Potty Training – a How-To Guide

I fully agree with you -- I call it the "whatever" school of potty training. You want to go? Whatever. You don't want to go? Whatever. You want a diaper? Whatever. See, easy peasy.

LOL, I totally thought you were going to be sharing a 12 pages reference book, but this is a great tip. I'm glad it worked out so well for you!
:) Becky
http://www.stinkylemsky.typepad.com/

I am in the midst of potty training my eldest son. I was going to do both my boys at once but when my youngest crapped on the floor and laughed I decided to give up on him for the time being. My eldest is doing great, so at least I have one heading out of diapers.

My son is only 20 months old, but we started training him to pee in the bathroom since 8 months. He hasn't learned to talk yet so we can't wean him off diapers at the moment (and there's no pressure to), but whenever we tell him to go pee he knows how to walk to the bathroom. The only thing is that he finds it odd to pee standing up, so he squats and pees like a girl. Oh well, we'll do this in baby steps, like you said when they're ready.

I had my last little girl pooing in the potty at 11 months. She would grunt at me whenever she had to go. We started training for that at the same time she started eating solids, too young for attitude. Our fifth child is only 2 months right now. I can't wait to see if we just got lucky last time, or if my methods will work again. A few months of diligent watching are far more favorable than years of smelly diapers!

I started potty training my son earlier than most people. I had seen infant potty training occuring all over when I was in China, and a friend gave me a book on it. I actually thought I was starting later than I should have to really get it down efficiently, but I'm so glad I did start when I did. It has saved me so much time and money in the long-run. By 18 months we were catching most of his poops, many of them on his own accord. Now at 2 and a half he tells me, "Get out Mommy! Give me pivacy [privacy]!" He would even wipe for himself, but homeboy's arms are just too short!

I'm in China now, and a previous poster noted that they potty train earlier here. True enough - but here the kids wear split pants and squat whereever they are when they need to go - kinda gross. My two boys trained when ready (great advice, daring young mom), both at three years, almost to the day. My third child, a girl, whipped off her diaper before she turned 2 and decided to use the potty. It's been a month, and I swear she's already better than the boys. Here in China, I won't allow her to use most public toilets. They are mostly squatties, and I just don't want my little girl squatting in those places. Some of them are downright nasty (picture the vilest stateside gas station restroom, minus an actual toilet and with a little basket to toss the used toilet paper). But I don't want her doing it "local style" and squatting where she pleases. So I'm relying on imported Pull-Ups - you thought those suckers were expensive in the States! Hopefully my fourth baby (yes, I'm insane) stays happily in diapers until we're ready to move again... emailfromtheembassy.blogspot.com

I attempted to PT my boy at about 2 (since his sister did it in a couple of days at 2yo and I thought the excellent genius gene would have coursed through both their bodies) and it was awful. We put it on hold for 6 mos and it went so much better! Not smoothly, but better. And I've totally made up for their book deals in various other ways. Besides, I've got ample time left to ruin them well.

thanks, you guys have totaly just saved me from pulling out the last strand. my son is one and i am having a time TRYING to train him but he not going at all. he will sit on the toilet and not go for as long as he sits soon a he gets up he goes. i got to thinking maybe he's not ready but he's just so smart(not that not training now makes him any less smart) i guess i just figured he would pick it up easy because everything with him has just been so easy. but neway thanks again daddy and i will just have to wait till he wants to do it.

I can't remember the last time my eleven month old pooed anywhere besides the potty. She pees about 80% of the time on the potty too. I'm DOWN with learning from other countries and cultures. Only us Western countries believe that children must wait until we see signs of "readiness", everywhere else they start ALL their children within the first few months of birth and read their children's signals that they have to go, same as tired and hungry signals. When more than half the worlds children are potty trained by the time they're one, I can't believe they all need therapy. Why would God create a world where like that? And where up until disposables were accessible all kids got screwed up? Freud and diaper companies may have thought so and influenced us into all this waiting waiting, but I tell ya what - I believe it's healthy to start them early and lovingly help them learn until they FINISH when they're ready. Books I liked, "Diaper Free Before Three" by Dr. Jill Lekovic Infant Potty Training: A Gentle and Primeval Method Adapted to Modern Living by Laurie Boucke. It's awesome, seriously. After doing it this way I am in awe of diapering toddlers. WHY, I ask? This way ROCKS. It's healthier and happier for all involved! :) P.S. It's also called, "Elimination Communication".

I don't know a single other parent who potty trains this early, and most give me the rolling eyes look when they hear that mine use the potty at such a young age. I am on my fifth child, and my experience is that it is much easier to train a child under the age of one than it is a two year old. It is gross to wait until three! These little children are growing and learning at a phenomenal rate, it is demeaning to them to allow such an unhealthy habit to continue. It is today's American society that has allowed this trend of "waiting" to flourish. Working mothers and day care providers can not watch for the signs that signal a child's impending bowel movement. Stay home mothers have been taught to wait until a child shows readiness. Good grief, get them out of those smelly, expensive things as soon as possible for everybody's benefit.

I completely agree with you! Waiting is the only key to success in this initiative;)

Hi! I need tips on what to do while travelling with a one year old. We are going for a vacation and the plane ride is 17 hours. What can I do so that my baby will not be restless?

Vervien, here's a link I read just the other day with tips for traveling with a small child. It's written by a flight attendant who's been traveling with her small child was 3 months old. http://www.gadling.com/2008/07/14/galley-gossip-tips-for-traveling-with-children/

We are nervous -- our daughter was a dream when it came to potty training. Out of diapers and onto big girl panties when so many of our friends with children older than she were beginning to discuss potty training. But she was ready. All of the pointers you didn't write about were there. But we wonder about our boy, who is still an infant. But it is this advice -- wait till they are ready -- that helped us with our daughter, and we know will help us with him too. http://www.tahmari.blogspot.com/

My son is 2 years old and is still not talking. I am not sure what I should do. He is our only child so he does not learn from an older sibling which I know helps some kids. And I stay at home with him all day. What is a mom to do?