I’ve been in denial for a long time, but the time has come for me to actively tackle potty training Patches. I’ve been mentally planning to wait until June when I wouldn’t have to babysit NotMyBaby anymore. But due to fortuitious circumstances NMB is going elsewhere for childcare and I have my hands and brain more available to ponder potty training processes.
I’m not going to be pulling out the underpants just yet. For the next week (or month) I’ll be encouraging Patches to sit on the potty about 15 minutes after every meal. Eventually the gastrointestinal reflex will work in my favor and I’ll get to reward Patches hugely for filling the potty.
Patches won’t get to wear underpants until I’m no longer changing stinky diapers.
I don’t think my method will work for you… I made Liz a rag doll for her first Christmas and when she asked for diapers for it I told her that the doll was a big girl (it’s a lady doll) and needed panties, not diapers. I made panties for the doll and Liz self potty trained in 12 hours so she could be a big girl like the doll. It didn’t work as well with Emily but it still worked. 🙂
I don’t think my method will work for you… I made Liz a rag doll for her first Christmas and when she asked for diapers for it I told her that the doll was a big girl (it’s a lady doll) and needed panties, not diapers. I made panties for the doll and Liz self potty trained in 12 hours so she could be a big girl like the doll. It didn’t work as well with Emily but it still worked. 🙂
That worked
for my oldest, that and a car trip to California from the East Coast.
Didn’t work for the middle girl. I’m not sure what did work for her except taking away the Pull-Ups.
The baby was told that if she wanted to go around naked she had to use the potty. About 12 hours later, yup she was potty trained. We had a few accidents afterwards but not many.
That worked
for my oldest, that and a car trip to California from the East Coast.
Didn’t work for the middle girl. I’m not sure what did work for her except taking away the Pull-Ups.
The baby was told that if she wanted to go around naked she had to use the potty. About 12 hours later, yup she was potty trained. We had a few accidents afterwards but not many.
We did the exact opposite. Blueeyes was so stubborn about potty-training, although he would use the potty at school, that I finally just put underwear on him one morning. He cried when I put the underwear on him (ahh the guilt).
And then, he went to play, and realized how comfortable they were. It only took one dose of tee-tee on the legs before he decided that he a) wanted to keep the underwear and b) wanted to stay clean. That night, I tried to put a pull-up on him at bedtime, and he cried to keep the underwear. So.. he did. I’ve only changed the sheets twice in a year, that’s not bad at all.
Oh, sure, we’ve had some accidents, but they are the “I waited too long” kind, which every kid has at least a few of, I think.
We did the exact opposite. Blueeyes was so stubborn about potty-training, although he would use the potty at school, that I finally just put underwear on him one morning. He cried when I put the underwear on him (ahh the guilt).
And then, he went to play, and realized how comfortable they were. It only took one dose of tee-tee on the legs before he decided that he a) wanted to keep the underwear and b) wanted to stay clean. That night, I tried to put a pull-up on him at bedtime, and he cried to keep the underwear. So.. he did. I’ve only changed the sheets twice in a year, that’s not bad at all.
Oh, sure, we’ve had some accidents, but they are the “I waited too long” kind, which every kid has at least a few of, I think.
Once Patches learns how to recognize need-to-go and how to go-in-potty, then I’ll do as you did and jump him to underpants. Wearing underpants is the most efficient way to potty train for urine because the consequences are unpleasant for the child. (At least in theory. I’ve known kids who don’t mind playing for hours in drenched clothing.)
Unfortunately the consequences for poop-in-the-pants are far more unpleasant for me than for Patches because I’m the one who has to do the clean up. Thus I need to establish a poop-in-the-potty precedent before I increase the stakes.
Once Patches learns how to recognize need-to-go and how to go-in-potty, then I’ll do as you did and jump him to underpants. Wearing underpants is the most efficient way to potty train for urine because the consequences are unpleasant for the child. (At least in theory. I’ve known kids who don’t mind playing for hours in drenched clothing.)
Unfortunately the consequences for poop-in-the-pants are far more unpleasant for me than for Patches because I’m the one who has to do the clean up. Thus I need to establish a poop-in-the-potty precedent before I increase the stakes.
Re: That worked
And here I thought I had an original idea for once 🙂
We all talk about potty training the children but truthfully we only figure out the motivation that will encourage them to potty train themselves and introduce it. They do it themselves. I’m sure this is what happens with many things that we are ‘supposed’ to teach our kids…. they do it themselves… we only point the way.
Re: That worked
And here I thought I had an original idea for once 🙂
We all talk about potty training the children but truthfully we only figure out the motivation that will encourage them to potty train themselves and introduce it. They do it themselves. I’m sure this is what happens with many things that we are ‘supposed’ to teach our kids…. they do it themselves… we only point the way.
Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a live one here!
I’m sure this is what happens with many things that we are ‘supposed’ to teach our kids…. they do it themselves… we only point the way.
I pronounce you a Parent. It is so very very rare that anyone truly gets that point. And some jump up and down in great agitation trying to point their children along the path they wish they could have taken and pay no attention to the path their child is struggling to reach.
(BTW, your userinfo looks interesting. I suggest looking in to, , , and . I’d point you at but you don’t have that interest in common listed. 🙂 (Also, I can’t believe that has been deleted. :-p)
Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a live one here!
I’m sure this is what happens with many things that we are ‘supposed’ to teach our kids…. they do it themselves… we only point the way.
I pronounce you a Parent. It is so very very rare that anyone truly gets that point. And some jump up and down in great agitation trying to point their children along the path they wish they could have taken and pay no attention to the path their child is struggling to reach.
(BTW, your userinfo looks interesting. I suggest looking in to, , , and . I’d point you at but you don’t have that interest in common listed. 🙂 (Also, I can’t believe that has been deleted. :-p)
Oh, aye, I dreaded poop-in-pants, or on floor, or wherever. Strangely enough, though – and this may have been because I waited til I was really sure he was ready, and was pooping in the potty at school – the only poopy “accident” we’ve had was when he was sick, and had diarrhea. He was mortified, bless his heart, and figured out very quickly that when the urge hits that way you’d better run!
Oh, aye, I dreaded poop-in-pants, or on floor, or wherever. Strangely enough, though – and this may have been because I waited til I was really sure he was ready, and was pooping in the potty at school – the only poopy “accident” we’ve had was when he was sick, and had diarrhea. He was mortified, bless his heart, and figured out very quickly that when the urge hits that way you’d better run!
Re: Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a live one here!
Like magazines, that looks soooo interesting but I spend too much time on the computer as it is… better not to get addicted to more! I do think, however, I’d like to add you as a friend and read your take on things.
Re: Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a live one here!
Like magazines, that looks soooo interesting but I spend too much time on the computer as it is… better not to get addicted to more! I do think, however, I’d like to add you as a friend and read your take on things.
oh! um…. Sure!
I do think, however, I’d like to add you as a friend and read your take on things.
That’s flattering. It’s also a goad to post more often which is probably a good thing. I’m trying to get back to being ME (*laugh* this is an inside joke that makes sense to anyone who knows my legal name as opposed to the name I go about with in social circles) instead of Mom. So most of my kids posts are in. And if you are local or are going to be local for a visit or something that’s where we post party invites and such.
Like magazines, that looks soooo interesting
I never thought of them as being like magazines, more as Usenet groups. 🙂
is the only high volume group that I listed. Generally gets 5 posts a day. Well, might be high volume but I don’t subscribe to it, yet. My sewing machines are still in NC and my hand-sewing these days is limited to mending. Also it wasn’t that I was thinking of but . , , and lucky if they get 5 posts a month.
I wish there was a html or LJ tag for neutral more information as opposed to more information designed to persuade someone.
oh! um…. Sure!
I do think, however, I’d like to add you as a friend and read your take on things.
That’s flattering. It’s also a goad to post more often which is probably a good thing. I’m trying to get back to being ME (*laugh* this is an inside joke that makes sense to anyone who knows my legal name as opposed to the name I go about with in social circles) instead of Mom. So most of my kids posts are in. And if you are local or are going to be local for a visit or something that’s where we post party invites and such.
Like magazines, that looks soooo interesting
I never thought of them as being like magazines, more as Usenet groups. 🙂
is the only high volume group that I listed. Generally gets 5 posts a day. Well, might be high volume but I don’t subscribe to it, yet. My sewing machines are still in NC and my hand-sewing these days is limited to mending. Also it wasn’t that I was thinking of but . , , and lucky if they get 5 posts a month.
I wish there was a html or LJ tag for neutral more information as opposed to more information designed to persuade someone.