Potty Training - Mankato, MN

I have a son and a daughter. And both of them trained easily within a week when they were ready. I never really did anything special. I did have a few days where each of them got a little treat when they went, but they were so ready at that point, I never had to ask them if they had to go. My daughter was 3 and my son was 3 1/2. So I really found a lot of peace in just not thinking about it! They all do it when they're ready. And it isn't a sign of anything wrong if they don't potty train early. My son is now in 1st grade and is doing everything way above grade level, so it clearly isn't a sign of intelligence. Anyways - good luck!

I have a daughter and she was trained within a week. All I did was bought here some of the thick training underwear and she hated it when she would pee. My brother did the samething with his daughter. I have a son too but he is only 9 months old right now. Let me know what works.

My son potty trained in one day when he was 28 months old.
We started by buying him underwear of his choice (Thomas the Tank Engine) and told him he could wear Thomas as long as he stayed dry. He got so excited he had an accident the first time he put them on, but we forgave him. =)
On the day I decided to start, he put on the underwear and I set a timer. Every 30 minutes, he sat on the potty chair. If anything came out he got to put a sticker on a chart I made (he REALLY wanted to cover the chart with stickers). Surprisingly, he peed almost every time and didn't have a single accident! It was a long process but I made sure we had nothing planned that day so we could stick to the schedule.
The next day, the underwear went on but I didn't set a timer. I would just frequently ask if he needed to go potty. Again, no accidents, and he started telling me when he needed to go.
I waited a while before I started pushing night-dryness (a couple months, I think), but he was daytime potty trained without any problems. I would put pull-ups on him if we needed to go anywhere (mall, grocery store, etc.) since it's hard to drop everything and get to the nearest toilet in time for his tiny bladder (although he usually managed to stay dry), but I think it was only about a month before we felt comfortable going diaper free.
I suggest letting Gordon pick out his own underwear and whatever reward system that works for him (candy, stickers, toys, pennies, special time, etc.) so he feels like he's in control. You can also put Cheerios in the toilet for him to aim at. Boys seem to think that's a lot of fun. =)
When you're ready for him to use the big toilet (and you may want to just start that way and skip the potty chair) my mom gave me some great advice: have him sit on it backwards. That way, he gets used to facing the toilet in preparation for peeing while standing, AND he can hold on to the back of the toilet, which makes him feel more secure and, since he has to lean forward slightly, it naturally aims the stream into the toilet water instead of all over the bathroom. The same leaning trick works for when he's ready to stand up.
Good luck!

I am a 51 year-old mom of four grown boys, one grandson and another on the way! Way back in the day when I pottied trained my boys, I'd spend one full day with them in one room with the potty chair and only underwear. I kept them well hydrated and just kept putting them on the potty or I'd have them sit on it and read a book or played a game. Eventually they'd pee. Believe it or not it only took that one day for them to know what needed to be done. Going poo on the potty chair took a little more time, though. They were around the age of two when potty trained and one was 18 months old, but he was so ready and I was pregnant with my last one. I'm trying to get my two year old grandson to go, but some days he just doesn't want to cooperate. The worst thing to do is force them.
I put Cherrios in the big toilet and tell my grandson to shoot them. He straddles the toilet.
Good luck and it takes lots of patience!

He has to be ready physcially mentally emotionally etc.........

Is he waking up in the morning or at nap time dry? If so his bladder is physically ready to hold it. When he wakes up dry it's obvious he has to go so that's a perfect time to go try and use the potty because he will need to empty his bladder for sure.

Is he mentally ready? Asking questions, imitating going like sitting on the potty interested? If not he's not ready

He's ready when he can tell you he needs to go and not you asking him every hour. If you have to ask him every hour if he needs to go then he's not really trained YOU are!

What worked for me was turning potty training into a competition at the daycare I worked at and my daughter attended. It was 3 children and they would fight over who got to go first etc. My daughter also use to follow me around the house and wanted to be like me so if I went she would go sit on her potty too.

It's a long road my daughter started using the potty by herself at 15mos. but wasn't trained til 2.5 years because we got into a power struggle the more I tried the more she resisted.

Alot of people say any child can be trained early on but from what I've seen boys do take longer more like 3-4.5 because of maturity.

My son was not potty trained until 2 months before his 3rd birthday. You will find when you research more that boys typically are potty trained later than girls and usually not until 3-years-old or later. I tried to start my son early, too, but had to back up and wait it out a bit, letting him get to a point where he was ready and willing to try. Once we were on the potty training train once again...We did use pull-ups during the day at first, but found that he became dependent on them and would not go to the bathroom because he could just go in the pull-up. So, we pulled the day pull-up first, and we only had an accident or two (treated as NO BIG DEAL, just change clothes and move on) - and then he was trained during the day. At naptime, we did put a pull-up on for a couple of weeks because it was harder for him to control his urge to pee when he was sleeping - it took longer. It took a long time for us to pull the nighttime pull-up. There was an accident or 2 again, but nothing major. It all took a reasonably long time, but went pretty well once we realized that we could just take our time and go at HIS pace - not our pace. One final note, he did "hold his poop" and would not go in the potty for a long time. He still waits until the last minute to poop on the potty and needs much coaxing to get in there and do his business. I've compared notes with friends and, apparently, this is a common boy thing, too. How nice!? :) Good luck to you! My little girl will be next!

We did the "Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro" by Teri Crane. It's all about throwing a huge party that makes potty training fun. (Well, 7 pairs of underwear in 1 day isn't my idea of fun, but he loved the attention.)

Our son was 2.5, & he was mostly potty trained in 1 week (an accident every couple days) & fully potty trained (no accidents) in 2 mo. We had another son shortly after the first was trained, & our older son never regressed, though we were expecting it. We feel very fortunate, but I give a lot of credit to the book because our son didn't even want to sit on the potty before our "potty training boot camp" weekend. At 3.5 he still sits instead of stands, as that seems to be easier for him.

Good luck! I was terrified of potty training, but thankfully it was remarkably uneventful.

Potty training is tricky. Your child has to be ready and if you push too hard too soon, it might matters worse.
I have 5 year old twin boys and they were almost 3 1/2 before they were 100% potty trained. I had one that was very interested and one that was not.
We tried sevral technics;and I just found that I had to be patient with them.
We did make a big deal out of going to Target and picking out big boy underwear. We also tried on the weekends when we were at home, to let them be in just underwear and then set a timer and go to the bathroom every 15-20 min or so.
Every other mom I have talked to say that boys are harder to potty train then girls and that boys are later then girls.
I don't know if that helps you at all.

I will re-iterate what others have said...unless it is imperative that you train your son immediately, WAIT! My son is 3 1/2, and wasn't ready until recently to be potty trained. Since he was ready--he asked to wear big boy underwear--it literally took three days to make it part of our daily routine. He now is completely potty trained. I should mention, though, that we started pooping in the potty about two months prior to the peeing in the potty, since he was more comfortable with that. We used a large daily chart and he received stickers on the chart and a sticker to wear every time he pooped in the potty. We haven't had to do that for the peeing, but it was helpful as a way to promote positive reinforcement for the initial training. I feel that once children are physically and psychologically ready, potty training will happen; but if it is pushed too soon, it can take a long time. Boys also need more time than girls, in my opinion, and each child is different. Plus, you can make yourself crazy trying to get him trained when he just isn't ready to do so! Good luck!

Hello! I can't say that I potty trained my boys in 3 days, it's a life changing thing for them and you can't expect it to happen that quickly. Also, be aware that boys are not always ready at 2, most of them are not physically ready until around 3, their muscles are just not completely developed, so if you try and he doesn't do so well, wait a little bit and try again. Just make sure he is showing signs of readiness, interest in the potty, dry diapers for a length of time, etc. After that, let him pick out his own potty chair, from my experience and from listening to my friends getting the seat that sits on the potty instead of a little potty works better, then you don't have to train twice. Also I have found that teaching my boys to go wee-wee standing up works better than trying to teach them sitting down. They like to see what they are doing, and you can always put cherrios or something in the water for something for him to aim at, but realize that you are going to have to help him aim for the first few times, otherwise you are going to be washing your walls alot. :) As for pooping, that's the scariest for kids, just make sure to cheer and clap and make it a really happy time everytime he does it. Good luck!

have you tried floating cheerios or fruit loops in the toilet bowl for him to aim at? My boys loved sinkinh the cereal and made wanting to go in the toilet more fun. Worked for us. Just a thought. ~C.S.

The best way I have heard to help boy's potty train is to put a square of tissue in the toilet and have them try to hit it. I had a friend draw a target to help it stand out more. It really helped her son. I have a daughter and she was the one who started the potty training at 14 months (and never looked back). We switched to real underpants so she was truly a bit kid and could tell when she had an accident (it only took one for to know she didn't like the wet feeling). I found it best to dress her in clothes she could get out of fast and to limit beverages before bed. I used a sticker chart and small toys as rewards for accident free days/nights. Hope this helps.

I work with kids on a daily and YES boys to typically take longer to potty train. There are a few that train early but as a rule the average age is 3 yrs of age. Each child will give you signs that they are ready to start. My son was 3 when we potty trained. My daugter was potty trained before she even turned 2. So whoever told you to have patients with your child knows that they are talking about. It was really frustrating to me to wait for my son but I did and it benefited. He was potty trained in a weekend. Go at it gradually and it will all work out.

No offense to the other ladies who responded,BUT I'm so tired of hearing the excuse that BOYS are harder to potty train than girls!!!! I have one of each and both kids were potty trained by 2 yrs and 4 months. Take each kid individually, not by their gender! Look for the signs of interest in the potty, read potty training books, note if their interested in what you are doing in the bathroom or a sibling, if they are excited to buy big boy/girl underwear.
As a stay at home Mom I decided to pick a week to stay home, no playdates, a quiet schedule that we could concentrate on potty training.
With my daughter (oldest child) we made a big deal about going to the store and picking out just the right potty, and looking at big girl undies that she could have once she was potty trained. With both kids we used pull ups and of course easy to remove pants (you have to be quick).
Then we drank lots of water, played and sat on the potty every 20 to 30 minutes, when we had success we did the pee-pee dance and celebrated, we also called Daddy of the phone who also made a big fuss. We repeated this for a few days, then increased the duration between potty visits until he/she started giving signal of needing to go, wiggling, holding crotch, of simpling asking to go. Stay posotive.
I think a lot of kids could be trained earlier, the parents need to be as ready as the kids:)
Good luck

I have three kids and know lots of people who've potty trained. No kid can be potty trained in three days unless they're 4 and have just been stubborn with you. With some kids it is a battle of the wills. If you pick a day you want to start training your son...it will never work. I did that with my first and it was a disaster. Then 3 months later she cried because she didn't want to wear diapers. When they are ready you'll know. But believe me I am NOT one of those moms who believes 4 yr. old boys need to be in pull-ups at preschool. That blows my mind. My youngest is 2 and 4 months. He's been peeing in the potty chair for 8 weeks. No success though on the other bodily function. It will happen when it happens. My opinion is that bribery is okay if used sparingly. We don't want our kids going to Kindergarten and refusing to use the toilet unless their teacher gives them M & M's...Good luck and stay patient. One day you'll look back and laugh and think, "Wow that was tough!"

Hey L.,
I'm a SAHM too and I have two boys (7yrs. & 5 yrs.). I also have a 2 yr. old daughter who I am sortof trying to potty train. With my first son I took out the potty at 18 mo. By 2 1/2 he was still not cooperating, and we tried everything! When he'd get a rash, I would explain that it was from his dirty diaper and that using the potty would fix that. He TOLD me to "leave the poop in there and let it burn his butt!" The WEEK he turned 3 he trained on his own and never had a single accident-even in the night.
My middle son was trained by 3 also and now I'm trying with our daughter but she goes only when SHE wants to. Do I force her, no. Should I?... my cousin did with her kids and they were trained in a week. She took them everywhere with just underwear & pants and if they wet somewhere there was a mess to clean up. I don't have the guts or patience for that. Maybe if you can commit yourself to stay home for a couple of weeks and let them run around naked, with a potty close by...
Bottom line, they seem to show signs when they're ready and it's not worth making it a frustrating experience.
Maybe I need advice too! :)

Hi L.,

What worked for me was this. I took my daughter with me to pick out underware. We did this when she was right around two. We started by just putting on the panties. Pull-ups absolutly do not work, they are pretty much the same as diapers. The first time she peed in her pants she asked me....what is that mommy. I knew she wasn't quite ready. We waited a month or so...more wet pants. I tried a few times before we actually got it. I went really stress-free on it and if she wet her pants more than once in a day or two we stopped. Then one time when we were trying she just really seemed to get it. We have been in panties since.

She was probably right around 2 1/2. As far as boys taking longer it can be true but it really does depends on the child. He may or may not be ready but it's up to you both to decide that and how important it is for you for him to learn. If he is not ready he can still be taught it will just take longer.

Also I don't believe in "rewards". The good behavior or potty is it's own reward. If we teach them they get "prizes" for doing stuff when does it end? Their pride in themselves is a much over looked "Prize" :o)

For the first few times going out in public I did put a pull-up on over her panties. That way if she wet, she felt wet but there wasn't a mess.

Also it is very common for constipation to occur when first potty training so be prepared for that.

Good Luck! I have potty trained 4 kids and it is a different adventure each time :o)
~A.

Most boys don't train until they are 3 1/2 years old or so. I think anyone can train a child in 3 days when the child is ready to do it because they will let you know they are ready. I did sticker charts and M&M's and lots of other things and it didn't work. They just did it when they were ready. The one thing with the M&M's was that they got 1 for a pee and 2 for a poop and when I gave them to them they had to tell me what color they were too. It made them learn their colors but didn't get them trained so it worked for something anyways :o)
I would just ask him about once a week if he wants to pee in the potty and he'll let you know when he wants to.
Good luck,
J.
Mom to 4 and another coming soon through another adoption.

All you can do is try some methods and see what works. Some kids take to it really easily and are willing to have you help them learn and other kids refuse any interference at all and won't be out of diapers until they can do it 100% by themselves. I tried timers, going naked, the big boy underwear bribe, stickers, etc. over the course of 2 years (from when my son first showed interest at 22 months until 45 months of age when he was finally 95% set with both peeing and pooping). Everyone getting promising that this method or that method would work, yea right! My son night trained on his own at 3 yearsof age with absolutely no planning on my part, but daytime was elusive for us for many reasons including his sensory issues (he could not tell when he had to go), very irregular bowel movements, "stubborness" (he wanted no input or suggestions from me and he didn't want to interrupt his play time to go), and some other minor issues.

Finally I resorted to potty treats. Every time I wanted him to try going potty (before leaving the house or something) I would encourage him with the reward of a potty treat. It was what he needed to be willing to interrupt his play. I left everything else up to him and when he started experiencing success he stopped asking for the treats.

There is no absolute magic potty training method that works for every kid. There is only the magical method that works for your kid and you might have to experiment a little. Some kids potty learn easily no matter what method you pick and some kids struggle no matter what method you choose.

The only universal rule I know is "Don't get in a power struggle over it" but I'm sure someone will come back with an exception to that one too:) I hope it goes smoothly for you, but know that if it doesn't, you are not alone :)

L.,

I used the book "Toilet Training in Less than a Day." The book is pretty old, older than me I think, but it has been very effective and that is why it is still around. It's the same method Dr. Phil recommends and I had a child development professor in college who used it, too. (Drop off your kid in the morning, pay $100, pick up a potty trained toddler in the afternoon.) He had a 96% success rate.

My first kid took about a week with this method and my second about the same. My third had it down in 4 hours. My best advice if you choose to use the book is FOLLOW IT TO THE LETTER. It is like a recipe. If you pick and choose stuff to do out of the book, don't expect the results they promise. It has to be exact. I just go on about this because I recommend this book to moms, they read a few pages, half-heartedly try a suggestion, then get mad because their kid doesn't potty train within the hour. If this is your method of choice, spend at least a week learning the method before teaching your son.

Good luck,
S.