Potty Training - Hallsville, TX

Hi J. - I actually just did a post on my blog about potty training called 5 Potty Training Tips That Will Make You Smile at http://www.entrepremusings.com/index.php/2008/03/20/5-pot.... Hope it helps!

Hi J., I understand how you are feeling. I have better things to do in the evening times than hanging out in the bathroom. I really don't like the idea of books and tv because as ugly as this sounds, I can't stand just hanging out in there waiting. So, with my daughter, I had to set a timer for every 20 minutes and when it went off, I would have her try to go. I would proceed to sing her the abc song once it was over and she hadn't gone, then it was time to try again later. She was potty trained by 2.5-3. She has never required me to sit in there with her for long periods of time and when we go out in public (they want to potty in every place you go) I sing the song and we are done. She learned her abc's quick because that is how I time her hand washing and teeth brushing as well. Anyway, she now begins to go almost immediately when I put her on the potty. Now, her granny liked doing the whole stay inthere for 15 minutes reading and when she goes over there, she requires granny to go with her and they are in there for ever. My daughter I think likes the one on one time she gets from granny while in there. So, be careful starting that habit or routine if it isn't something you really enjoy. Hope the singing works for you in timing it out. It will save you loads of time of hanging around and not getting anything acomplished. Hanging in there reading just seemed to waste away all my quality time. I prefer to read all cuddled up together. Anyway, good luck.

With potty training, I am not above bribery. With my last dd, it took M&Ms to get it done. For every time she peed, she got one. Every time she pooped, she got 3. It took a couple packs of candy, but it worked. She sleeps in pull ups, but only because she sleeps so.darn.hard that she doesn't wake to go pee. I'd rather have a couple of pull ups used a week, than a case of diapers. Good luck!!

The best way to do it is (from my experinence), is to take him to the potty with you when you go. have him sit on the potty till you are done. Also have daddy take him and do the same thing. he will eventually get the hang of "how" to go potty and you'll be set.

I am a mother of 4 grown children. Potty training was the one area of child raising that was the least fun. But, a necessary part. I only had one son and he was the baby. Patience is a very big part of potty training so don't stress yourself out over it. Some toddlers are ready before others. The biggest thing that helped me was consistancy. As inconvenient as this may sound, it was what worked for me. Take him to the potty every 15 - 20 minutes even if he went to the bathroom the last time you took him. Make it seem like this is routine and ordinary. Offer "big boy" underwear and tell him how proud you are that he is staying dry with his "new" underwear on. Don't discipline him at all for not using the bathroom and then just take him again in 15-20 min. If he does go in his underwear right after you take him to the potty, just tell him "mommy needs you to do this in the potty, you are a big boy now". Be patient. He will figure it out in his own little mind. I have one child that wet the bed till she was about 10. I talked to my doctor about this issue and children who wet the bed have a sleeping disorder. They can't help it. They can't wake themselves up.
She wore pull-ups up through that age. It didn't upset me, other than the fact that she would never sleep over at friends because she was afraid she would have an accident. She did outgrow this and is perfectly normal. Again, patience is the biggest factor when you are potty training your child. Praise is important when they do what you are training them to do. Lots and lots of praise for a job well done! Hang in there. He will come to you one day and just tell you he went to the potty all by himself or come to you and say I need to potty mommy. Just be consistant and patient.

I would let him sit there. Be patient...I potty trained my then two year old boy while pregnant and having that accomplished made things soooo much easier. It is harder to sit there for 5-10 minutes when you have a new born and your toddler is struggling for your attention! My little boy would sit there forever, still does somtimes, and want to go check out the potties in public places too. Once, we went 3 times while at the grocery store!!! You must have extreme patience and not make it into a power stuggle. Good luck!

My son who I couldn't get on the potty now camps out in the bathroom. "I am relaxing for a bit" he says with his feet propped up on the seat with a three year olds firmness to his voice.

I always questioned how long to leave him on there when we were training. It seemed to me if I took him off for just goofing around, he would go not 1 minute later. Aggggggh!!

My best guess would be to use the same rule as a time out. One minute for each age they are old. So, three minutes if he is three.

Sending you a hug cause potty training is no fun! {{{HUG}}}

I don't have them sit there any longer than 2 minutes. Anyone would goof off after sitting there for too long. Not to mention that fact that if he was dragged away from a fun activity - you want to teach him that he can get in there, get it done, and get back with little interruption! Sitting there too long will make him not want to sit there at all next time IMO! :)

Usually everyone that goes to college not potty trained. Don't fret, boys usually take longer. Just put him up there for a few minutes every hour or two. He will learn. We have found self led potty training is easier and less stressful. They see you go, they want to go. Eventually they will start telling you or wanting their diaper off as soon as they potty in it. This will help you to know they are ready.

Goodluck with the potty training, just take your time and things will work themselves out. Just keep in mind that when bubba number two comes along, your older one might revert back into diapers for a while....don't stress, it's just a big adjustment for everyone when the second baby comes along.

Good Luck
J.

HI! how are you doing today hope okay.I was woundering if ur child is getting the hang of it? Thats what iam trying to do,but the looks of it husband doesnt want another child cause of the reason not have my 2.5 boy not potty trained yet but i say that it cant take nine months to get a boy potty trained so hard, also that if i what another one it wont be here by the next day. jajaja!!! So hows ur way of doing the potty training for ur son?

My son is the same age and we are getting at it little-by-little too. If he has to go "tinkle", he will go within a minute or so of sitting. If it is a bowel movement, you will usually be able to see him strain a little bit. Give him a minute or two and then take him down. Pottying is just as much a habit as anything else, so keep taking him when he asks. Right now it is new for him to exhibit control, but after a while the novelty will wear off and he will only go when he has to. Important thing is not to discipline him at all, even if he doesn't go (I know it gets VERY frustrating, my son has to "go" every time we sit down at a restaurant and my food comes!). Just get him off the potty after about a minute or two. He is still getting the hang of what it feels like to have to go and may think he does, especially if he has gas. Good luck!

Hi J., Boy! you are a busy lady !!! I don't know if this will help but one can hope......when my daughter was trying to potty train her youngest (boy), she put a small tv in the bathroom. She would put him on the pot at regular times (Wake up, after meals, etc or every two hours) She would let him watch two cartoons and then take him off. It took him a few times, but he figured it out. Of course, the consistancy of the schedule is the key, but the cartoons keep him interested till the urge hits. Good Luck, Sarah

About me: Retired RN, Mom of 2, GM of 5, GGM of 1