Potty training- where to start?

[Anonymous]

Help! After my rant a few weeks ago about the daycare putting Seth on the potty way before we thought he was ready, he totally took us by surprise this weekend by pulling down his pants and easy ups, running to the bathroom and announcing he had to go potty! I set him on it and he didn’t do anything but before I got him back dressed, he did pee on the floor. He also keeps telling us “go potty” after he goes so he definitely knows when it is time and keeps saying it in passing. So, do you think he is ready and where do I even begin? I went today at lunch to buy a potty so he can start to get familiar with it. I am so clueless about this. Are there any books you would recommend?

[Anonymous]

I think that once upon a potty is the common one though we didn’t buy that one. We also bought a convertible potty- one made by first years that converts to a step stool and a seat that goes into the toilet. Also, I looked for one where I could lift the “bowl” part that they go in right out, instead of having to take the top off to get it out… less to clean and easier to clean too. In the end, she never used it as a floor potty, and only went sitting on the toilet b/c that’s the way they had it at school, so we bought a few padded potty seats and step stools and went that way. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Both Liza and Ellie expressed an interest in potty training at that age, but the interest waned after a few weeks and I was not successful at training them until they were much older. They did not have the “peer support” that little Seth is getting at daycare, though.

I guess I would just let him lead and if he’s interested let him go and praise him, but don’t say anything when he doesn’t use the potty because he will quickly pick up on any pressure you may unwittingly put on him, and when toddlers feel pressured to do something they often refuse in order to assert themselves.

My girls loved the “Potty Power” video and we like the “Going to the Potty” book by Mister Rogers.

[Anonymous]

Hailey really likes the Blues Clues episode where Blue wakes up and sings “gotta go, gotta go, gotta go-oohh” and then they sing the whole song about having to go pee and poo. It’s hilarious! Don’t know if he’s a Blues Clues fan.

[Anonymous]

Tiffany, with my first, I got him a potty video (didn’t work) a potty book (didn’t work)….then we got a potty chart and some m&m’s, that, along with just putting him in underwear (the thick training kind) eventually worked, he was 3ish. My sister and brother in law bought a GIANT bag of dumdum pops and called them “peepee” pops and whenever their son goes on the potty, he gets one……though we were at the zoo once and I went to the bathroom with them and when I went to the bathroom he screamed “yeah Aunt Jill go potty get a peepeee pop”.

I think that potty training and teaching them how to read and how to tie their shoes are the hardest things I’ve encountered so far. Just use lots of praise and patience and he’ll get it in no time!!!

[Anonymous]

In the end, I think they go when they’re ready. Sarah really surprised me. We’ll see what happens with Hailey.

[Author]

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