Potty Training--naked from Waist Down--how Long?

Updated on April 20, 2011
B.P. asks from Lutherville Timonium, MD
9 answers

Hi, mamas!
My son just turned 3 and, after a slow and steady intro to the potty, we've recently picked up the pace on potty training. My latest step was to try the training pants, thinking the wet feeling would help him train, but it was a complete failure. In desperation, I decided to try the naked from the waist down. So far, working like a charm! I have not had to remind him one time and he has had no pee-pee or poop accidents. Everything has gone in the potty! I'm sure there will be some accidents along the way, but this has gone a long way in getting him trained.

Now my question: how long would you recommend I let him run around half-naked to really solidify the habit of using the potty? I'll do it as much as I can, but we can't leave the house this way. I chose this week to train because I don't have to bring my daughter to school so I could minimize our outings, but we can't stay in the house forever! Just wondering if I could hear from those who have experience with this method of training. Now that we're in it, I want to take it all the way! Thanks! :)

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So What Happened?

Thanks so much, Mamas! He was totally naked from waist down for the first couple of days. The last day or two I've had pants on him (no undies) for some of the time. We've had a couple of accidents, but today he started telling me when he had to go, even while wearing pants. I think he's getting it! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences with me. :)

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A.L.

answers from Charleston on

Give him a day or two, then go straight to big boy underwear. Take him on a trip to the store to pick several packs out himself. Make it a BIG deal! He won't want to mess up those precious "Lightning McQueen/Spiderman/Buzz Lightyear" undies! We did this with my son when he was 2 1/2 and it worked like a charm. He had a few accidents where he was trying to get his pants/undies down to go and he couldn't stop it, but other than that he was dry! Skip the pull-ups - they're too much like diapers. He sounds like he's doing a great job so far! Way to go mommy! :)

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A.K.

answers from Dallas on

I wish I had the answer, my daughter has been waist down naked for a month, and still wets her pants everytime I put them on her - she never misses the potty with nothing on, but for some reason she doesn't "get" that she has to pull down her underwear - she is 3
So while I have no helpful advice - I HEAR YA!

1 mom found this helpful

Y.C.

answers from New York on

Ha, mine still love to be naked sometimes, not because she needs to go potty, she know goes with or without underwear but because once she found out the nice feeling of the air in her butt she loved, lol.
I think you can try now and see what happens, if he still need to let him another 2 days and so on.

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M.L.

answers from Houston on

I did this with my son, but when we went out I put him in a diaper/pull ups. He protested, but I explained that once he could master the training, then he wouldn't have to wear the pull-ups at all, even when we go out.

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C.T.

answers from Fayetteville on

I would agree with no pull-ups, they are a waste of money. After 2 or 3 days but him in big boy underwear of his choice, when you go out put a waterproof pad in his car seat, keep outings brief if possible and know where the bathrooms are-bring changes of clothes in case of accidents. Potty training is sometimes messy-we just deal and breathe a sigh of relief when it is finally accomplished! Good luck!!

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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

We did naked time with our son for about 2 wks, then went straight to underwear (pull-ups for nap/bed only). When we went places we took his potty seat (we used the kind that went on top the regular toilet) so he had that "comfort" of home. We took plastic bags and changes of clothes, reminded often (especially after drinking/eating or when we were going to be in the car for a bit).

My son will be 3 next month and he's been potty trained since November. He now sleeps in underwear too. He still has occasional accidents, but we just roll with them :)

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M.B.

answers from Dover on

Hi, and congrats on potty training! We did the same for our son, just committed to 2 weeks of pure potty training with minimal outings. The first week was a lot of "naked from the waist down." The second week we did it with just underwear- we had some accidents but it was easier to clean and usually only a little wetness, not a complete emptying of the bladder. Then we started going places. We made it short trips- to the bank, a friend's close by- that sort of thing and always made him go before we left and when we got to our destination.
I will tell you I carried a potty seat in the car for almost 6 month- whenever he said he had to go I would pull over and let him. i felt it was better than forcing him to hold it and chancing an accident. I hope this helps- good luck!

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

I did this with my daughter (also 3) and really only had to do it for 2 days before she started going on the potty more than in her pants (we just cold-turkeyed the diapers except for bed-time and stuck in her in underpants - the actual amount of dirty laundry produced was minimal). Another day or 2 after that and she was going pee in the potty every time (poop is another story, we are still working on that). We would put a pull-up on her when going out but she's been great about keeping them dry. She has preschool today and this morning she actually asked me if she needed to wear a pull-up to school. I asked if she wanted to go without one this time and she said yes, so I said okay, but you will need to remember to use the potty if you have to. We've been at it almost 3 weeks and this will be our first trip out of the house just in underpants. She's been great about going potty on her little potty but is still not wanting to use the big potty, so we would just have her go pee before leaving the house and have a pull-up on her just in case, since we still need to warm her up to the idea of actually using a big potty in a public restroom (and maybe she would also be so distracted being out she could be more prone to an accident).

I would see at what point he is consistently using the potty and not having accidents, how long he stays dry for, then maybe try taking him out if he goes pee first. It will depend on how much he's been drinking and how long you think he can "hold it" before he will need to go again (DD can hold sometimes 4 or 5 hours!). For some kids, pull-ups are too much like diapers and don't really help at all, but DD has been doing well and seems to understand that she is not to pee in them either if she can help it - they are "just in case".

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K.L.

answers from Erie on

It really depends on the child. I have read "experts" who say as long as 30 days (yeah, right!?!). We were good after two days, but I could tell that he got it. The experts also recommended wearing nothing under pants when we decided to leave the house. Because he was doing so well, we went straight into underpants. I think it's more important to either make him try to go before leaving the house or try to time excursions for right after he goes. Also, make sure that early outings are close to the house or that you know exactly where the bathrooms are (unfortunately, this part doesn't go away any time soon - we've seen the bathrooms in Target, Kohls, Lowes, the library, and every supermarket we visit :o). Good luck!

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