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Rediscovering Domesticity: Potty Training: To Try or To Wait

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Potty Training: To Try or To Wait

Experienced parents of older kids, I come begging advice.  Hubby wants to get  Buggy potty trained this summer.  Buggy is 20 months.  Here's where he is developmentally:
  • He knows the word potty
  • He talks about the potty a lot
  • He loves his "job" of flushing the potty when he's in the bathroom with one of us
  • He is enthralled with the potty books and pictures of potties
  • He sometimes tells us when he's gone potty in his diaper
  • He no longer has a wet diaper each time we go to change him
  • He is incredibly smart and wants to do everything Mommy and Daddy does
  • He still has unpredictable and multiple dirty diapers each day
So - do we try?  Is it too early?  How do we start?  What method did you use?  What pearls of wisdom would you share with a first-timer?

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posted by Audra Michelle at 9:54 PM

7 Comments:

Anonymous Michelle said...

Wait. :) Definitely wait.

We tried with Josiah and he rebelled, tried again 6 months later and he did well.

We were waiting with Gideon and he told us he was ready.:)

I say, if he wants to try, let him, but in my opinion, waiting til later will save you a lot of frustration and probably your carpets. :)

June 16, 2010 at 10:04 PM  
Blogger Lynnette said...

Read Potty Training in a Day. There's a great list of indicators that your child is ready, and the method is great. Only one of my kids was potty trained in a day, but the principles are sound. My word of caution is not to remember that potty training is not a character issue- unless it becomes one because of a battle of wills. It's so easy to become fixated on it! We tend to try early, wait a while and try again. So far, my latest potty trained just after the third birthday. My earliest at 26 months. From what you've said, I'd give it a try and see what happens :) Good luck!

June 16, 2010 at 10:04 PM  
Anonymous Jen said...

From what I learned in school, it is developmentally detrimental to push potty training. Unless the child gets to be about 4 with no interest, you might be best advised to let him go on his own until he is ready-he will let you know!

June 16, 2010 at 10:11 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I would get a little potty chair and just set in the bathroom or potty seat. Maybe before his bath or when you change his diaper just let him sit on it if he wants too. If not then don't push it. Some children show signs earlier than others and want to try earlier than others. My cousin was potty trained by 26 months started showing signs around 20months. None of my boys showed interest until almost three and Conor was 3 1/2 before he was fully potty trained.

June 16, 2010 at 10:21 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

L began using the potty in the am and bedtime at 18 months. He fully potty trained himself by 27 months (except at night). Other than rewarding with an m n m, first when he tried, then when he went, we never did much of anything. I think us trusting him to trust his body, instead of assuming we could "teach" him to do this, led to our success.

June 16, 2010 at 10:26 PM  
Anonymous Cameron said...

I would continue to watch what he does and let him do what he asks to do, but not push at this point. My son started showing similar interest at a similar time, and we really tried to push it, with unsuccessful and very frustrating results. We let time pass, and he just naturally got to the point where 9 times out of 10 he was telling us before he went and successfully making it to the potty. Then we spent a few days really pushing it and it worked right away. I'd watch for him to get to the point where he is showing that consistent awareness and telling you before he goes. Then try it, otherwise you could just end up frustrating him and you. Hope that helps!!!

June 16, 2010 at 10:34 PM  
Blogger Amy said...

Sounds like he is getting close. With Stella (potty trained at 2.5) and now with Sam, I gave them opportunities to "try". First started just at bath time...let them sit on the potty. Then I moved to right before I changed their diapers at nap time. Again, just let them sit on the potty. So, opportunities to try are good, but I didn't make it a big deal if they didn't want to. The best advice I ever got was that when they are ready, they will do it...Don't let yourself get frustrated. Sure enough, Stella one day told me that she had to go potty. I took her and Ta-Dum! She's been going on the potty ever since. I am now just starting to give Sam more opportunities to try. He'll ask me sometimes to go, but he usually has just gone in his diaper. Good luck! Keep us posted!

June 16, 2010 at 10:56 PM  

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