[court5505]

We've decided to hit the potty training hard. Does anyone have any suggestions that they swear by?

[cvalda]

I've been putting off potty training my youngest... I think he was ready well before me! We started on Thursday, and already he's doing so well, he can go all day in undies (even dry after nap), with the exception of #2.

I started him off with new Elmo undies, a new potty seat - I figured out through trial and error which kind works best for him since he doesn't want to stand when he goes. He gets a sticker for every potty, as well as a peice of candy (like one M&M). This is what motivates him! He'll try to go every ten minutes, practically, just because he wants that candy so bad (he only gets it when he actually "produces".) I don't stop him from trying as much as he wants, or from how short or long he wants to be there.

The great thing with the sticker chart is every time we put a sticker on, we count how many are there, and every ten he gets a "big" candy (he'll get a "big" candy if he goes #2 on the pot, too). So now he's mastered counting through twelve with no problem, and I'm sure he'll be tackling 20 before to long! LOL!

:~) Kelly

[New-Mom-n-Lovin-It]

A few Cheerio's in the toilet will float......boys LOVE to try to sink them....sorry don't have anything but cute ruffled panties for girls.

[HBV]

We have a new nanny who says she has successfully potty trained 3 boys using the intensive "Dr. Phil" method. I'm going to let her give it a shot when H hits the 2 year mark, but I can't give you any firsthand knowledge yet.

[bajj]

With my oldest son, I just took him out of diapers and never put him back in. He couldn't stand the way it felt if he went in his underwear.

My youngest, is a totally different story! He doesn't care if he's wet or messy. He's a tough one to train, but his pediatrician told me not to worry yet...he is 2 1/2, but he says we still have plenty of time. Of course, he's not the one buying the diapers!

[StorkWatcher]

HBV - I've not heard about Dr Phil's method - is there somewhere I can read about his theories? I'm not a Dr Phil fan, but I want to learn about the different ways to approach this and the theories behind!

[mom2justynsarah]

My daughter is 2.5. She goes to preschool and most of her class are potty trained. So I decided to purchase Dora the Explorer & several princess underwear (Cinderella, Beauty & the Beast, Ariel, & Snowwhite). I told her that she was a big girl now, and these are her big girl undies.

When she goes potty, she can pick out which pair of undies she wants to wear for the day. She LOVES her underwear! She loves wearning them, and showing them off. She tries real hard not to get them dirty.

Of course she has had several accidents. But I do NOT put her back in diapers. Even she knows that diapers are for "babies." I just let her pick out another pair.

Plus, I am constantly asking her if she has to go potty. At first, it was a hit or miss thing. But when she would go, we would clap and make a big deal about it.

So now she pretty much goes on the potty by herself. The biggest thing I notice is that she is dry in the mornings. That shows me that she has good bladder control.

Good luck!

[mama2one]

We did the total BRIBERY thing! My son desperately wanted a little model of a honda 4wheeler from the store, he wasn't allowed to have it until he did a #2 in the potty. And let me tell you, that was a quick trip to the store at like 9 at night! There was alot of trial and error, but it seems that little boys love to pee outside in the summer, and that helped also.

A lot of the older folks here do everything by the "Signs", or phases of the moon. My husbands grandmother swears that you start potty training when the "signs" are in the legs and that the child will be completely trained by the time the "signs" reach the feet. Now mind you I have NO idea how to read the signs or anything like that so I didn't try that route, but everyone swears it works. I think the child just has to WANT to do it!

[kelceesmom]

mama2one,
What do you mean by signs? The stars and moon???

[StorkWatcher]

I do believe the child needs to be ready, but I can tell you from practical experience with animals (birthing, mating, etc), that any major change, done with the signs, is SO much easier. Same thing with farming. I know it sounds funny, but it's all nature - whether in humans, sheep or corn! I hadn't thought about it before, but I think I"ll consult the signs before breaking of paci and really starting the PT.

A farmer's almanac or almanac calendar will have the signs noted (when the moon is waxing/waning, etc.)

[mama2one]

Yes, the phases of the moon. We garden by the signs with his grandmothers help. There are certain signs that you plant above ground crops in, certain signs for below ground. It makes sense I just haven't the clue how to remember all of it. She can just rattle of all this info, it amazes me. Even when the crops come in, you can't can when the signs are in the bowels because the food will spoil. You could probably google it for more information, Wish I was more help!!!

[mondk]

We tried our son at age 2 and he just wasn't ready and had no interest in the potty at all. So...I waited til he was 3 and one day he got up, took his diaper off, and put on underwear (I had put the undies in his drawer and left them there). He had maybe a total of 5 accidents, but potty trained himself essentially.

Good luck!

Blessings, Michelle