Comments on: Potty Learning: The road to success http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/11/20/potty-learning-the-road-to-success/ ...exploring the art and science of parenting Sat, 11 Feb 2012 15:24:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Samantha Tara http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/11/20/potty-learning-the-road-to-success/#comment-133624 Samantha Tara Fri, 03 Jun 2011 02:33:29 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=715#comment-133624 When my daughter was 2 years and 9 months old I decided we would take the leap! She had been staying dry at night for a bit and we had been talking about potty training for quite a while already. I had no feeling to rush her into it before she was totally ready; I know that I waited a much longer span of time than most people but I didn't care; I knew my child and never pressured her to do anything and she always ended up doing things naturally, easily, and with peace, never looking back. Well, first I pointed to the stack of diapers on the shelf and said that when all of them were gone, she would instead use the potty. We discussed this every time she had a diaper change for weeks, and as we got down to the last few days we started planning a 'potty party' for her. I wasn't entirely confident that this whole thing would work, but I was greatly joyful at the outcome and so glad that I went with 'my gut' for the whole thing. Before she ran out of diapers we went to the store and bought real 'big girl' underpants ~ she of course picked them out and thought they were wonderful ~ then we made 'potty party' invitations together for our family members and distributed them. When the last diaper had come and gone, she put on the undies and we talked again about how the whole process worked. We took a bunch of bathroom trips that day and they went remarkably well! We held the Potty party that night (we made a cake to mark the awesome event!) and that was that. She was old enough that she understood well what she was undertaking. The next day she accidentally peed as we were on our way out the door and seemed upset but she got over it quickly and it never happened again. That was actually a good thing to have happened because she understood the result of peeing in underwear! Easy. No stress. Done in one day. Now, my son, who is not quite 2, is a totally different child. He is headstrong and stubborn and I am still mulling over how I will work with him in the potty department. I realize that the method I used with my daughter won't likely work for him, so I am patiently waiting until my gut leads me to know what to do (: When my daughter was 2 years and 9 months old I decided we would take the leap! She had been staying dry at night for a bit and we had been talking about potty training for quite a while already. I had no feeling to rush her into it before she was totally ready; I know that I waited a much longer span of time than most people but I didn’t care; I knew my child and never pressured her to do anything and she always ended up doing things naturally, easily, and with peace, never looking back.
Well, first I pointed to the stack of diapers on the shelf and said that when all of them were gone, she would instead use the potty. We discussed this every time she had a diaper change for weeks, and as we got down to the last few days we started planning a ‘potty party’ for her. I wasn’t entirely confident that this whole thing would work, but I was greatly joyful at the outcome and so glad that I went with ‘my gut’ for the whole thing. Before she ran out of diapers we went to the store and bought real ‘big girl’ underpants ~ she of course picked them out and thought they were wonderful ~ then we made ‘potty party’ invitations together for our family members and distributed them.
When the last diaper had come and gone, she put on the undies and we talked again about how the whole process worked. We took a bunch of bathroom trips that day and they went remarkably well! We held the Potty party that night (we made a cake to mark the awesome event!) and that was that. She was old enough that she understood well what she was undertaking. The next day she accidentally peed as we were on our way out the door and seemed upset but she got over it quickly and it never happened again. That was actually a good thing to have happened because she understood the result of peeing in underwear!
Easy. No stress. Done in one day.
Now, my son, who is not quite 2, is a totally different child. He is headstrong and stubborn and I am still mulling over how I will work with him in the potty department. I realize that the method I used with my daughter won’t likely work for him, so I am patiently waiting until my gut leads me to know what to do (:

]]> By: “Baby training” begins at birth | PhD in Parenting http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/11/20/potty-learning-the-road-to-success/#comment-91338 “Baby training” begins at birth | PhD in Parenting Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:59:21 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=715#comment-91338 [...] Potty learning begins at birth, by doing elimination communication or by changing your baby’s diaper immediately when it is wet or dirty, by talking about bodily functions, and by letting them see you use the toilet. [...] [...] Potty learning begins at birth, by doing elimination communication or by changing your baby’s diaper immediately when it is wet or dirty, by talking about bodily functions, and by letting them see you use the toilet. [...]

]]> By: IComLeavWe: Day 3 | PhD in Parenting http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/11/20/potty-learning-the-road-to-success/#comment-27069 IComLeavWe: Day 3 | PhD in Parenting Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:11:40 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=715#comment-27069 [...] doesn’t. We’ve had our share of trials, tribulations and successes as I wrote about in toilet learning and poop terror. We still have challenges.  Even when we try to be patient and not push anything, [...] [...] doesn’t. We’ve had our share of trials, tribulations and successes as I wrote about in toilet learning and poop terror. We still have challenges.  Even when we try to be patient and not push anything, [...]

]]> By: Shawna http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/11/20/potty-learning-the-road-to-success/#comment-4418 Shawna Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:38:52 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=715#comment-4418 I had my son almost fully potty trained when a trip we took set him back to square one. I wish I'd known then what I know now (and what you know) about regression. For him, at three, the regression has been about control. We restarted potty training. (He just made his first poop in the potty). It's been a few weeks since we began, and he's doing quite well. We allow him to have control when we're out by letting him know he can choose--either use the potty or we'll have to leave. Then we encourage the positive choice and congratulate him on helping us all have more fun at the park or wherever we are. This is a well-done post. I think if we run into anymore #2 problems, I'll bite the bullet and take him in the bathroom with me. It's not what I'd like to do, but it does make a lot of sense. I did my own potty post with a rewards tutorial for a robot that my son puts stickers on (http://www.thedaysarepacked.com/2008/12/16/potty-rewards-robot-tutorial/). There's a fire truck tutorial too. We also use a candy rewards system--he gets to pick one jelly bean each time he pees. Poop is a chocolate square or mini candy bar. We were using M&Ms the first time, but he's a tough negotiator and it ended up being too much candy. LOL. I had my son almost fully potty trained when a trip we took set him back to square one. I wish I’d known then what I know now (and what you know) about regression. For him, at three, the regression has been about control. We restarted potty training. (He just made his first poop in the potty). It’s been a few weeks since we began, and he’s doing quite well.

We allow him to have control when we’re out by letting him know he can choose–either use the potty or we’ll have to leave. Then we encourage the positive choice and congratulate him on helping us all have more fun at the park or wherever we are.

This is a well-done post. I think if we run into anymore #2 problems, I’ll bite the bullet and take him in the bathroom with me. It’s not what I’d like to do, but it does make a lot of sense.

I did my own potty post with a rewards tutorial for a robot that my son puts stickers on (http://www.thedaysarepacked.com/2008/12/16/potty-rewards-robot-tutorial/). There’s a fire truck tutorial too. We also use a candy rewards system–he gets to pick one jelly bean each time he pees. Poop is a chocolate square or mini candy bar. We were using M&Ms the first time, but he’s a tough negotiator and it ended up being too much candy. LOL.

]]> By: Poop Terror | PhD in Parenting http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/11/20/potty-learning-the-road-to-success/#comment-1989 Poop Terror | PhD in Parenting Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:24:29 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=715#comment-1989 [...] him to go on the toilet. I wrote about that a bit in the poop resistance section of this post on potty learning. Other than almost missing his start at preschool because he wasn’t toilet trained, I [...] [...] him to go on the toilet. I wrote about that a bit in the poop resistance section of this post on potty learning. Other than almost missing his start at preschool because he wasn’t toilet trained, I [...]

]]> By: Garden Hose Bib http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/11/20/potty-learning-the-road-to-success/#comment-758 Garden Hose Bib Mon, 19 Jan 2009 21:46:13 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=715#comment-758 When my son was about 1 year and a half, I thought that that time was right for me to potty train him. It takes a lot of encouragement. I also used potty charts where he would have to see his acheivements and give him a reward afterwards. Potty training my baby wasnt that difficult at all. The secret is.. let your baby feel that they are loved and cared for so that they will be encourage to do the poop on the toilet! Trust me,it works! When my son was about 1 year and a half, I thought that that time was right for me to potty train him. It takes a lot of encouragement. I also used potty charts where he would have to see his acheivements and give him a reward afterwards. Potty training my baby wasnt that difficult at all. The secret is.. let your baby feel that they are loved and cared for so that they will be encourage to do the poop on the toilet! Trust me,it works!

]]> By: Earthbaby http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/11/20/potty-learning-the-road-to-success/#comment-757 Earthbaby Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:35:42 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=715#comment-757 Since my daughter was about 10months old I have put her on the potty when I change her first diaper of the day. At times I will put her on throughout the day (during a diaper change). At first if she would pee she was not really aware that it was coming out of her or that she had controll. Now she is 14 months and when I put her on she give a grunt (smiles at me) and starts peeing. This week she has started to touch her diaper after she poops. It has been a slow process, but like Annie said, giving our children experiences and access to "bathrooming" will get them there! Since my daughter was about 10months old I have put her on the potty when I change her first diaper of the day. At times I will put her on throughout the day (during a diaper change). At first if she would pee she was not really aware that it was coming out of her or that she had controll. Now she is 14 months and when I put her on she give a grunt (smiles at me) and starts peeing. This week she has started to touch her diaper after she poops. It has been a slow process, but like Annie said, giving our children experiences and access to “bathrooming” will get them there!

]]> By: Heather http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/11/20/potty-learning-the-road-to-success/#comment-756 Heather Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:14:05 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=715#comment-756 I only have a 7 month old, but we are practicing Elimination Communication part time (she's actually on the potty as I type this). I think the last section about taking accidents in stride is very important. Sometimes we get pee or poop on the floor, sometimes I put her on the potty and she doesn't do anything. We just take this in stride because it's a learning process for everyone involved. I also think that having a "I want them potty trained by ____" deadline is unrealistic. Some babies are going to take longer- but chances are they'll be out of diapers before the age of 12. Also, it's important to know that some pottying issues aren't about potty training. I was still wetting my pants in second grade because of a long history of UTIs and UT correction surgery. Even adults deal with incontinence- sometimes is not the fault of the child at all. I only have a 7 month old, but we are practicing Elimination Communication part time (she’s actually on the potty as I type this). I think the last section about taking accidents in stride is very important. Sometimes we get pee or poop on the floor, sometimes I put her on the potty and she doesn’t do anything. We just take this in stride because it’s a learning process for everyone involved.

I also think that having a “I want them potty trained by ____” deadline is unrealistic. Some babies are going to take longer- but chances are they’ll be out of diapers before the age of 12. Also, it’s important to know that some pottying issues aren’t about potty training. I was still wetting my pants in second grade because of a long history of UTIs and UT correction surgery. Even adults deal with incontinence- sometimes is not the fault of the child at all.

]]> By: Lu http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/11/20/potty-learning-the-road-to-success/#comment-755 Lu Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:10:32 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=715#comment-755 My son is ALMOST one and I am so nervous about when this process should begin, how to go about it, etc. I think I will be checking out that book you recommended! My son is ALMOST one and I am so nervous about when this process should begin, how to go about it, etc.

I think I will be checking out that book you recommended!

]]> By: Cynthia http://www.phdinparenting.com/2008/11/20/potty-learning-the-road-to-success/#comment-754 Cynthia Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:44:17 +0000 http://phdinparenting.wordpress.com/?p=715#comment-754 What a great response; thank you! I know it was a rather broad question, sorry about that, but I appreciate you taking the time to answer. Great tips! I look forward to any other tips your readers may have. What a great response; thank you! I know it was a rather broad question, sorry about that, but I appreciate you taking the time to answer. Great tips! I look forward to any other tips your readers may have.

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