Comments on musings and misadventures: HTT - Potty Edition

Sink as potty? No way. Gross.

After potty t...

2007-09-05T12:14:00.000-05:00

Sink as potty? No way. Gross.

After potty training 3, and looking forward to the 4th, I'd say start around age 2 to get them acclimated to the idea, but don't push. I pushed my first because I wanted her to start school because I am an idiot, and she still has accidents and she's 7 now. My second waited until he was 3 1/2, and I thought he'd go to kindergarten in diapers, but he just up and one day decided to use the potty and hasn't ever had an accident since. The third one wanted to use the potty because her big sibs did, but I was afraid to train because she had a new brother coming and I figured she'd regress, so I put it off, but I let her use the potty when she asked to. She trained herself, around 2 years 9 months, and she had an expected amount of accidents, but really it wasn't a big deal for me, and I think it's because we took her lead, not vice versa.

The whole diaper-free thing kinda boggles my mind, because at least for me, one of the things I struggle with as a SAHM is the isolation, and I would think it would keep you stuck to the house MORE than using diapers. I mean, if you have to drive the kid somewhere, you can't sit and stare at the kid while you drive, and what if the child has to go en route? What about road trips? It just seems like more work than I've ever been willing to take on - changing diapers isn't THAT big a deal.

I hate potty training -I hate not potty training -...

2007-09-04T19:35:00.000-05:00

I hate potty training -I hate not potty training - its all a bunch of crap to me!!!

My opinion: don't rush them. Most will want to do...

2007-09-04T16:41:00.000-05:00

My opinion: don't rush them. Most will want to do it when they're ready. I mean, don't let them wait until they're 5 or anything, but every kid is different and mine have all been around age 3 while one of my sister's kids were 2. My twins are now 3 1/2 and both potty trained but they didn't do it at exactly the same time. Any time before preschool is fine with me; it's much easier to change a dirty diaper occasionally than to clean up constant "accidents" by a child who wasn't ready to be potty trained yet.

And yes, this new "diaper-free revolution" is a bunch of bunk.

I started both of my kids around 2-2-1/2ish. Inter...

2007-09-04T15:53:00.000-05:00

I started both of my kids around 2-2-1/2ish. Interestingly, they both had small relapses a few weeks into it and refused to go further with the training. Then, a few weeks later they both just got on the bandwagon again and did great from that point forward. So my "theory" (and I do stress theory) is that you introduce them to it, be consistent, then let them take the reins and be in charge of their potty habits. It has worked twice for me, but I have a third just a few months shy of age 2...so I'll let you know if my theory holds true!

I will potty train when the child is interested. I...

2007-09-04T14:04:00.000-05:00

I will potty train when the child is interested. I have two under 2 and I do not have the time to be a slave to the porcelain throne right now. My daughter will ask to use the potty several times a day and I let her but I am by no means forcing her. My ped told me to just go with the flow (HA) and most kids get the hang of it before their 3rd birthday.

To each their own.

Ditto what Azucar said.

Because my #2 son ...

2007-09-04T13:23:00.000-05:00

Ditto what Azucar said.

Because my #2 son is almost 3, and is NOT AT ALL interested. So I will wait until he is, because it is a total waste of time otherwise.

So I figure, since #3 son just turned 1. I've got 2.5 more years of changing stinky poo diapers. So depressing.

I have a friend in my ward who's baby pooped in th...

2007-09-04T11:19:00.000-05:00

I have a friend in my ward who's baby pooped in the toilet starting at 8 months. She said that it was so obvious that her baby was pooping, that she just held her over the toilet. The baby soon caught on, and now tells her mom when she needs to poop. She doesn't, however, have any idea when she's peeing, so still wears a diaper.

I have another friend in the ward with a just-barely-trained 4-year-old. He had an accident at someone else's house, and let me tell you - it was disgusting. Man-Poo everywhere.

As for baby pee in the sink - can't the lady turn around and have her baby use the toilet? Come on.

After trying for about a year with number one son,...

2007-09-04T11:09:00.000-05:00

After trying for about a year with number one son, we're not even going to try, not even a single attempt, until number two son is begging us.

Number one son didn't train until almost 3.5 years. It didn't matter what we did, like cichelli said, wet, cold, and mess didn't bother him. BAG IT!

I say, call me lazy, call me practical, I'm just not going to do it until they want to.

That being said, my tip of the day is to buy the cheapest, nastiest diapers you can find. No more comfort from the nappy downstairs.

I too think- to each their own- if you want to sta...

2007-09-04T10:50:00.000-05:00

I too think- to each their own- if you want to start when they are a couple of weeks old- more power to you- but don't jeopardize everyone elses health by having them pee in the sink- that is just plain gross.

Each of my children had their own schedule- I am just the facilitator in the process. If they start showing the signs and want to do it... it's time.

so far, both were 2 1/2. we'll see what cruz has ...

2007-09-04T10:26:00.000-05:00

so far, both were 2 1/2. we'll see what cruz has up his sleeve when he is old enough, or is it up his you-know-what? i am all for using a sink as a bidet. doesn't a newborn want to be refreshed too?

My oldest son had zero interest in using the potty...

2007-09-04T09:51:00.000-05:00

My oldest son had zero interest in using the potty. Would NOT use the potty. Would sit in dirty, soggy diapers for HOURS, rather than use the potty. But we talked about it, encouraged him, reminded him, hyped it up, appluaded mommy and daddy for using the potty, etc starting at age 2. Then one day, right after he turned three, he just decided he was going to use the toilet and never looked back. No night time pull ups. Perfectly trained. Just did it when he was ready.

My baby boy turns 2 in January and we'll start the routine all over again. Talk about the potty, praise the potty, show him how big brother uses the potty, etc. And when he's ready, he'll use it.

10! 10! GROSS!

there are some very strange people in this world.<...

2007-09-04T09:35:00.000-05:00

there are some very strange people in this world.

i potty train my kids when they turn 2. they both figured it out pretty quickly. (for the record, my boy took to it faster than his older sister.)

i think waiting til the kid is a sunbeam is gross.

Yeah, that would definitely have to be a 10 on the...

2007-09-04T07:06:00.000-05:00

Yeah, that would definitely have to be a 10 on the totally gross scale for me. I'm just not THAT kind of mom.

As for potty training, to each their own. However, I will add that I AM the kind of mom that goes cold turkey on the diaper. I did the 2 week boot camp type potty training because I swore I would not have two kids in diapers. And while others have looked down on me for "forcing" my child into potty training, I take pride in the fact that I got it done, and before she turned 2. We also accomplished our goal without force, more like LOTS of encouragement (but we did have our fair share of accidents).

But no matter when you do it, praise, encouragement, and example are KEY. I just had to remember that she was learning something new, and it would take accident after accident before she caught on. She was never punished for the accidents, just shown what to do next time, and when that next time was in the potty we threw a little party right there in the bathroom.

My youngest turned 10 months today, and by this time next year, I will probably start training her too.

To each their own, but I like to get it done by their 2nd birthday

A sink as a bidet? That is dirty, 10. I am plann...

2007-09-04T06:59:00.000-05:00

A sink as a bidet? That is dirty, 10. I am planning on around 2 for my 3rd child. My boys took longer, and definitely did it on their time, which was much easier for me than when I tried to force it. It is frustrating, but I knew I had to do it by 3 (for pre-school) which gave me a dead-line of sorts.