himself was the appeal. Don't ask him, just offer him regular times. I once was eating lunch picnic style on the patio with my son and he got up and started to crouch down suspiciously behind a gate and I said, "Do you have to go to the toilet?" He answered, with his little hand raised, "Stop, Enjoy your lunch." A laugh for all, forever.

Hi K. ~

Your son is still very young for potty training, but my son showed interest early too...so I took that que and went with it. He was very interested early on in the little potty. Then daycare had both - little potty and the seat for the big potty - so I got a seat for our toilet too. He would use one and then the other...I just let him decide...I was just happy he was interested! Also, he began sitting to pee pee, so I was good with that...we can teach the standing position later. I use to ask him if he needed to go, and of course his answer was always "no" because he was too busy playing. So, I began doing what the daycare lady does - just taking him as soon as he wakes up from naptime/bedtime and about 30 - 40 min. after he eats...no questions asked. Sometimes he sits long enough to go, sometimes not, but overall he is getting use to this routine and potty training is getting a little easier...for all of us. My son is 29 mos.

It's not young for potty time. It's perfect. If you wait too much longer (especially if he showed interest now) then you will have a power struggle on your hands and potty becomes something they can just "decide" not to do. not a pretty situation.

IMHO, bring the old seat back and encorage him to sit down. Boys have a harder time learning to do #2 when they always stand up for #1. They don't learn to relax the muscles and take the time to sit. Then they'll go #1 in the potty and hold back on #2 or wait for a diaper to do #2 ... I've seen it a million times in our office ..

Best of luck ... sounds like he's ready for the potty!!! :)

I started with my son at about the same age. I will tell you when starting that young, it can be a long process. Not difficult, just takes a while until they are finally old enough to "get it." It can't hurt to start getting him used to the potty, having him sit on it, reminding him to go, talking about it, etc., but do not expect him to go without diapers for quite some time. My son was 34 months when he was finally able to do it all on his own (the poopy part was our last hurdle which we easily rectified with a little reward). So, we spent a good 12 months until the process was complete. I think the biggest indication to me that he was about to turn the corner was when he began consistently waking up dry every morning and going right to the potty on his own, soon after that we ditched the diapers altogether.

It is really up to you what you want to do at this point - you can wait until he is a bit older and not worry about it until then, or you can take the slow and steady approach like we did.

we didn't really let our son tell us when he was gonna start, we started the ball rolling for him. we were lucky enough to have privacy fence in the back yard and let him start going on the trees. sometimes it wasn't #1 so it helped him to notice the different urges. some may think it was strange but he really seemed to enjoy it and it helped a lot. he did stop all together at one point we think he just didn't want to give up the diaper just yet but he did go back to the potty when he was ready and knew exactly what to do. don't worry.

Every child is different. But 22 months sounds a tad early for a boy (for some reason, they take longer to "get it".. maybe because their "equipment" is different and they see mommy use the potty more often than daddy (usually). I would let him do what he wants. Don't push him. It will just lengthen the struggle. My philosophy is this: When they are able to undo their clothing, get onto the potty, and put their clothing back on by themselves, is a good time to start "suggesting" they use it. Ask your son if he wants to try and offer to help if he would like it. Do a silly "potty dance" afterwards... etc.
But I wouldn't stress in the least about any of it until he's at least 28 months. In fact, both my kids showed an early interest that faded fairly quickly. My daughter's interest came back just as quickly and she trained easily. My son regained interest around 26-28 months, and was pretty much trained by 30 months. In fact, he dropped a toilet seat on himself at about 35 months... OUCH!!! trip to the emergency room and everything!
Be sure that once he starts standing to pee, that you get him a step stool to stand on... no owwies...!!