Yesterday we started potty training Luke.

[Marissa823]

So here's the scoop. We have had a potty in the house since Luke was 2 (he'll be 3 in Sept.)  We actually have 2 potties & a seat for the toilet because Luke decided he didn't like the first potty. He wanted what he called the "singing potty" It lights up & plays music & all that jazz. So we bought the "singing potty". Anyway he knows all about the poopy & the pee pee & where it comes from & is often in the bathroom with DH or I. So lately I have noticed that he has been staying dry for periods of time including occasionally after naps So I figure now is a good time to start. DH & I are both home w/ him (hubby is a teacher so he's off for the summer) & we have no big vaca  plans or anything like that.  So I start talking it up, telling Luke he's going to start using the potty, we buy a bunch of underwear w/ Thomas, Cars, Spongebob, Scooby do. We bought a book about the potty a while back & recently picked up the Elmo potty video & a bunch of M& M's. So this past weekend we were at my Mom's to see Thomas the Tank Engine & decided that when we got back home it was time to start.

Potty training Day One

We begin the morning by explaining to Luke that we are going to start using the potty today & remove his diaper. We have decided against using pull-ups & allow him to run around naked all day. He notices the M&M's on the kitchen table & asks for some so will inform him that if he goes peepee or poopy on the potty that he can have some. He sits for like 1 min, gets up claiming that he went & wants his treat. but he didn't go. So things continue like this all morning. Then while I was putting away laundry Luke & DH are in the kitchen where Luke proceeds to urinate in the cats water dish. According to my husband this was a very thought out & deliberate action on Luke's part. Then it's nap time so I put on a diaper, he goes to sleep & wakes up soaked. Not surprising since he peed once all morning, Then my MIL calls & wants to take him to the merry-go-round and so I am forced to put on another diaper. When he returned home he spent the rest of the eveing naked, being put on the potty & asked if he needs to go, several times an hour. NOTHING. ALL DAY. He never pooped yesterday & he only peed once outside of the diaper.

I don't know what to do because almost everyone seems to think that you can't train them at naptime or at night until they get the hang of it during the day but if he just holds it all day what are we accomplishing???  Any advice or suggestions??

[nicksmom04]

Aug. 6, 2008 at 3:45 PM

NOOOO! No singing potty!! We had that exact one and all it was was a toy!! The day we brought home the Bjorn, plain white, do nothing potty chair it took about 3 days until he was completely trained. (he was just over 3) He loved wearing big boy underwear too. He really did the night thing by himself, so I have no advice there. Hope things go well! Trash the singing potty! lol!

[hotrod]

Aug. 6, 2008 at 4:11 PM

Haha...singing potty.  I've never had a toddler potty per se, just the one that fits inside the adult potty seat so they don't fall through.  I personally think boys are SO easy b/c they CAN go anywhere...and you don't have to touch yucky potty seats when you go out.  Ok, here's my advice:

Convince yourself that diapers are ONLY for naptime and night time now.  NEVER go back and forth between diapers b/c, yes, he will hold it until you put a diaper on...and that doesn't help. 

Have certain set times that he has to go potty.  As soon as he gets up, take the diaper off, go potty and put on his underwear.  After he eats, before he goes down for naps or bedtime, and before bathtime too.  Other than that, set your oven timer (or any timer) and go every 10-15 minutes at first.  This will seem like you are going ALL the time, but they catch on pretty quickly...hear the timer, time to go potty! 

Ok, at first, put him on the potty and sing a song...like ABC's or Twinkle, twinkle...whatever...when you finish the song, clap for him, take him off the potty, and give him a M&M.  I know, sounds backwards, but they associate sitting on the potty with rewards...good thing!  ALWAYS stay positive.  When you get negative, they regress.  (Don't be suprised if at first he pees as soon as you get him off the potty.  He can only pee so much during the day, so chances are after the first few accidents, and going potty every 10 mins., he'll stay dry eventually...it takes LOTS of underwear and pants!)

The hardest part about potty training to me was when we were away from the house/timer, OR if he was away from me...like sunday school.  You can tell those teachers over and over to take your son potty every half hour, but noooo, they won't and he ends up wet.  Grrr.  Ok, anyway, really the best thing to do is just plan on staying home for at least a full week...maybe even two.  (I know, UGH!  but trust me, SO worth it) 

When he's staying dry for the 10-15 mins AND going pee pee in the potty every now and then, set the timer for 20-25 mins...and so on.  Remember to limit his drinks, especially juices.  They go through the body REALLY quickly, so if he has juice, maybe take him right before you give it to him AND right after he finishes it.  Milk is better...doesn't go through as fast, plus, it's good for him!  :)

What else...pooping on the potty takes longer to train, seems like it does anyway.  Mine would usually stay dry all day and have a BM in their diaper at naptime or first thing in the morning.  And my sister's kids, once they were potty trained during the day, they stayed dry at night too!  Lucky duck.  But Tyler's the same age as Luke and I don't see nights in underwear anytime soon...the other two stayed dry during the night around 3 1/2 years old...so I don't press it, just mention it to him every once-in-a-while, so he knows I expect it of him at some point.

Don't go overboard and try to always 'up one' on the rewards.  One M&M is good for going pee pee, we did 3 for going poop.  They would ask for more, and when you are so happy that they actually did it, it's so tempting to give them whatever they want...but there's always a limit and you may find out that he'll pee every 2 mins just to get M&Ms!  So stick to your guns...NO MORE DIAPERS!  YEA LUKE!!!

 

[stephsmom05]

Aug. 6, 2008 at 7:34 PM

Cant believe u go the singing potty lol.  keep me updated how it goes.