Potty Readiness?

Don't push it. What I always did is right after they wake up in the morning and after a nap - it was habit to go sit on the toilet whether they did anything or not. It becomes a habit and they usually have to go after they wake up. If you don't want to start anything new - then I would wait for the intense training. But, this is one way you can keep up the habit - without pushing it - without regression. I would also put them on the toilet when I knew they were about to poop, or in the middle of, or just finished. Just to reinforce that the toilet is for that. No pushing - just matter of fact - this is what we do. By the time he's 3, it will just be a matter of learning control.

I wouldn't push it. Encourage him, but I wouldn't get serious about it before the baby comes. He will regress and it will frustrate everyone if you try to get him potty trained before the baby comes. Just educate him and encourage him and he'll let you know when he's ready. A good video to show him is "Potty Power." I knew my daughter was ready to potty train when she brought me a pair of panties and said "No more diapers for me." Good luck.

My advice to you is if your child wants to go potty you need to encourage it. Try putting a sticker chart in the restroom for him to put a sticker every time he goes potty. You'll know if he is not ready. More likely he will go to a corner and hide. don't preasure him make it more of a game.

My son did this as well. We were about to go on vaction, so we did not encourage him. I am glad we didn't - it was just a lucky fluke. My son potty trained himself right after his third birthday. He said " I want to wear big boy underwear". We started that day and he only had 2 accidents -- both at home when he was too busy playing to go to the potty in time.

If your son asks to go - -take him otherwise you are just training yoursel :) Good luck with this and the new baby!

L. Z.

I am a mother of three that are now 8, 9, and 10. Since my children were so close together I was always concerned about regression especially when it came to potty training. I let them go to the potty when they wanted to and didn't push them to stop wearing diapers, but they all at different ages made the decision to wear "big boy underwear" and "big girl panties". I was too busy to want to worry about accidents and stress of trying to force it upon any of them. We never really had a big problem with accidents or anything and I think it was because they really made that decision on their own. I did not force it. I think each child is ready at a different time. My son, the oldest, was 3 1/2 when completely potty trained. My second child (daughter), was completely potty trained by 2 1/2, but she was also the one to throw her bottle in the trash at 11 1/2 months old because she didn't want it anymore. She was and still is the strongest willed of all. My third child, also a daughter, was the latest to be fully potty trained at age 4. When I say fully or completely that means not even wearing pullups at night and no accidents.

Therefore, I say don't push them. Let your child do it unless you are dealing with other behavior issues then it may be harder to do this way.

I am a grandma now, ha ha. I have two boys that are grown. And a 2 year old grandson. My boys and grandson started their interest at two. Just get a potty chair and let him sit at the same time you sit. Watch his fluid intake, take his cup away after 30 minutes wait 45 minutes and go sit. Just be encouraging and we give m&m's as a potty prize. 2 for pee, 5 for poop. My grandson ran to the potty to poop and only passed gas. so we gave him 2 m&m's for trying. If it does get to where he just wants the m&m's, he has to make something in the potty! HAve him wear regular underwear several times a day, he will realize the freedom between his legs. My grandson is almost 3 and insists to wear underwear now. We call them "Big boy pants" praise, praise, praise If he has an accident just say, "That's OK we will make it next time!" Believe me, you don't want to change 2 sets of diapers!! And when new baby gets here, explain your son is the "big brother and uses the potty" He will have accidents, it helps to leave the bathroom light on, so he can go himself. This is a very encouraging part of life for your 2 year old, let him go potty!

V. H.

I'm in the same boat with my 23 month old. I'm due in 3 months with his baby sister and he shows some of the signs but not all. We let him tee tee on the potty before baths and he gets excited about it. I asked my pediatrician about it and she said that she wouldn't start the full process until 2 1/2 since baby is on the way and most boys aren't completely ready until then. She said it's great to go ahead and get a potty, talk about it, read about it and let him sit on the potty to pee before baths, when he wakes up, or asks, etc. He may surprise you and take to it, or if not, then at least you've introduced it and hopefully it will make the process easier in another 6 months. Hope this helps.

Well, I agree that there is a chance of regression after his sibling is born; but it doesn't sound like you're pushing him. Also, I don't see what the harm is if your son is doing the potty training on his own. You could encourage him by praising him when he uses the toilet and not making a big deal when he doesn't. If he's the one leading the way then it could be more confusing (and difficult to potty train later) if you discourage him from using the toilet now. Just humor his request and sit him on the toilet when he asks; and let him take the lead. Some kids just know when they're ready and just go for it.

When he is ready. You can talk to him about what he needs to do. Praise him when he decides to do it in the potty. Keep him in pull ups so he doesn't have to struggle. If he accidently wets the pull up. No harm done. Have your husband take him to the bathroom when he goes this will give him the idea fast. He will do it in his own time. Boys take longer than girls. God bless.

Hi Sam,
It may bave been just luck, but some kids do learn early. I have two boys and they were not as young as that. The older one is autistic and it took until he was 3.5years to learn. THe other kid who is younger took just one day and he was 3 years old. I told him that when he was 3 years old we would toilet train him, and so he was expecting it and had seen the older boy learning. One thing that worked was giving a geat reward after he was successful. It just has to be something that they really love and it needs to be given as soon as the child does it in the toilet, but wait until the child has stopped doing the pee. Poopoo is usually a bit later.
I read that for the greatest chance of success you should wait until they are 2 years and 10 months. Follow your gut feeling. It is good not to push as you said. Good luck.
W.

Dear Sam,

Congratulations on your new little one! Don't worry. Just take your time. When he shows intrest take him to the potty and when he doesn't don't push him. My almost two year old has shown interest in pottying too because he wants to wear undies like his big brothers. He really isn't ready, but some days I put up with all the pee pee and put him in the undies (Fortunately he hasn't yet gone #2 in the undies.) Other days I don't have the energy (baby due in 2 weeks). So Just go with the flow so to speak. Everything will be fine.

Hi Sam - Here's a post I did on potty training that you might find helpful: http://www.entrepremusings.com/index.php/2008/03/20/5-pot...

A.

MY son is 3 and 1/2. He did the same thing to me and I got all excited. Then I was brought to earth!!! The reason all the books say they should be able to do ALL of those things before they are ready is b/c it is true. Mine was not fully potty trained until the list was complete, which just happened to be around his 3rd b-day. Until then I tried to remind him about the potty and we would make a huge deal of it when he went pee. And if he went in his underwear then we'd change him and gently remind him that big boys pee and poop in the potty. I did a lot of laundry that year, but the underwear were very uncomfortable wet so he knew it felt bad. The poop thing was harder, but we made such a huge deal about it the first time he did it that I think he would have done it again right then just to have the reaction. Don't get down about it, like my mom said, "How many kids in high school did you know that were not potty trained?" =) Good luck!

GO FOR IT, yes it can change later when the baby comes. But hopefully with family and friends along with you and you husband this can keep. It could mean less diapers and trainers to change you will never know if you do not try. Good luck