Before you read this post, please be sure to read How A Toddler Learns To Potty Train. Then come back here for part two.
When it comes to potty training, I am not the expert. I am the experienced. However, experience alone does not produce an expert. Can anyone relate to that? Before you click away, hear me out. In a previous post, I talked about the stages of potty training from the perspective of a toddler. Today, I plan to give you my side of the story. Here’s what I did.
Research. Yes, even after potty training our 3 other children, I felt the need for help. I found Writer Dad’s Potty Training Power and purchased the package. One of my favorite things about this ebook package is the unlimited support that comes with it. Sean and Cindy Platt (the authors) have responded to my questions and concerns in detail via email several times and for less money than I used to spend for only a month of diapers.
Supplies. I found a potty book at Target in the dollar section. I printed out the children’s book from Potty Training Power. I bought a package of underwear, a package of Pull-Ups, the best training potty ever–simple, inexpensive, and gender neutral. Disenfectant wipes for cleaning the potty, flushable wipes, soft potty seat insert for use on the big potty.
Schedule. It is truly ridiculous that I had to actually schedule potty training, but it makes more sense than you may realize. Potty training is time consuming. It is like starting over with a newborn when it comes to the amount of attention needed. I figured that I would need at least 3 days uninterrupted by errands, visitors, or outings.
Strategy. So, here’s the part we’ve all been waiting for.
1. I presented the training potty to our little guy and told him that pee pee and poo poo go in there. He was happy to practice sitting on the potty.
2. I read him the books about potty training while he sat. Then I took his diaper off and asked him to sit down again. He did.
3. Brace yourself. I left him bare-bottomed all day! I did this for about 3 or 4 days in a row. We do have carpet and we have a steam carpet cleaner (if you don’t own one, you can borrow or rent one from home improvement stores).
4. I would ask him to sit on the potty and read books to get him to stay longer. Most of the time, this did not produce and measurable results, but I believe it was part of establishing a comfort level with something new.
5. When I saw our two-year-old going on the floor, I would remind him to use the potty and take him there (usually in the Living Room where we had quick access) without screaming or scaring him in any way. Be careful here. We don’t want our children to think going potty is scary or unacceptable.
6. After a few days of seeing him improve in timing and asking to go potty, I started putting underwear on him.
7. When my big boy succeeded in getting something into the potty, he would help me take the pan to the bathroom. Then, his special job was to help dump the contents and flush. As an added bonus, he got to wash his hands!
I’m serious. No potty charts, no stickers, no M & M’s. My older son asked me one day why I didn’t give our youngest a treat. It’s simple really. He loved helping with the pan and washing his hands, so why make it more complicated?
8. I still use Pull-Ups for nap and bedtime.
9. I began moving the training potty closer and closer to the bathroom to see if our trainee could hold it longer. Now that we have been out of town a few days, we’ve begun using the soft potty seat insert exclusively.
10. All along the way, I would give praise for each new step of success. When the little guy finished the job, we would go tell someone–brother, sister, call Daddy on the phone.
So there you have it. Our most recent potty training adventure. It was not a perfect journey. If you plan to use any of this in your home, take caution. It may not work out the same with a different child and mommy team. Just be sure to focus on what is working for your little one and go with it.
I’m sure I must have left something out. It looks way too easy. What else would you like to know?
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I think the bare bottomed step is probably the most important! My son doesn’t seem to mind being naked at all, and we’ve been letting him ‘air-out’ a lot this summer, which has helped him become aware that he is peeing and practice stopping it. Since it is summer, we just let him run around outside, so the messes are not an issue at all.
My son also thinks its the best thing in the world to dump and flush! we aren’t doing any treats either.
Thanks! Without your wisdom, I definitely would not have left her bare-bottomed. I guess you have to give up on cleanliness and accidents for a bit, and the big “c”- control.
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