Advice on "early" potty learning/training

[Louisep]

I feel like there have been lots of potty learning/training posts so I apologize if this is another repeat.

Upfront - I am a total newbie to the potty learning/training conversation and I don't even know if I should be saying PL or PT - what's the difference? What are the theories on when to PL/PT?

I want to start getting my son used to a potty. I think he is ready as he will take every opportunity to poop/pee when naked and it's not just a coincidence. Mind you, he doesn't fuss if he has a wet or dirty diaper on. But he has started holding poop until his diaper comes off. I also think he's starting to understand what "potty" means.

He is about to turn 16 months. What do I do? Where do I start? What is this thing about "sound cues"? He's not a talker but loves to make sounds so maybe that would work for us. Also, how do I get him to sit on the potty? One time he would not sleep and so I took him into the bathroom and took of his diaper and asked him to go potty. He pooped on the floor (tile). Are there any potties out there that allow a toddler to squat instead of sit?

[LDSmomma]

I feel ignorant about potty training/learning, but I'll offer what I've learned!
DS is 16 months, too.

Best I can tell, Potty Learning is the more gentle way to refer to teaching baby to go diaper free... training sounds like dog training. It's more about helping the LOs to learn to use the potty.

We have a baby bjorn potty that is more like squatting, so I know they're out there. Bjorn has two potties (or more, we have two of them, though), and one's bigger, and more like sitting. The smaller one is one piece, and the bigger one is two pieces, so you can easily clean the cup the pee/poop goes in.

Sound cues: Elimination Communication teaches babies to go potty as infants, and they teach them using sound cues. "sss" for pee, and grunts for poop. I dabbled with the idea of ec, but never really did it. I do, however, use those sounds whenever I know DS is going potty, whether in the diaper, the bathtub or the floor. I also tell him when I'm going potty, and I use the sound cues then, too. A few weeks ago, when I said, "Mama is going potty, do you want to come with me?" he said "sss" about a million times. I usually take him with me when I go potty so he can see that it's a normal part of life. Of course, he doesn't actually see the pee, but he hears it, and I talk about it. I really want DH to take him when he goes, but DS grabs the stream of pee, so DH won't take him.

There's a book called "Diaper Free before 3" or something, that I've heard is a really great resource for all of this. I have put it on hold at the library, but haven't read it yet.

From friends, I've heard that diving head first into PL by going diaper free (with undies, which means the pee/poop won't hit the floor immediately or without undies) for a couple of days will really help get things going. This is with kids who are a year older than DS, though, so their kids are more verbal and understand what the parents say better than DS does.

I encourage DS sit on the potty fully clothed whenever I pee, and he says "sss" about a million times. A few days ago, he signed potty and said "sss", so we undressed him and he peed next to the potty. I guess he gets it, some. Since then, every once in a while, I take him to the potty and read books. He never pees in it though. Even in a diaper, he always pees standing, so I"m not sure how to get him to pee sitting. He has no aim, of course.

[JudiAU]

Sounds like Diaper Free Before Age 3 would be helpful to you. Basically, you just start putting them on the potty as a routine part of their day, especially the part of the day when they are likely to go. First thing the morning, after meals, etc., if they have a regularly time for pooping. Very helpful with DS.

[JessieBird]

Another rec for Diaper Free Before Three. It's a quick read and really helpful.

[lyra1977]

I'll just say be prepared for the possibility of regressions. My DD started PLing at 15 months and was doing great (staying dry for naps, pooping at least once a day on the potty, signing when she needed to go, pushing down in her bottom when on the potty, meaning she knew what to do when she was on it, etc.) but then after a couple of months she just changed her mind and now refuses to go on the potty at all. We are following her lead and not pressuring her, but it is frustrating to be almost back to square 1. I've heard it's common for kids to do this and an experienced mom I know referred to 2 stages...potty interest versus potty readiness. We went through a potty interest stage and it was great, and has set the stage for when my DD is actually ready, whenever that will be. Good luck to you!

[Peony]

Originally Posted by lyra1977

I'll just say be prepared for the possibility of regressions. My DD started PLing at 15 months and was doing great (staying dry for naps, pooping at least once a day on the potty, signing when she needed to go, pushing down in her bottom when on the potty, meaning she knew what to do when she was on it, etc.) but then after a couple of months she just changed her mind and now refuses to go on the potty at all. We are following her lead and not pressuring her, but it is frustrating to be almost back to square 1. I've heard it's common for kids to do this and an experienced mom I know referred to 2 stages...potty interest versus potty readiness. We went through a potty interest stage and it was great, and has set the stage for when my DD is actually ready, whenever that will be. Good luck to you!

Totally! My first started using a potty at 12 months or so due to her interest. She was not ready to PL however, that didn't come until she was 2.5y old, but when it did come, it happened literally in one day.

[Louisep]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll get a better potty and that book but not push the issue too much. My mother had us out of diapers by 18 months, seems like an incredible feat! Unrealistic even.

[aldensmom09]

check out the elimination communication forum here. very helpful. also, there is an IPT (infant potty training) group on yahoo.
for books, i loved "diaper free baby"
and this site is great: http://www.tribalbaby.org/ECindex.html

[4C-mom]

http://www.safety1st.com/usa/eng/Pro...y-3-in-1-Potty

we used this potty. DS pulled off the cushion seat and bit it. a lot. so there were big chunks missing. so we just used it without-made for a wider opening and easier aiming.

I think i started around 18 months. left the potty in the living room. Let him run around in undies or naked and when i noticed him wet/starting to pee, i would put him on the potty and praise him. that never really worked well. sometimes he'd pee beside the potty, but sometimes he wuoldn't even care if he was wet in his undies.

so afte ra while, started with that m&m for peeing in the potty. he'd sit on the potty, stand right up, and say "want m&m", so i'd tell him he has to pee first, adn he just wanted an m&m-didnt care about peeing or pooping

also always left the bathroom door open adn talked about peeing and pooping on teh potty.

right before his second birthday, he used to pee on teh floor and laugh. he'd stop, look down, pee, and laugh. totally seemed that he knew it was coming, since he'd stop and look down. he'd pee on the edge of the couch and say "I pee on couch!" and laugh.

i was about ready to say stuff it and put him back in pull ups. then, one day, a week after his second birthday, he just started using the potty. all the time. (still a pull up at night time, just in case, but not at nap time). he likes to stand up to pee.

this was my first child i even tried to PT/PL before age 2, b/c i always heard that they aren't ready until age 2, but honestly, im glad i started early. im glad that he's out of diapers!

my advice-patience. and a good steam cleaning vaccuum, if you have carpet

of course, my best friend started her daughter on her 2nd birthday, and she learned in 2 days. every kid is different.

good luck

[Nicole730]

We just actively started getting DS to use the potty on a more regular basis. Basically he's naked and there are a few potties in the house. I ask him every 15 minutes or so if he needs to pee/use the potty. I remind him he gets a treat if he does (one M&M, I had organic gummy bears, but he wasn't interested in those...) Sometimes he goes when I suggest it, but other times he goes on his own. I tried this around 16 months also, but he didn't want to then. I think he was too young to bribe at that point.

I feel quite diffrently than a lot of people about potty training, but I think just having the naked time and gentle reminders will go a long way. And not having too high of expectations. I also just say Oh, G, pee pee goes in the potty, remember? when he goes on the floor. Then ask him, where does your pee pee go? Or poo poo go? And he says, Pee pee in the potty. So he knows, and it's just a reminder. I talk about it, A LOT.

I had good intentions of getting DS on the potty around 1.5, but just got lazy.

[lisavark]

And check out www.diaperfreebaby.org! Look at the link for "late start elimination communication"...what the rest of the world calls "early potty learning" is considered "late start" in the EC community.