Any tips for starting potty training?

Question

My son is 17 months old, and I'm ready to start potty training. I don't want it to be hard on him or me, but I would like to have him pretty much potty trained by the time he is 2. I've heard boys are harder to get potty trained, which also makes me want to start now. I put him on the potty before he gets in the bath, and I flush the toilet to help him pee, and associate the feeling of having to pee with the toilet. I noticed that he would always pee within the first few minutes of being in the tub, and I've heard that the sound of water makes children have to pee, which is why I flush. Is there anything else that I can do to help make this a postive experience for him, and a non-stressful experience for me?

Answer 1

You're off to a good start. When I first started, I would turn on the faucet or make a sss... sound. It usually works. Use books to keep him entertained on the potty (during poop time). You'll be amazed at how much he learns!

For the process I went through, see my answers for two other potty training questions (both chosen as best answer by the askers):

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aj4SGIdxTyItPLBHHBJu5Jjsy6IX?qid=20070508083620AAi4jP5&show=7#profile-info-p4uG1kUWaa

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ai.ShcitjH4OXrAyY.koKiPsy6IX?qid=20070508203450AAIBN6K&show=7#profile-info-kfuAAuUfaa

Answer 2

Well, I think the best thing to do is let it naturally occur. If he is showing signs of being interested in potty training then I say go for it. Because if he is not interested then he won't go period. I just started potty training my daughter (who will be 2 this month) and she likes that I made her a potty chart. We celebrate everytime she goes to the potty. I also put stickers on the chart for positive reinforcement. We have only been doing this for 3 wks now and she really is getting the hang of it. She knows that with every pee pee or poo poo she gets verbal praise and a sticker. Good luck because it can get frustrating at times. Be patient!

Answer 3

I think you have received some really good advice here.

Potty training has alot of variables and the biggest one is the individual child who is training.

One thing I would add to the answers here if you are looking to speed up potty training is to use the Potty Stool. I used The Potty Stool with both my son and daughter and the process was quicker and easier than it would have been without it.
My son really likes standing to pee and "making bubbles" and with the stool he has no problems. Using the stool also gets him very comfortable with the toilet and eliminates concerns he might have like stability, being up high, or not being able to keep feet and hands firmly planted on something solid.

Answer 4

i don't know your situation. if your husband will help, good. if your son goes to daycare, make sure the care provider is willing to help you
(mine wasn't until i took all of her diapers away, and forced her to do it)

it would be helpful if you got a potty training book geared towards children and sat down and read it together and talked a little about it-- so he'll understand what is going on.

him understanding is key.

if/when you decide to start, remember to carry lots of extra changes of clothes around w/ you.

it might be best to start on the weekend, or when you have days off, and are able to stay at home. you will still want to use diapers at nap time and when he goes down for the night.

there are "signs" to look for to know if your child is ready for potty training.

does he know when he's peed or pooped his diaper?
does he ask for his diaper to be changed?

things like this.

to me, he seems kind of young to even start training.

my son wasn't fully trained until he was 4 yrs old, but he was trained in less then a week, and rarely had any accidents afterwards.

i tried 3 times before we were successful.

you shouldn't force him, or it will never happen. do not use those "training" diapers, because they still absorb the pee/poop.

they don't work and are much more expensive then regular underwear.

you MUST use underwear.

he needs to FEEL how icky the pee/poop is and remember the feeling in his body, before it comes out...

this is not possible when using training pants or diapers because they absorbe the wetness etc.

go w/ him to the store and let HIM pick out which undies he wants (those cool one's w/ the characters on the front) you're going to need quite a few, because he will go through several a day until he 'gets it'

this will get him motivated, cause he'll get to wear those neat underwear!

he must understand when you try to explain the feelings of needing to go to the bathroom.

i told my son it tickles or sometimes hurts when he needs to go pee

and it feels like you have to fart when going poop.

he was bladder trained in less then a day, and bowel training took about a week. (he wasn't associating a feeling w/ BMs

be patient, and don't rush him.

you MUST be consistent

take him to the bathroom every 30 minutes.
and use the reward system give him "treats" (small toys or 1 m&m per pee/bm)

and make a HUGE DEAL out of it when he goes.

if he just doesn't seem to "get it" or he isn't interested. let it go... he's not ready.

you can try again in a few months :0)

hope this was helpful! good luck! (sorry it was so long!)

Answer 5

My daughter is 17 months and we also are establishing the potty coaching procedure. She hasn't thoroughly long gone at the potty but but when we are within the restroom getting capable for a tub, I allow her run round bare and if she begins peeing I will run and take a seat her on her coaching potty. Then I simply inform her that if she sits at the potty like a huge lady whilst she is going peepee or poopoo, she'll get a deal with. That's approximately the one tip I have correct now! Just be certain she is particularly familiarized with the entire procedure, and she's going to get the standard proposal whilst she's capable. As for the pants, I haven't any recommendation seeing that I am within the US! Good success!

Answer 6

I've done two extremes:

Started at about 18 months, really relaxed, brought her to the potty often - and it took my daughter 1 full year to be potty trained... and...

Started at 3 years old - when they're old enough to reason with you. Took of the diapers, showed them (older 2 kids) the potty and said, "No more diapers! That's where you go now" and they were both potty trained within 1 weekend.

Answer 7

Whatever you do, don't rush it. He is young, but if you feel like he is ready, then do it. My daughter is almost 2 and a half and she is not fully trained. The daycare that she goes to was almost forcing her and I had so many problems. If he does not seem ready or willing, I would wait it out. Try getting some cool potty accessories, like a baby potty and maybe some cool Cottenelle toilet paper with the "Training Dogs". They seem to be stimulating and effective. Good Luck

Answer 8

I trained my daughter in less than 4 hours one afternoon by using the book Toilet Training in Less Than a Day. I did make some modifications to thier method such as adding hand washing which they seem to have overlooked but the concept is good and makes your child very proud to use the potty completely on thier own. The process they use involves lots of beverages and salty snacks in a short period of time for each achievement (even those as simple as pulling down thier pants) accompanied by lots of praise. It also involves the child cleaning up thier own accidents which are inevitable when training. It seemed odd to me at first using food and drink as reward, but its actual purpose was to get her drinking enough that she needed to potty frequently. Amazingly she did not request treats after the training either since the accomplishment was enough for her as well as having to clean up her own messes as a deterent to accidents. She would tell me she had gone potty every time she had finished and she was always very proud. I trained her the day after her second birthday she is now 4 years old and I can count the number of accidents she has had on 1 hand.

Answer 9

the question is is he ready to be trained?? is he showing intrest in going to use the potty? it doesnt matter if you are ready or not its all on him to be ready. IF you notice that he always pees in the tub put him on the potty for a few minutes before he goes in the tub, but if he is not ready i wouldnt push him.

Answer 10

you might be ready but hes not. you wont be able to train him until hes ready. its not about what you want dear.

boys in general and i have a son so i have some knowledge dont train until age 3 or around about age 3

to start sit him on the potty chair fully clothed then sit him on in naked while your drawing his bath.

then start sitting him on it once an hour every hour for 5 minutes and use cotton underwear not pull ups or diapers save them for naps bedtime and car rides when out doing errands where a potty might not be findable no need embarassing him