D.E. asks from North Port, FL on September 29, 2009
Potty Training/ Chairs - North Port,FL
Hello, I have 17 month old boy/girl twins. My son for the last 3 days gets up in the morning and nap time with dry diapers. Within 5-10 min of waking up he then urinates. My daughter, still urinates while sleeping. Is it time to start potty training my son? Is it too soon for my daughter? (She does not let me know if she has to go.) Also, do I get 1 or 2 potty chairs? Do they come with removeable splash guards? What chairs do you recommend? What ones should we stay away from? Any tips/advise would be appreciated.
More Answers
T.R. answers from Cincinnati on September 29, 2009
I think it would be time to start training with your son but not your daughter. Personally i bought the lil potty seats that went on the big potty and the actual potty chairs and had better luck with the lil seats, plus they are cheaper. I'm not sure about buying two or not (I only have a son). I am think that maybe after seeing her brother on the potty , that your daughter may want to try, but I wouldn't push her or him for that matter. Hope i helped:)
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S.B. answers from Tampa on September 30, 2009
My son is 2 yrs 3 mo & is 99% potty trained (even at night). He wears underwear but still wears a pull-up at bedtime (not naps). His puul up is dry- it's "just in case" until we run out :)
I would try to start now (if they are interested) & I think I would buy 2... children learn thru modeling so one will learn from the other. We use a Step 1- but he also sits on a big toilet (butt near the back & puts his hands on the seat)- this way he can go in someones house or in public w/o a potty seat. We just wash hands really well & use antibacterial purell after.
At about 18 months he showed some interest, Again at 22 months & was successful a few times & then lost interest/refused. I just let it go because "they" say not to push it. lol
About 6-8 wks ago I let him wear Diego or Elmo underwear at home & asked him if he needed to go every 30 minutes. I still had him wear a pullup to playdates, but at home did the underwear. Afetr a few days I didn't ask him anymore- told me when he needed to go. Poop was more of an effort, but still came much easier than for some people... He tells me he's "itchy" when he has to poo. It may take 3 trips to the potty before he'll poop- but I haven't changed a poopy diaper in over a month ;)
I think it depends on their communication skills (he is extremely verbal). He had been doing great w/ urine & was getting a sticker every time he peed & one day I told him if he pooped in the potty he could have 5 stickers, call Gram & Gramma, Daddy at work & Auntie yes. He went that day & ever since! (we only made phone calls for 2 days :)
Whatever you do- it will be OK. Relax about & it when it happens use TONS of praise! Good luck :)
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V.W. answers from Jacksonville on September 29, 2009
When you decide to start (now or later, whichever) go for the seat attachments and a sturdy step stool, rather than a separate lil potty chair. It is SO much easier to keep things sanitary, and getting used to "going" places other than home is much easier, too. Unless you plan on them using separate toilets the rest of their lives, there's no need to buy two, lol (unless you want the convenience of having them in 2 different bathrooms in your home).
As for whether or not to start training now, there are as many opinions on this as there are women out there. I personally, would wait a bit, as basically YOU will be the one doing everything (removing clothing, putting him on the seat, wiping, refastening clothes, washing his hands, etc). Once he is a little older, he will be able to do many of these things for himself and that is the end goal: for him to go to the potty, without your assistance. If you start now, it may be a very long time before he is to that point. Are you willing to do ALL of it for that long? If you want to put him on the potty first thing in the morning and immediately after naps to save yourself some $ on diapers, go for it. But I wouldn't expect to be successful with true potty training beyond that, at this stage of the game. Keep in mind, if your kids were born at 29 weeks, their "true developmental age" is probably closer to 15 months, not 17 months, and that is WAY ahead of the "curve" for potty training with most kids.
My son did a great job training and was fully trained sometime between 30 and 36 months. My daughter was even better and was fully trained right about her 2nd birthday. By a lot of people's ideas they trained "early". Usually girls train a little earlier than boys. IMO, I would wait.
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R.W. answers from Tampa on September 30, 2009
I would get two potty chairs and start putting your son on it when he first wakes up and several times through out the day. He sounds like he is ready. You can try your daughter but she may not be quite ready yet. Children get ready for potty training at different ages. My oldest was potty trained long before she turned two. The younger one was right about two when she was trained. Use your judgement. You are the one that is with them and knows them. You husband could take your son in the bathroom when he goes. That would help speed up the potty training. I always let my girls go potty when I did. Honestly, I did not potty train my oldest. She did it herself. She just went when I did.
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R.C. answers from Sarasota on September 30, 2009
I would really recommend waiting. I think it goes a lot better when they're older. My daughter seemed interested for about a week after she turned two, but didn't REALLY get it, so I waited. Four months later she was ready and it worked. My son is almost two and sits on the potty before bath, but you can tell he still doesn't understand.
It helps if they can talk to you/understand you. It helps if they can take their pants down and get on the potty themselves, wipe themselves and get back up themselves. And I think it goes better for them if they know what they're doing--they are so proud!
It's going to be a lot of work at first no matter what, but I think it's a lot less frustrating when they're ready.
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K.D. answers from Orlando on September 30, 2009
I have twins, I had one daughter that was ready earlier than the other but I waited until they were both really ready. I put it off until they were 2.5 years old and it worked great, they were both trained in a week. (we used the train in a day method) I felt like I would rather wait and get it done quickly vs. start early and drag it out for months. We have two potty chairs, my twins tend to fight over anything and it wasn't worth it. We have the kind that turn in to step stools, now one is at the sink in the downstairs bathroom and one is at the sink in the upstairs bathroom. They are $15.00 at walmart.
A.G. answers from Mayaguez on October 01, 2009
It may be a little too soon to try potty training, but he's on his way. It is good to start noticing his pee-n-poop habits. You already know to take him to the bathroom after waking up and nap times. Maybe also after meals.
As for pullups or potty chairs, don't bother with them. Use the toilet. You teach him to hold himself on the seat and to wash his hands afterwards. Your daughter will pick up on this and will soon follow. Good luck
M.M. answers from Tampa on September 30, 2009
Hi D., it's ok if one is ready and not the other...cause eventually she will see her brother going and she'll want to go.
make it fun and exciting...make a sticker chart (just like good behavior) and she will see it as something cool.
girls are usually good about potty training, mine have basically potty trained themselves and i let them be independent, just ask them to call M. once they are finished so i can clean them up.
i would get a step stool and a cushioned child's seat to go on top of your reg. seat, they sell them everywhere. because buying the potty chairs was so much of a waste for me....and time consumming!
so if you have anymore Q's feel free to ask :O) take care and best of luck with potty training.
M.
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