eeek potty training! help?

[mrspineau]

Potty training is really the one huge thing about parenting that makes me nervous because I just have no idea what im doing! Everything I read is contradicting information. My son is 2.5, and while I'm not necessarily in a rush to get him potty trained, I do think that he understands and would be ready to if I could get my act together. I just don't know what the best approach is. How did you all start potty training your toddlers and what methods did you use? How long did it take? What age did you start/finish? How did you handle travelling or even just car trips? I have read that you should start them in underwear and just completely take the diapers away and not to use pullups because then its just confusing. but then, for how long can i expect accidents? when we go in the car, do i use underwear or a diaper? im just at a total loss. lol any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Sienna-forever]

My son started potty training at about 2.5 too, he was showing signs of being ready. We had a potty in the house for a few months and he'd gotten used to sitting on it still clothed first.
Then at bath times we would get him used to sitting on the potty with nothing on.

My DS would sometimes stand up in the bath if he knew he needed to wee.
So before his bath, we would ask if he needed to use the potty, and he would stand up to do a wee into it!

We never used pull ups, as I do think they can be confusing for little ones. We put him straight into 'big boy pants' once he knew what the potty was for, and had used it a few times at bath time. He had a few accidents, but not many. He was potty trained within a few weeks.

As for outings, we started with short trips out in his big boy pants . He would use the potty before we left, and then again as soon as we got home.
Now we can go out, and he'll ask to use the toilet, at shops/play centres etc.

He does still wear a nappy at bed time (he turned 3 in April) but most mornings wakes up dry, so I think it will be only a matter of time before we can stop using nappies altogether.

Good Luck with the potty training.

[Shahbazin]

Both of my DDs decided they were ready to wear underwear only & use a potty when they were 35 months. We had about a week of "accidents" while they got used to voluntary control (& lots of peeing outdoors in the backyard!), & DD #2, who learned a month ago, still wears a diaper to sleep in at night, since she's a bit hit or miss when deeply asleep, but I expect she'll lose that pretty soon.

I just kept a little potty & a toilet seat insert out in the bathroom, & some nifty underwear around, mentioned it now & then, & just waited for the kids to be ready. DD #2 went on an all day trip to the county fair at 2 1/2 weeks of no diapers, & used the public toilets & had no accidents. I do bring changes of clothes & a waterproof pad to lay in the car seat in case of accidents when out on trips, but DD #1 only needed this stuff once when she was learning. I model going potty before trips, & ask if they have to go, frequently, plus even if they don't think they have to go (& I think they should) I tell them, "let's sit on the potty just for practice", & this goes over OK.

I think waiting until a kid is ready really shortens the process & eliminates struggles.

[annettemarie]

Moving to the Toddler forum.