*gulp* POTTY LEARNING the older kid! well he's not THAT old.. « Back to Group Discussions

[ilovetchotchkes]

My 23mo was showing  some definite signs of potty readiness. Wants to flush when we're done..... A penchant for nudism. (shown when he would strip naked and climb in the tub yelling "BATH BAAAATTH!" )

So we thought what the heck. We got him some Sesame Street underpants ( A HUGE HUGE HUGE HIT!) and figured lets see where this goes. 

He goes occasionally on the potty, and his "reward" is he gets to wear his underpants and a cookie (yes i know bribing =GAH but still it works). 

Hes' going maybe once or twice a day on the potty. We're taking the "no sweat no pressure " approach. I figure, if it takes a year, He'll be just under 3 by the time he's fully trained. 

Anyone else attempting "to boldly go where no man has gone before"??? :D 

[~Demeter~]

:) Nothing wrong with bribery (says a mama of 5), if it works. I will suggest that you continue to keep the no sweat no pressure approach even if he seems to 'get it' before baby comes. I say this because it is very likely he will have some regressions after babe arrives. Mine always did... and also none of my boys had the maturity for full time potty learning until around the age of 3. I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with introducing the potty, following their lead, making it exciting and fun... I'm doing that with my 15m old. :)

[sallyrae17]

My son was out of diapers during the day at 20 months and out of night time diapers at 22 months. It can definitely be done! I don't think it will take you a year, but if you expect it to take that long and it's shorter, you'll be pleasantly surprised. :) 

[Knitting Mama]

My nearly 23 month old has good days and not as good days when it comes to the potty. She has been casually ECed since birth so she is quite familiar with her potty. It's just a matter of her being in the mood to tell me before she goes instead of after. 

Here's the thing though-- I am not actually sure I want her to be PLed before the baby comes. For one, regressions are pretty common. For another, if she is at the point of going on the potty all the time but needing my help still with her undies, wiping, flushing, etc, am I really going to want to do that all the time with a newborn? So basically, if it happens, I will go with it, and if it doesn't, I won't care.

[sallyrae17]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama 

For another, if she is at the point of going on the potty all the time but needing my help still with her undies, wiping, flushing, etc, am I really going to want to do that all the time with a newborn? 

That's just part of the whole potty trained kid thing. My son has been out of diapers for a year and I still help him with his underwear and wiping. He can run to the bathroom by himself most of the time, but he still needs help. I don't think that goes away for a long time. So, what I'm trying to say, is that I honestly think it's worth it to have your kid potty trained before the new one comes. Sure, they may regress, but you're gonna have way more time and energy now to devote to one kid potty training instead of when the new baby comes. Do you honestly think you'll have more time once you have a newborn and/or mobile baby?! Embrace the fact that your kids are ready now! I am so thankful that I won't have to worry about the whole potty training thing with a little baby!

[ilovetchotchkes]

Originally Posted by sallyrae17 

That's just part of the whole potty trained kid thing. My son has been out of diapers for a year and I still help him with his underwear and wiping. He can run to the bathroom by himself most of the time, but he still needs help. I don't think that goes away for a long time. So, what I'm trying to say, is that I honestly think it's worth it to have your kid potty trained before the new one comes. Sure, they may regress, but you're gonna have way more time and energy now to devote to one kid potty training instead of when the new baby comes. Do you honestly think you'll have more time once you have a newborn and/or mobile baby?! Embrace the fact that your kids are ready now! I am so thankful that I won't have to worry about the whole potty training thing with a little baby!

We CD so the thought of TWO in diapers and twice the laundry (which I'm barely keeping up with NOW) is horrifying.... :) 

[sallyrae17]

Yeah, I also CD'd my son. So, I completely understand that feeling. I should also add that my son regressed even without a new baby. I think all kids go through regressions and while they are totally frustrating, it's not the end of the world. Plus, the older your kid gets, the more obstinate and "I'll do it by myself" they get. I mean, maybe not all kids do that, but that's definitely been my experience. I'm pretty sure that if I had waited, potty training would have been way harder. 

We also did the weekend method. You can look it up online. Basically, you go pants free and just gently remind your kid to go in the potty. No bribing or rewards necessary. It only took three days for my son to "get it" this way and we stayed pants free for about 3 months. I think it's the best and easiest way to do it. When we were out and about, I'd just have loose fitting pants on him so we could run to a bathroom. Granted, this probably works better if you're a SAHM, but I've had friends who talked about their plan with a care provider and had great success! 

[ilovetchotchkes]

Originally Posted by sallyrae17 

Yeah, I also CD'd my son. So, I completely understand that feeling. I should also add that my son regressed even without a new baby. I think all kids go through regressions and while they are totally frustrating, it's not the end of the world. Plus, the older your kid gets, the more obstinate and "I'll do it by myself" they get. I mean, maybe not all kids do that, but that's definitely been my experience. I'm pretty sure that if I had waited, potty training would have been way harder. 

We also did the weekend method. You can look it up online. Basically, you go pants free and just gently remind your kid to go in the potty. No bribing or rewards necessary. It only took three days for my son to "get it" this way and we stayed pants free for about 3 months. I think it's the best and easiest way to do it. When we were out and about, I'd just have loose fitting pants on him so we could run to a bathroom. Granted, this probably works better if you're a SAHM, but I've had friends who talked about their plan with a care provider and had great success! 

LOL you are my son's new best friend. LOL! he LOVES to take off his pants. And diaper. Its just a WEE bit too cold here to do that. Once the weather warms up and we can go out in the garden, (I don't want the dogs getting the idea that since its ok for R to pee in the house, THEY can pee in the house) we'll do "no pants" party out in the yard :) 

[sallyrae17]

It was winter time here in MN when we did potty training! I just used a ton of babylegs - they are the greatest things ever! My son's legs were warm, but he had no pants. :) I use them from birth, really. They are great for diaper changing and when your baby starts crawling (for knee protection). If you don't have any, I highly recommend getting some. I bought mine off of babysnazz.com. Once you buy a pair, you are privy to their "special sale" where they sell babylegs for sometimes $3 - $6 per pair. It's super cheap!

[ilovetchotchkes]

Originally Posted by sallyrae17 

It was winter time here in MN when we did potty training! I just used a ton of babylegs - they are the greatest things ever! My son's legs were warm, but he had no pants. :) I use them from birth, really. They are great for diaper changing and when your baby starts crawling (for knee protection). If you don't have any, I highly recommend getting some. I bought mine off of babysnazz.com. Once you buy a pair, you are privy to their "special sale" where they sell babylegs for sometimes $3 - $6 per pair. It's super cheap!

I've actually knit a couple pairs.... he pulls em off. For some reason being utterly NEKKID is preferable to ANY clothes. Unless its his Oscar the Grouch underpants. THOSE STAY ON AT ALL COSTS. 

[Knitting Mama]

Originally Posted by sallyrae17 

That's just part of the whole potty trained kid thing. My son has been out of diapers for a year and I still help him with his underwear and wiping. He can run to the bathroom by himself most of the time, but he still needs help. I don't think that goes away for a long time. So, what I'm trying to say, is that I honestly think it's worth it to have your kid potty trained before the new one comes. Sure, they may regress, but you're gonna have way more time and energy now to devote to one kid potty training instead of when the new baby comes. Do you honestly think you'll have more time once you have a newborn and/or mobile baby?! Embrace the fact that your kids are ready now! I am so thankful that I won't have to worry about the whole potty training thing with a little baby!

No, I think I will have less time, which is why I am content to wait until she's older and can do a lot more of the stuff that comes along with PL herself. A few of my friends with large families wait until their kids are 3 or older to PL, and it turns out that they need very little help from their parents. So, if that is how it goes, I am fine with it. And if it isn't, and she PLs earlier, I'm fine with that too. I'm just not making a tremendous effort to push her into it right now.

[~Demeter~]

My 4 year old was a fluke... she potty learned all by herself at just past 2. She's an independent creature though... the rest of my kids and all the others that I've had the pleasure of knowing at this stage were all 3+. I, personally, wouldn't even make it an issue until that point. I think it's not a horrible thing to introduce it, to encourage it, to make it fun but never to enforce or push before they're ready... because honestly?? It's far more work for you. Take it from someone who has a had a lot of practice and tried different methods before settling on they'll do it in their own time when they're ready and not a moment sooner.

[dovemama]

Oh my gosh, I am getting so uncomfortable with everyone telling me that I need to "potty train" my 19 month old NOW!

I am just not ready it.

My mum even bought her a potty and when we go to her house she asks dd to use it (which is fine, she can do that) however, my family always makes remarks that it won't make any difference unless I do it too.

But, I don't want to.

The weekend thing sounds interesting, I will have to look it up.

[Knitting Mama]

Dude, don't feel like you have to do it ASAP if you're not ready and you don't think she's ready!! There are obviously benefits to waiting and benefits to doing it early, and you get to decide which is best for you. 

[ilovetchotchkes]

Originally Posted by dovemama 

Oh my gosh, I am getting so uncomfortable with everyone telling me that I need to "potty train" my 19 month old NOW!

I am just not ready it.

My mum even bought her a potty and when we go to her house she asks dd to use it (which is fine, she can do that) however, my family always makes remarks that it won't make any difference unless I do it too.

But, I don't want to.

The weekend thing sounds interesting, I will have to look it up.

Nobody told me I had to train mine, if ANYTHING i'm getting crap because I'm "starting too early". O_o. (let me tell you i get crap no matter WHAT I DO. If I had waited? they'd start on me for waiting. My family is INSANE) 

We just started with Mr Squishy because he was telling us when he was wet, he was VERY interested in what we were doing in the bathroom. Would yell "BYE BYE POO POO" when i'd do #2.... I figured "Why the hell not" :). Some days go better than others. The last few for us, i've totally and utterly been slacking off. We've all been sick and I don't have the energy to charge up and down the stairs (our 2 bathrooms are either up or down a flight of stairs, either in the basement or on the 2nd floor. Love having a 100 year old house!). however, seeing as he's so sporadic, my husband and I are gathering together a bag full of bribes. We've got sesame street toys, we're gonna get cookies, and sesame street books, and a few other things, so every time he does #2, he gets a prize. Although, I think i may start out bribing him EVERY time, and then move it to every time he does #2 as he's pretty sporadic right now. :) ALTHOUGH I did catch him grunting which usually indicates he's doing #2. I CAUGHT IT IN TIME and got him up to the bathroom & didn't have to clean  up a besmirchment aside from helping him wipe his bottom. It. was. Glorious. 

 

[moremadder]

My son is almost 3 and a half and we are still very much in the trenches of potty training. He will deny having to go literally 3 minutes before peeing himself. It is SO frustrating. It probably doesn't help that my husband and I are probably too laid back about the whole thing (read: lazy). I am just hoping something clicks in the next five months so I don't have 2 in diapers.

chotchkes -- I am all about the bribes but it was getting expensive so I made a sticker chart -- he gets a sticker for every poop in the potty and a toy for every ten stickers. He is way better with #2 in the potty than #1 and I think this is why.