Monday, April 14, 2008

Potty Training 101

Here's the deal: We didn't really have to potty train Ashley. Since we knew we were going to through a bunch of changes her way in a short amount of time (Audrey being born, moving to another state, starting a new school), we waited until we were in North Carolina before we potty trained her. She was almost three years old, and the first Friday I was off, I told her she wasn't going to wear diapers anymore, and that pretty much was it. She knew what to do. She was even dry at night.

So now Audrey is wanting to go on the potty. And she does. It's mostly at night when she is stalling to go to bed, but she goes potty in her little potty seat.

I have two problems. The first is she doesn't want to go on the big toilet, just on her little one. And my other problem is when should I really start trying. Is she ready now? Do I do pull-ups? I know, I really should know the answer to this, but Ashley was so darn easy, I just don't know what to do. And I know you guys will know what to do...

14 comments:

emily said...

Just like anything you will need to do what works for both Audrey and you.

My doc says at 2 girls are ready. So a couple weeks after Aubrey turned 2, we had boot camp. We didn't leave the house, we wore panties except for nap and bed and we never did pull ups. It was messy (very messy) for 2 days and then we were golden.

I gave her 1 m&m for trying, 2 for pee, 4 for poo :) Then I started a sticker chart each time she TOLD me she wanted to try - around day 3.

I am going to do the same thing with Molly in June. A little early - so we can enjoy the big pool :)

Anonymous said...

I am SO not looking forward to this. Morgan's a ltitle over 2 and not really showing signs of wanting to do it.

Happy Working Mom said...

I would bet a lot that she's ready. My son didn't show all the typical signs that he was ready, but all it took was a weekend with one accident to get him trained, and he was 28 months.

I would do it the same way you did it with Ashely...I be she'll get it!

Julie said...

We waited to train ABby until she was showing an interest in it - and when her daycare was ready to participate. She was between 2 1/2 and 3 years old. Emily isn't interested all that much inthe potty. Now and then she will want to sit on it but she's never gone in it. She has been asking to wear pull ups though. I think we'll wait until she's really interested in going on the potty - otherwise it seems sort of useless effort if she's not willing. Sounds like though with Audrey she is interested. I'd pick a weekend, plan to be around home/near potty access and see how it goes. If she does well you know she's ready but if not, oh well, try again another time.

frannie said...

I would wait until summer, so there isn't a lot of chance for accidents at school.

wait until you have a couple of days with nowhere to go and just let her run around without a diaper. There will be accidents, but they will be at home and easier to deal with.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like she's ready, and if you miss that window, it might not come back for awhile. We never did Pull Ups, and my daycare didn't allow them except for naptime. They're just big diapers. It is probably easier in summer, because girls can wear dresses with no underwear. But I'd try now.

Anonymous said...

I have no idea b/c Primo's just at the peeing several times a day because we put him on but never actually asking stage. He'll be 2 in a week and as a boy I'm sure it will take a while. My gut feeling is that it should never be too stressful or pressured. If it's too hard, they're not ready, and that's okay. Good luck! Be sure to share your tips after - I've got a girl to train too! (Actually, I don't even like the word training- I like "potty learning.")

Lost A Sock said...

Oh dear... KJ was the most difficult child ever to potty train, so I decided with Jack I would not even approach the topic until almost three. And of course now? Jack wants to use the potty at 27 months. Unlike Audrey, Jack refuses to use the little potty, and only wants the big one. He doesn't really know when he has to go, but just insists he'd like to give it a whirl from time to time...in restaraunts and at other people's houses. I'm as lost as you are. ;O)

Brandi said...

Girl we are in the same boat! It seems everyone is starting to potty train here lately. We have opposite issues with the potty though, Braden won't go on the little potty and will only go on the big potty. We have had him in pullups since he was around 1.5. Mainly just getting him ready for potty time. Now we are starting to get serious with it. It is a pain! The girls were soooooo much easier! Hope all goes well with your potty training quest! Oh we do a timer (every 20 minutes go potty), and an M&M for a reward everytime he goes.

Kelly said...

Yeah I'm of absolutely NO help in this department..sorry

SJINCO said...

I wish Isaac would willingly potty like Audrey! Sounds like she's ready and I bet will just do it overnight.

We've been working with Isaac and he too is afraid of the toilet - but likes his potty chair.

The only thing that has worked for us so far is reinforcement - he gets a special treat if he uses the potty!

LB said...

If your little one is using the little potty now or wants to use it let her and dont rust her to use the big potty.(Buy her some big girl panties and just remind her that she has them on.) She might be like mine and thinks she will fall in the big potty. I bought a seat for the big potty for Hannah to use so she wouldnt have that fear of falling in.

my4kids said...

Each kid is completely different at least mine were. Izzak was easy and followed a potty trained friend around for a couple of days and after that he was trained. I didn't really do anything. Kenzie decided she wanted to wear panties and was 2 and that was all it took no accidents at all (very odd case). Joshua and Maddie were different. Joshua was not interested at all. Madison we found out had bladder problems. I didn't use pull ups with them except at night time since it usually takes awhile for them to be able to hold it through the night. Using the pull ups at night though made it easier to get them up at night to use the potty and felt more like underwear so they got used to that idea. Doing the couple of days of staying home and going diaperless (if their ready) is usually a good way to do it though.

Rachel (Crazy-Is) said...

The only thing I have done towards potty training is buy Alyssa an Elmo potty. She will sit on it, but has never gone in it or the big potty. I can tell that she's not ready, and to be honest, neither am I. Once she's potty trained, she's not a baybeeee anymore :(