Just finished successful potty-training in a shorter time frame than I thought. I thought I was looking to be in doors potty training for 2 weeks, as I decided to Potty Train both Boys together. But we are done in less than 4 days! I'm so very proud of my Boys, who were Champions the whole way through!
I'd like to share with you, what I did and it was not the conventional method of Potty Training in one week or one day. It may help you, give you some ideas, or not.
Please no flames.
All children are ready for potty training at different times. I tried this last year with them and they didn’t ‘get it.’ Although I was ready for them to be out of diapers, they weren’t.
This year, they fit the check list of readiness, for the most part.
1. Over 18 months of age
2. Diaper is dry after naptime
3. Aware of poo or pee and will tell you or point. You may be aware of your child concentrating to do this.
4. Follow simple instructions
5. Can dress and undress by themselves
6. Knows the different body parts or can point to where his/her leg is or ear
7. Can sit still or a short time
8. Has watched you on the toilet and has taken an interest
9. Is curious about the toilet, flushing, etc
10. Prefers dry diapers and will tell you he wants to be changed
My Potty Training dates for the Boys, was 24 – 31 July.
The Boys know how to dress and undress themselves.
Off and on for a few months before the dates below, they watched us on the toilet.
-Never have nor will I compare DS-L or DS-G to the other one.
-Never did I make mention of the smell associated with pee or poo. Just kept the Vicks rub readily available for my nose.
-Never did I criticize or condemn them for wetting themselves. Don't make a fuss or big deal out of it. In fact say nothing negative. But positivie and encourage to get to the toilet a bit quicker the next time. They had to remove their wet clothes and put in the laundry basket (nearby the toilet). They then picked out their new Big Boy Pants and shorts and then dressed themselves.
-After they have used the toilet and/or potty, besides the balloon I give them extra big hugs and lots of noises kisses. Tell them how proud I am of you and what a Big Boy you are!
-Patience is the key.
Preparation
June 18 – 30 daily, talked with enthusiasm about all our Sons favorite characters on TV and Kids Movies, Daddy, Mommy, your Cousins, Oma, Opa, your class-mates, etc. all wear Big People Pants. You are Big Boys and Big Boys wear Big Boy Pants, not diapers. Babies and little kids wear diapers and you are not babies nor little kids. You are Big Boys now. Also what goes in the potty chair.
Saturday 7 July – continued talking enthusiastically about Big Boy Pants and what goes in the potty chair. Moved the changing stuff (mat, diapers, powder, wipes, diaper bin) into the bathroom. Every time a diaper was changed, I held it over the toilet and ‘shook’ it and said,
“this is wear poo and pee go.” Since they had never seen their own pee or poo (changing diapers, you use wipes and roll the diaper and put it in the diaper pail). So I had the Boys look in the toilet to ‘see’ their pee and poo. Then each of the Boys would sit on the potty-chair (after being cleaned up), given some toilet paper and would wipe. Then stand up, put the lid to the potty-chair down, put the toilet paper in the Big Toilet, put the lid down and press the flush button on the toilet. Then wash hands and dry. Then back on the mat for a new diaper. Then they would go dress themselves.
Sunday 8 July – Still talking enthusiastically about who wears Big People Pants and Big Boy Pants and what goes in the potty chair. Took the Boys to the store and they picked out their own Big Boy Pants and Fun foam hand soap.
Monday 9 July – Still talking enthusiastically about who wears Big People Pants and Big Boy Pants and what goes in the potty chair. Purchased a step stool, 2 drink-n-wet dolls and potty training reward chart includes stars and a certificate of achievement when they are potty trained. Also purchased fruit drinks. I continued reading and internet searches to gather information on ‘how-to’ potty train.
Saturday 21 – Tuesday 24 July, on vacation. Didn’t bring the potty chair or toilet seat ring for the Boys to sit on after changing their diapers. Still talking enthusiastically about who wears Big People Pants and Big Boy Pants and what goes in the potty chair.
Potty Training Begins
Tuesday 24 July - We returned from vacation and started Potty Training that afternoon about 1pm. The weather hasn’t been good and I was forced to start Potty Training inside. All the talk about who wears Big Boy Pants, all the showing them wear the poo and pee go,
today is the start day.
I put on the floor a ‘piddle – pad’ for them to sit on and play, when they weren’t on the toilet and another one under the potty chair. I also put out the Toilet seat ring and a step stool to get to the toilet.
They drank fruit drinks, water and other juices.
Every 10 minutes I had them get on the potty seats (their choice) and sit for 10 min. I used a timer. They knew when the timer went off it was time to get on the toilet or off of it. We read books, sang songs, counted to 100, say the ABC’s. I kept the activities small and minimum. This, to help prevent any accidents, although I did expect a few accidents. There were accidents, they were busy with an activity and didn’t act on ‘the feeling’. But after a few accidents, they felt the wetness (vs. dry), which is the point of potty training. Both earned stickers for using the potty chair, wipe/flush/put lid down, pull up underpants and shorts and wash hands. They are in diapers at nap and nighttime.
Wednesday 25 July – After Breakfast, we watched a Potty Training DVD and started potty training, same thing as the day before. But, now every
15 minutes they were on the potty seats and sat only for 5 minutes. Again I used a timer, so it wasn't me telling them, but them hearing the timer and knowing it was time to get on the toilet or off it. Also with more time, it was giving more responsibility to the Boys to be more responsibility in getting to the toilet or potty chair. Still spending time on the ‘piddle-pads’ when they weren’t on the potty-chairs. Later on in the day, I moved one of the piddle-pads, to the F.R. so we could have a change of scenery. The 4 x 4 area was getting smaller and smaller. Still limited on activities so they can ‘feel’ that ‘feeling’ of needing to go potty and not distracted. With fewer reminders, they were going to the potty chairs and rewarded with stickers each time they: went to the potty, wiped/flushed/put down the lid, washed their hands and pulled up their shorts and Big Boy Pants. There were a few prompts from themselves to go potty, I didn’t have to say a word. They are in diapers at nap and night time.
Thursday 26 July – After Breakfast, we watched a Potty Training DVD and started Potty training. I told them ‘what’ the potty chair was for and what goes in the potty chair. I told them that I wasn’t going to tell them to
go to the potty. I did ask them occasionally throughout the day,
do you need to use the potty? But I didn’t overdue it, because I didn’t want rebellion of either part, of them feeling ‘forced’ into potty chairs/training. I asked about every 45 minutes. Instead of stickers, I introduced balloons.
Mainly, because the stickers aren’t sticking and removing them is tearing the paper on the reward chart. Every time they pee in the potty chair or in the toilet, they get 1 balloon. For each poo, they get 5 balloons. If they ‘mess’ themselves, they lose their balloons and start over to earn balloons. For every balloon earned, they get to fill with water and throw it or launch it at Daddy outside. I encouraged both to use the toilet. Within minutes, DS – L, was going on his own and continued periodically when he felt ‘it’. By giving the Boys the responsibility to act on their feelings on needing to go, made DS-L so proud and a Big Boy! Enough to tell and show me what he did. Needless to say, he has needed no prompting or questions from me to go to the toilet. By the end of the day, DS-L, had earned 13 balloons, no messes in his Big Boy Pants and Shorts.
DS-L learned in 1.5 days. 
If he uses the potty-chair, because his Brother is on the toilet, he will even dump the bowl out, rinse and refill it and put it back in the potty chair. This, is something he has seen me do, but I’ve not asked this of him. DS – G, he had some successes today. He had another problem today and hopefully that won’t interfere with potty-training tomorrow. We’ve had no poops yet in the toilet or potty chair, but that will come with time. They are in diapers at nap and night time.
Friday 27 July – After Breakfast, we watched a Potty Training DVD and started Potty training. Today, DS-G, drank milk, juice and more juices. After 3.5 hrs and no pee or poo out of him even with me asking, he won’t go. I finally told him to sit on the toilet. After a few seconds, he peed and then sat there for 5 more minutes and did a poo. He had further problems that may be interfering with him going pee. For the remainder of the day, they both went on their own, without prompts from me, except encouragement to use the toilet.
DS-G learned in 2.5 days. They are in diapers at nap and night time.
The Boys were so excited and we tried calling their Oma and Opa, but there wasn't any answer.
Saturday 28 July – After Breakfast, we watched a Potty Training DVD and started Potty training. Boys went to the Bathroom on their own without prompting, only encouragement to use the toilet. No accidents, no problems. They are in diapers at nap and night time.
Sunday 29 July – I kept the activities to a minimum so the Boys wouldn’t be distracted when they got ‘the feeling’ of needing the toilet. So today is our first bit outing to a local store, short trip! DS-G, used the toilet for another poo and pee. DS-L didn’t ‘act’ on his feeling and was even asked if he had to go to the bathroom. Unfortunately, he wet himself. Encouragement to tell us he has to go the next time. We were finished shopping and headed home. DS-L said he had to go to the potty and we asked if he could hold it until we got home (within 2 minutes), he said yes. Got home, he helped unload the car and when we came inside, both of them went to the toilet. He helped pull off the balloons he lost (because he wet himself). But he earned one back because he peed in the toilet once we got home. There will be setbacks and accidents and that is okay. We know now to tell the Boys when we arrive someplace, there is a toilet here, let us know if you have to go use it. They are in diapers at nap and night time.
-----------------------------------
-There will be accidents for awhile, that should be expected. They may get to involved with an activity and not ‘listen’ to their bodies. The thing to do is not yell, condemn or criticize. But encourage and believe in them and their successes.
-After they have used the toilet and/or potty, besides the balloon I give them extra big hugs and lots of noises kisses. Tell them how proud I am of you and what a Big Boy you are!
-We aren’t done with diapers, they wear them at nap and night time. I’ve explained that when they can have a dry diaper for several days in a row, they will be in Big Boy Pants.
-When we travel, in the back of the car is a portable potty chair. Inside is a plastic grocery bag lining the bowl. Then I’ve added about 3 cups of clumping and odor absorbing Cat litter. If we are out in the middle of nowhere and one has to go, we can simply pull over to the side of the road. Pouring the remaining new cat litter into gallon size reseal able bags, we have cat litter for awhile. Further if we are where I know there are toilets, I have a shoulder bag, washable, that contains a toilet ring, disinfectant spray, paper towels and wipes. Also there are additional Big Boy Pants and shorts, just in case.
-The next step will be to get them used to the toilet without the ring. This will be done by turning them backwards on the toilet, so they have the lid to hold onto, my hand on their back for safety, security and support while they do what they need to do.