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Adventures In Potty Land!
- Jun 9, 2009 at 1:37 AM
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- Comments (17) Total Views (547) Everyone can see this journal post.
My son is 20 months old, and besides night time, he has pretty much mastered the potty! I figured I'd write a journal and let everyone know how I did it. So here goes.
When he was 17/18 months old, I wanted to start potty training. At 14 months he went about 9 days straight where he went poop on the potty every day. So a few months later I decided to give the 3 day method a try. When he woke up that morning I put him in underwear, I took him to the potty every 20-30 minutes, and it just wasn't happening. He would pee on the floor about every 10 minutes, because when he'd start we'd run to the bathroom where he'd stop going, even though he still had to go, and it didn't matter how long he sat there, he would NOT pee on the toilet. As soon as he got up, he'd pee all over the floor again. We weren't getting anywhere and he was very upset. So we put the diaper back on.
(My mom had 6 kids and she had us all trained around 19 months. And she did the bare bottom method, though she didn't know it was an actual method of potty training)
Ian didn't seem to understand that he was supposed to pee on the toilet, and I knew that if I could get him to pee in there just one time, he would be able to do it. So what I did was every morning for a little over a week, I would get him up first thing in the morning before he went pee and I put him on the potty. He was too tired and had to pee bad enough that he didn't fight it. And he used the potty almost every morning from the time I started. But I was still putting him in diapers for the rest the day.
After a couple weeks of that, when he was 19 months, I decided it was time to stay diaper free during the day. I put him in nothing but a shirt, and put his little potty in the living room where he spends most of his time. I did this for a couple reasons. One, was so it would be right there, where he would see it and be reminded to use it. And another was because we only have one bathroom with 3 adults, and I didn't want to have an accident simply because the bathroom was being used.
The first two days I was amazed, I did not have to tell him to use the potty, and we had NO accidents. In the first two weeks, we only had about 3-4 accidents. When he went down for a nap, and if we left the house, I put him back in a diaper. (I know, you're not supposed to do that, but it worked out fine for us) I always have him use the potty before we leave/he goes to sleep, and as soon as we get to where we're going. I take him to the potty, even if he doesn't have to go, I want him to know there is a toilet there.
Anyways, after a couple weeks of running around bare bottom and doing great, I wanted to test him when he was not near a potty. So I put some loose shorts on him (no underwear) and we went outside to play. He did very well, a couple accidents, but mostly was just starting to go, and then remembering and running inside to use the potty. A week into that, I added underwear to the mix. and by that time, he knew that underwear was different than a diaper.
By 20 months, almost a month into potty training, I ventured out into public with no diaper. We went to visit my dad. He did great with it! Since then we have been over to my dad's house a few times, even staying for 4-5 hours without me there and no accidents, we've been to other family members houses, the mall, restaurants and we even went swimming where he STILL told me when he had to use the potty!
He has had a couple off days where he seemed to forget everything, but by the next day was back on track. So don't be discouraged if they have bad days.
Oh and by the way, don't let anyone tell you 19 months is too young, or that they need to be able to verbalize with you that they need to use the potty. My son cannot tell me with words when he has to go. And he can't even pull down his underwear on his own yet. And he is doing so great with it. We only use diapers for overnight now.
Oh yeah, one more thing, whenever he uses the potty, I give him lots of praise, and a piece of candy, usually an m&m. And he is so proud of himself whenever he uses the potty. It's so great to watch him learn new things!
Sorry this was so long. I hope I am able to help at least one person with this! And I hope I didn't leave anything out.
Comments:
Wow! That is amazing!!
thats great Wayne just turned 2 and we are thinking about potty training
He is capable of being night trained, but I just don't have the heart to take away his water before bed, it's getting warmer now. So I'm not worried about it yet. We still have over 100 diapers so after those are gone I'll have to take away his water. lol
Great job mama! My son in 18 months and were are buying him a potty this weekend. I have been a mild ECer (elimination communication) and he's been using the potty since he was 9 months old. But not on his own. he know thats where he goes, but we just put him on the big potty. Mainly just when he poops. I want to get him trained fully soon tho! Thanks for posting the journal. It gave me some good ideas!!
Wow that is amazing. I tried the bare bottom method twice and nothing! You are so lucky. My son refuses to go on it. He says sissy diaper I diaper. Very frustrating. My daughter is not walking yet, she is a late bloomer, but I am hoping when she does I can start to potty train her and then my son will catch on. Thanks.
Thats great, I'm glad you got him potty trained. I was doing the bare bottom method, but so many people told me to put panties on my daughter. I started putting panties on her and she pees in the potty, but poops in her underwear. She thinks its funny? I am SO tired of this. It's been almost a year for us. She showed signs of potty training at about 15 months, but has regressed, then does well and then regresses again. Such a pain, but hopefully soon we will be fully potty trained! Thanks for the enocouragement
My son started showing signs at 16 months just by saying his diaper was wet, I talked to my pedi about this at his 18 month check up and said is 18 months too young to start potty training? he said no if he is showing signs and before he gets into his "own mind set" saying no ect. Well, I went out and bought the potty pretty much that week and undies just introducing him to them not forcing him or anything and puting him on the potty when we went and just taking him to the restroom with us. A month later and not really consistant I went out and bought a potty book and have been reading it to him showing him pictures and before nap and bedtime ect. we are on day 3 and so far only one accident but, I have been using diapers in the mix. he told me "mamma gotta potty and he was dancing around grabbing himself" then he started peeing on the floor uh oh I rushed him to the potty and set him down then he heard elmo on tv and sat on the potty said all done ran out and then peed again. its ok but, I guess no distractions is also a good thing. ( doesnt help he learned how to open doors this week) so now we started 15 min before his nap no diaper or undies in the bathroom and as soon as he starts to pee set him on the potty. I realized its hard for him to relax on the potty someitmes. he goes and says "own potty chart" and asks for a sticker!! he is sooo proud of himself. so far before nap, after nap and bed time is when we have been most succuessful. I just dont know how long he can stay dry. Also we know when he's pooping he'll tell us and go hide BUT, when we put him on the potty he refues to poop and gets consitpated and doesnt go all day and finally poops at night in his sleep. just working on pee for now I dont expect him or want to pressure him. but, why not start at almost 20 months? thats amazing good job mamma. you have a very cute/smart boy.
OK I am encouraged. I guess I need to start! Here goes....
He is 21 months. We can do it right!? :))
thats great! my son is 20 months old and i have really been itching to get him out of diapers. he is a smart kid i know he can do it! This is very encouraging
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My son is 18 months and we used the bare bottom method and he is day and night trained!! At night we dont give him anything else to drink about 2 hours before bedtime and he stays dry all night. Just a little tip. And you are right, they are not to young to start potty training!!
- mommy03021207
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