Potty Training

March 28, 2008 4:44pm CST
I am going to start potty training my toddlers very soon. Does nayone have any tips and/or advice for me as I have no idea where to start. I have potties for them and special loo seats and they sit on the potty before they have a bath and they have been in there once of twice and they were praised massively.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
28 Mar 08
I am a co-leader on a toilet teaching board at Ivillage,maybe I can help you some. First I need to know their ages,what they are doing to show they are ready,what they are wearing now (disposable diapers-pull-ups,cloth diapers with plastic pants or without? please answer these questions,and I will see what is needed.
1 person likes this
29 Mar 08
Thank you for volunteering to help. They are two and a half and they are currently in disposible nappies. They will sit on the potty and try to wee before their bath. Only one of them tells me when he has done a poo, the other waits for me to notice. They never tell me when they have done a wee. They have never told me when they need to go to the loo.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
29 Mar 08
Ok,2 1/2 is a good age,actually a bit earlier is best,but no problem. telling you is the last step in potty training,the first thing we need to do is change over to cloth diapers or even thicker cotton traing pants with plastic pants,by your use of the word "nappy" I would take it you are in the UK.If so,you can find what is needed at mothercare. the disposibles only retard training. I have found,with twins,one will lead,the other follow,but sometimes at different times. try setting the kitchen timer for about 45 minutes,and let them know that when it goes off,they are to run to the bathroom and sit on the potty for a short time to start,they can start with their cloths on,then when they get used to this,then have them pull down their pants and sit,from there,we try a reward,I use m&m's for producing on the potty,this way,once one finds out there are treats for going potty he will also want them. I would start with this first and see how it goes,then we can go from there. as each child is differant,we may need a couple of ideas and work around each,so do not worry,it may take a bit of time,but we will get there. Please keep in touch and I will be here to answer any Questions I am able to. mac
31 Mar 08
Thank you very much for this. I will certainly give it a go. I am not going to startthem until the weather get a little warmer as I am concerned about them being wet when it is cold. They cannot pull their trousers up and down as they have belts on them because their waists are so small so they may need help with that, but I am sure we can get round that one.
• United States
31 Mar 08
Well, it'll be easy if you have boys! Just do this for getting little boys, if this is what gender children oyu have, to urinate in the right place. First, get a small 25 cent "bouncy ball" from one of those machines in front of a store like K-Mart. Then, go to the fish section and get a little net they use to catch goldfish to remove them from a tank that needs cleaning. Now..when you get home, toss the bouncy ball into the potty, put your sons in front of the potty, lift the seat, and make a game of it. Tell them, "Pee on the ball and see if you can make it spin!" (Trust me..they'll even be trying to pee in there when they are dried out. LOL!) After, of course..use the fish net to hold the ball out of the water when you have them flush, then just drop it back in. Of course..it works for little boys..a little harder for girls? But if you have boys, them they will feel potty friendly and should learn to feel more at ease in a bit about learning to sit to excrete their solid wastes, also. (Another technique is to take your sons for hikes and tell them to "water the tree." It has worked for parents since there have been little boys.
1 person likes this
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
3 Apr 08
while teaching boys to stand to pee helps them in this area quite well,the only problems I have had with this is that they take much longer and normally much harder to train to sit and poop. May I suggest you get them doing the poop on a regular schedual and let them learn to pee at school,this does come naturally. Many Blessings.
31 Mar 08
Thank you for this idea. I may try this once they get a bit older and pee standing up, I have decide dto train them sitting down as I hop eit will be less messy, but we will see!
• United States
2 Apr 08
My youngest LOVED watching the Elmo Potty movie that helped her a lot. My cousin put blue or red food coloring in the toilet bowl then when her little one peed it "magically" changed colors. They made a game out of it, I've also heard putting cheerios in the toilet bowl for targets as well! Good luck and your best tool is going to be PATIENCE!!!
• United States
3 Apr 08
I did the blue with my oldest. It worked and after she got the pottying down I explained that the potty fairy saw she was using the potty real good so she didn't need to put the magic in there anymore!
3 Apr 08
I have never heard of using food colouring before! It sounds like an interesting idea . I guess my sister has girls so she would not need to worry so much about making sure they concentrated on aiming correctly!
• United States
28 Mar 08
i dont have kids but good luck!
28 Mar 08
Thank you - I think I will need it!