Seeking Advice on Potty Training - Phoenix,AZ

I had two boys that trained around this age. Every child is different, but naked worked well in both cases. Both were good at telling me when they had to go when out and about as well.
I think its awesome and that you are aware of what he is doing. There is a window of opportunity that happens with many toddlers around 18 months.
Congratulations to you for recognizing it!

Since your son is so young (about 18 months away from the average age of boys potty training), I suggest just letting him decide how he wants to do it.
Our daughter was also young when she started and we never pushed anything on her. We just let her "tell" us what she was ready for.
Since she was able to dress herself at the time (which is very important when potty training. If your son can't pull his pants down yet, you're going to have a lot of work a head of you), we bought pull ups. So we first got her used to pulling her pants up and down. Pull pants down, sit on potty, pull pants up, flush, wash hands. She didn't always go, but the pattern was always the same.
Eventually, she started actually going. It was a while ago, so I can't remember exactly what else we did. What we didn't do was use rewards. Lots of moms I know used M&Ms and other candy. But we found she did just fine without all the added sugar. We just used tons of praise and acted like she was the first child to ever go on the potty.
When she was older and could understand more, we used stickers as a reward and continued the praise. It was a long process, but by the time she was a little over 2.5 years, she was dry day and night. She still has accidents every now and then and we just treat them as no big deal and clean it up.
Since he is so young, my biggest piece of advice is to not get stressed out. He will sense your stress and the whole thing may backfire on you. Be patient with him and let him have LOTS of accidents.

Hi M.,
One of the authors on my site has a book about potty training using a method that she has patented. It's titled "Dry All Day, Potty Training Skills" by Elaine D'Ippolito. The book has a wealth of great ideas with a parent's guide, skill building activities and more. You can find it at: http://www.winmarkcom.com/pottyworks.htm It sells for $9.99.
K.

I worked in a day care for 5 years, in the 2 year old room, and we did potty training. A few things you could try..
-set him on the potty every time you change his diaper. Stay in the room with him and keep him entertained until he is done sitting.
-let him wear big boy unders over his diaper, and have him pull them down when you change him so he learns how to manuever them.
-get a play date with a trained child. Leave their potties out (or in the same room) so that when the other child needs to go, your son can see how and when its done.
-"Once Upon A Potty" is a very cute book, and kids love the colors and factual labels.
-Praise often, and only say something like "uh-oh, lets go clean that up" when he has an accident. Fear can hold a child back, and they LOVE to make us happy.
-listen to your child and your instincts. One thousand books arent going to tell you if he's ready, and you're his mom, you'll know better than anyone.
Good luck!

Hi M.,

I think you are getting too concerned about doing something "wrong" so you feel you have to have a book to lean on. Not that books are not useful, but your son sounds like he might just do most of the work anyhow.
He's going to need help with fine motor stuff...like zips & buttons, wiping etc for quite some time...so just have clothes easy for you and him to deal with.
Make sure opportunities to go to the bathroom are available, but do not keep asking so often that the kid "burns out". I would esp avoid interrupting favorite play activities. No one likes to be interrupted.
If progress waxes and wanes..that is normal. Just take things as they come. If you make a really big deal about the toilet, you risk giving yourself more stress than need be. Good Luck!

"Toilet Training in Less Than a Day" by Nathan Azrin is available at the Phoenix Public Library and offers a very logical approach to potty training. They came up with the method for developmentally challenged people and found that it works for children as young as 18 months. My experience with my 2 year old was a very good one. She still has some accidents - 1 or 2 per week - but overall she has done well. You just have to be prepared for several hours without interruption - leaving the house - people coming over - etc. Good luck.

Hi M.,
I learned a couple things potty-training my first son last spring. I'm the "scientist-type" of personality: I go through logical steps to try and figure out problems. I'm *not* the Mother-Earth type (don't get me wrong, I am jealous of M.E.-type moms who can get things done on intuition like that!), so if you're like me: this may be helpful.

Set aside a set date for potty training, and plan to be glued to the house for the first week at least (my husband would stay home with our son so I could get away). My son is a "sensory" kid, so I needed much more than one week.

Get your team behind you: if Dad, daycare, babysitter aren't going to support you: it will not work.

Summer's coming: Go Commando as much as possible. I know a Mom, that's *all* she had to do to potty-train her 4 kids (boys and girls) before the age of 2.

Buy a second potty for the car, so once he's trained enough to go to the store, you can take potty-breaks anywhere along the road.

Don't go to the next level of independence until he's ready. Example: I knew my son was finally getting reliable enough to not need an every-hour schedule when he 1) started asking to use the potty; and 2) I'd find poops in the potty, and have no idea how they got there - lol!

Don't turn potty-time into drama-time. Pooping is a fact of life. Getting excited over turds is weird, and makes your colon "inoperable" when you think Mom's gonna flip out over it (this is meant to be tongue-in-cheek). Like another Mom said, sit with him until he poops, and set pooping times (like right after breakfast), where he has to sit until poop comes out. "Commando" also works well for poo :)

Remember that potty "trained" does not mean "no accidents." It's a skill your boy will master over a long time: it's just the first week or two (or for some kids, a weekend), for the initial "aha" moment.

Most of all, trust your instincts that he is ready. Before the 1960's, everyone was potty-trained by 2 (2 1/2 at the latest!) and no one said boys took longer than girls.

Good luck!
t

have you heard of the "3-day method"? i am going to try it with my 21 month old next week. look it up. if you can't find much, you usually have to pay for it, let me know. i can email you a copy. it sounds like it will work very well. we will see. from what i hear it depends on the child but we will see! :)

Hi M.,

I say if your son shows interest, go for it. My daughter was 19 months when she started showing interest and I decided to wait a couple of weeks for a week my hubby was off work so we could both work on it. Well she didnt want to wait and started taking off her clothes and diaper all the time anytime she was home. So at home we let her run around naked and she made it to the potty on time all the time (we started out with a toddler potty to give her something her size to start out with to get the hang of it and now a week and a half later, she is using the big potty with an adapter seat). She doesnt wear a diaper at naptime, just at night and on long car trips. But thru no talent of my own, all her own hard work, she is nearly potty trained. If he is really interested, just show him how to use the potty, let him wear loose clothes or no clothes at first, give lots of praise (i didnt give her candy or anything when she went, just lots of hugs, happiness and hi-fives)when he goes and lots of support if he has an accident and he will get it. :)Its an amazing experience potty training one so young (my older son was 3 before he wanted to do it) so enjoy it and revel in your friends' amazement. :P Good luck!