I need some advice. Badly.
My son, Sam, turned two in February and that got me thinking about potty training. Oh boy. I can't tell you the dread that descends over me by those words. We did get him a little toilet seat for his birthday, but that's about all that's happened since then. Please, please, please -- could you comment or email me (khall63@gmail.com) some strategies/methods that have worked for you? I feel so confused because some experts say you should have started at 6 mos, and others say wait until they're "ready" at two and a half. Then others say use a timer and take the kid to the toilet every 20 minutes, and still other experts argue that it has to be child-initiated, don't force them. Do you use bribes - candy and sticker charts - or just applaud and congratulate the boy? What to do??
Whatever the case, I feel that now's the time, whether I want to or not, the sooner the better! I'm hoping and praying that this will be a swift process. So what works?
~Kristy Hall
8 comments:
umm for boys I'd wait longer - I wait until three for all my kids. Then I do this:
We spend all morning "teaching" one of their favorite dolls/action figures how to go potty - I mean we beat the subject to death teaching the doll.
Then they spend the afternoon sans clothes and we "practice" going - when there is an accident I say oops you didn't make it in time (I just act like they made every attempt to go even if they didn't) then we run from the exact spot they had the accident to the toilet AT LEAST TEN TIMES - you will feel crazy but keep it fun (lets try again run, run, run and laugh and such)
then we gradually add clothes over the next few days and decrease practice runs after a few accidents. I try not to add candy for going because that becomes a monster in and of itself, but sometimes I have for the #2
That is a jumble of different systems but its worked for me.
Maiya figured it out really quick.
one more thing - My kids like to sit backwards on the toilet holding on to the seat lid - they feel more secure then we are prepared to use toilets at other people's houses without seats.
I agree with Janie... unless he's acting really interested, you might be better off waiting. I started too soon with Ben and then he wanted nothing to do with it for quite a while. He'll be 4 in July and he's only been potty trained for about a month now. He was excited about a sticker chart for a while and treats for going poops, but I think letting him be naked and having a couple accidents in underwear is what did the trick. If you think Sam's ready, go for it, but don't pressure yourself to get it done just because he's 2 1/2. I know Shahna Argyle recommends the method in "Toilet Training in Less Than a Day" if you wanted to check that out. Good luck!
The best thing to do is wait for him to be ready and make it his idea. There is so much in a 2-3 year old's life that they have no control of, and if you turn it into a battle, he may refuse all together. Boys, and especially oldest children who are boys, tend to be ready later. Tyler was potty trained in 2 days, but he wasn't ready until a few days before he turned 3. Parker came up with the idea on his own in the spring before he turned three and never looked back. Liza also decided on her own right after she turned two. Wait until he gives the signs and don't feel pressure from "experts" 'cuz you are the only expert on your kids. I would advise giving praise and "big boy" priveledges rather than treats. Things like "big boys get to have friends come over for play dates, but babies don't." For Liza it was dance lessons, preschool and friends. Don't say it like it is a punishment to be a baby, but rather a priveledge to be a big boy. Talk about the big boy underwear and that one day he'll "get to" wear them instead of diapers. Mostly because they aren't going to get a treat every time they go potty and you want them to go potty for something other than a treat. It builds self dicsipline and the desire to do it because of the way they feel rather than what they get out of it. I also got character underwear and told them that spiderman didn't like to get peed on, and when there was a poop accident I threw them away and replaced it with plain white underwear. I know, I'm mean. Good luck!
i've potty trained 2 boys and with both i just waited until they were ready. we had the seat and sat and practiced and bought special underwear and but i never forced the issue. with both, when they were ready, they were day and night trained in one day. if it becomes a battle, they'll resist it even more.
Ahhh, the dreaded potty training! We're in the process of that with my son. He'll be 3 this month. I've heard a saying that i LOVE! Potty train at age 2 and it will take a year, potty train at age 3 and it will take a day. So maybe not really a day, but there just seems to be something about kiddos approaching 3. Something clicks for them and they actually want to potty train. Yes, there are a lot of cues to see if your kid is ready, and definitely follow those. But just because he has most of those signs, it still may not mean he's ready. If you want to give it a try, go for it for a day or two. If your little guy seems upset, frustrated and you guys are making zero progress, than take a break and pick it up in a couple weeks. The best and hardest part for the kid, is for US to stay happy, patient, and positive. Once these kids feel pressure, pushing, etc., they just seem to lose it. So good luck. Not sure if I helped. :)
I waited until Kaleb was almost 3 and then did the three day potty training method. It worked! He was 100% with no accidents in less than 6 days. I can e-mail it to you when I get back from California.
I agree with all these comments. Luke was very smart and I thought it would be no big deal to get him trained at two. His body however was not ready for it-- even naked he would just let loose- like he had no control over the thing! So we stopped and started again at about 30 months (stopping and starting over makes it 10 times worse btw.) It's now been over a month, and he still won't poop in the toilet regularly. WAIT UNTIL HE'S READY AND INTERESTED!!! With my next child, I am not even mentioning it until they bring it up- or they turn 3. It's not worth the struggle!!
Anyway, stickers and m&ms worked pretty well for Luke.
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