[neuromri]

Carter is starting potty training in two weeks! I made him a potty book (suggested by a book I read). I also have sticker charts ready to go. I was wondering, though, what other suggestions you might all have. Also, I was looking for suggestions on what type of training pants to use. Should I start out with pull-ups or just go straight to underwear. Additionally, what do you wear on your children at night time when they are potty training. I have found the people on this site to be incredibly helpful and resourceful. Thank you so much for input. . .

[pjb1967]

I have a girl so I'm sure boys are different, some say harder. But my suggestion is to go cold turkey and straight to underwear. For sure Pull-ups at night, though. Pull-ups are way too much like diapers, I don't think your child will make the connection if you use pull-ups during the day.

If you are going to be home a lot. I would try giving him a lot to drink. You want to, as soon as possible, get your son to make the connection of recognizing the feeling of "having to go" and telling you or walking to the potty himself. Keep the drinks coming and you are giving him lots of opportunity to quickly make this connection. As opposed to going through your normal day and just putting him on the potty every hour or so. I think this just drags the process out too long. Really make the potty training your main focus for a few days.

Of course lots of positive reinforcements for going on the potty but also during the day, point out and praise him for being dry and how proud you are for being a big boy and staying dry. Cheers, stickers, the whole nine!

Good Luck, It really is not that bad.

Pam

[Crissy011]

I would also say go straight to underwear & use pull ups only at night. I actually spent the first few days at home with my daughter naked from the waist down and the potty chair in the living room where we spent most of the time. When she'd start going I'd pick her up and put her on the potty chair. Then, of course, I'd make a BIG deal about her using the chair. She got a sticker book & picked out a sticker for it everytime she used the potty. Good luck!!

[ana-mom]

With Ana, potty training only works when she wears underwear. If she has diapers, pull-ups or training pants on, she'll just soil them. Actually, we have the most success when she goes 'commando'!

[SKL]

If you want a "safer" option, I suggest you google waterproof training pants. There are some nice ones with a hidden waterproof layer between two layers of cloth. You get the benefits of cloth undies without most of the risks. However, if you want to get the training done fast, I'd suggest going straight into regular undies, because that way you'll know right away every time he wets, and you can help condition his response. I used the waterproof pants with my elder girl and it did take longer, but she was trained (day and night) by age 19.5 months. I used just cloth with my younger and she trained (day and night) in a couple weeks at age 17.5 months (it was summer so that made it a lot easier for me).

Good luck!

[LJR1974]

Good luck. I don't have any advice b/c we haven't been successful. I tried for 3 days straight w/ just undies and commando. He hates being commando--he cries and cries for his diaper. He just peed in his underwear over and over again (and would realize it and cry) and would cry more when I put him on the potty (despite his fav candy and bubbles--also a fav--as a reward). He used to like to sit on the potty before he knew he was supposed to pee in it.

He was miserable. I was miserable. We quit.

Now we watch "potty videos" on YouTube together and cheer for the kids. I still frequently ask "You want to sit on the potty?" He says "NO!" Sometimes tears even come to his eyes.

*Sigh* It's the one thing we can't seem to get the hang of. He's a smart little boy, he's even starting to recognize a lot of letters. I just don't know what to do about it.

[daynesmom]

We were using pull-ups during potty training, but I wish we didn't. It becomes too convenient for him to go in the diaper instead of telling me when he is busy playing.

The other day I told him "Mama is tired of changing diapers, you're going to wear underwear now and just go potty in the toilet". He said "Ok Mama". and has been dry since (about 3 weeks ago!!)

Now we just use pull-ups at night.

Good Luck.