Step-by-step Instructions for Potty Training! Let Me Hear It!!!

Here's how we did with our second at about 2 1/2 yrs old after dragging it out way too long with first.

Pick a weekend where you'll be home for a couple of days. Put him in REGULAR UNDERWEAR. Get a big cheap pack of UNDERWEAR. Pull ups will extend the process by months. Feed him lots to drink. Take him to the restroom every half hour or so. If he's on a little potty seat, teach him how to lean forward sitting so he doesn't spray out. Don't get discouraged when he has accidents or doesn't go. Just keep on keepin' on.

We didn't have trouble interrupting the training during days we couldn't do it. We just went back to it when we could. He caught on well. I know everyone says, NEVER scold, etc, but you do need to be a little firm when he gets it and just doesn't want to cooperate over time. Make him stay on the potty when you KNOW he has to poop for example after he's tricked you enough times and gone "right after" you let him up etc. The first time he actually does it, it takes away the fear. Remember, it comes in waves, so if he had to go (you saw him hiding and trying to go etc), and you swooped him to the bathroom he managed to "keep it in", guaranteed after a few more "waves" (a few minutes apart almost like contractions :) you can coach him to get it out if you don't let him up. But of course dont' make him sit too long either. Don't allow him to derail you with tantrums when he first doesn't like trying. Be calm, firm and patient. And don't forget the treats! We did M&Ms for pee and matchbox cars for poop.

There is a lot of bending over and trips to the potty for you, so don't beat yourself up if you wait until after your baby is born. Lots of ladies are pregnant during potty training age. Tough one! I waited a couple of extra months until my traveling husband was around to help.

Night time was not an issue. We had him pee before bed, and no drinks an hour before bed, and he never had accidents during the night. Not sure how long we kept a diaper on at night, but they were always dry in the morning. He's never gotten up during the night to pee, ever.

Since it is warming up outside I would let him start going outside first on his favorite tree/plant/bush. :) My oldest son liked to water our big tree. He says that he made it big and strong. You could also just let him go around naked or in pull-ups. If he is wanting to start trying then he sounds ready and I wouldn't let the opportunity slip by.

I think this answer is different for every child. When I started potty training here is the advise I was given:

There are 2 trains of thought, pick your method.

1. Cold Turkey. Transition your child to big kid pants and expect to have accidents. The first day you will have several, the second day it should get better and if all works out well, you will have no accidents by the end of the week. Takes a ton of patience and a positive attitude. Many friends of mine tried this method and by the end of the week found success. I chose not to try this method because my son is very sensitive and I was afraid that he would not deal well with the pressure. Plus you are really limited in how much you can leave the house when you use this method because you are going to have accidents everywhere the first few days.

2. Gradual change. With my son we started with putting him in pull ups and giving his a treat whenever he went potty in the toilet. It took about 3 months before he was reliably using the toilet. Then we transitioned him to big boy pants during the day and pull ups at night. Then one night we went to put a pull up on him and he said no. He has not used one since. This method takes longer, but goes at the child's pace. In my opinion, my son made the choice when to be fully potty trained instead of me and he was so proud of himself when he did it. We have had accidents, but overall he is very good about going potty.

We started my daughter by getting her a potty seat and reading her a book called A Potty For Me. That was when she was just starting to show some interest (which ended up being about 3 months before she actually started training.) Once she showed us that she was very interested, I got her out of diapers and put her in panties of her choosing under plastic lined training pants and asked her every ten minutes if she had to go. The first day, we spent practically the whole day in the bathroom. But she got it in three days with very few accidents. At night, I put her in a pullup and limited her liquid after dinner. It took her about 4 months, but she started waking up dry on her own and then we got rid of the pullups! (You have to be patient with this part. Waking up dry is a physiological thing that they just have to grow into.)

So, we started training when she was about 2 and a half and before she turned three, we were completely out of diapers, training pants and pullups. There are the occasional accidents, but they are very few and far between. I always have her bed layered with a waterproof cover on the mattress, a sheet, a waterproof liner, another sheet, another liner and a top sheet so if she has an accident in the middle of the night, I can just pull the top sheet and the waterproof liner off and she has a fresh bed. I've been doing that since the day she was born and it's been very helpful. And not having to remake her bed in the middle of the night is a blessing.

Good luck and congrats on baby #2!
Hilary

Not sure how old your son is but I have been through potty training with 2 boys already and starting with the 3rd. Let him do it when he is ready. Boys can be very difficulte. I had one friend also who had her son completly potty trained then when the baby came he slipped and went back to the diaper. Boys usually are not ready till they are 3-3 1/2 But there is no step by step every child is different

I potty trained all 8 of our kids and with the first I started too soon so be sure he's ready. I had to start all over with my first. Then my advice is if you are 8 months pregnant he could regress when the baby is born or he may not and some depends on the child and his age, etc. Whatever you do be sure that when you do start to not stop or it will confuse the child and he'll think he is in charge of the situation. Set aside the day, or days, and put him in big boy underwear which you should make a huge deal out of how great that is, then take him every 15 minutes to start with. I set a timer with my grandson when I trained him not long ago, it worked well as he knew it was the timer telling him to go and not just me. Anyhow, have them sit there for a reasonable time, not forever of course or they'll hate it, and then do it all over again in 15 minutes. If they have a accident just clean it up and say you know they'll do better next time, don't punish or scold. I got a Fisher Price potty chair for my grandson that they didn't have with my kids and it plays music and he loved that. When you go it plays the music so you knew they went. I gave some of my kids a chart with stickers, some a small treat like a snack, and one got to pick a small toy as a reward when they were well on the way to being potty trained and no accidents. My grandson was a bit older than most of my kids, not much and not 3 years old yet, but he said he'd NEVER use the potty and he was trained in one day, no pull ups ever and nothing at napt ime from the first day on. I suggested he wear one and he was so proud he refused and never ever wet the bed or had but one accident with me. That's a bit unusual though so don't be discouraged if there are accidents but be firm and yet loving and kind. It's a hard job but well worth doing right for the future with no accidents.