Potty Training Makes for Good Reading Time

My good friend Kim, 29, lives on the beach in Morro Bay, California with her son Max and husband.  You know she is a true surfer gal when potty training started with “naked time” at the beach.  I thought I would share this delightful story of potty training at the beach – isn’t life a beach for Max!  I would love to learn in Central America!

Potty training can be challenging!  This is how we got Max out of diapers and into cotton briefs!  It all starts with lots of  “naked time”.  Last summer we had the opportunity to stay in Central America for two months.  Max was about 19 months.  During this time, we were at the beach or pool with Max and he always went with his diaper off.  By having his diaper off, he was able to see himself go “pee pee” or “poo poo.”  Luckily we didn’t have any accidents in the pool, but he did have lots of poops on the beach.  I remember the first accident he had, he ran too me and said “poo poo” and we ran to look at it. This sounds funny, I know, but this is a way for your child to see what he or she is doing.  After he showed me, I told him, “great job and next time, [he should] tell me and we can use the potty.”  I then scooped it up in a plastic bag – kind of like what you would do when a dog poops – and tossed it in the trash.  After several weeks of seeing himself “pee” and “poo,” we (my husband and I) felt Max was ready to use the potty.  By paying attention to his squatting, we could tell if he needed to use the potty and we would ask him.  Throughout each day we would constantly ask him if he had to go to the bathroom.  Max still uses diapers at night, but rarely uses them during the day.

Since we were in Central America, we didn’t have access to little potties or seat cover potties, so we would just hold Max’s arms as he went on the potty.  After a week or so he would say “poo poo”, and this would mean for us to sit him on the potty.  When we got back to California, he didn’t get as much “naked time,” but he could now tell us if he had to use the bathroom.

Around the house we would leave Max’s diaper off and have his “froggie potty” available to him.  We even put a basket of books next to it!  Just the other day he took of his diaper, (which we still use for naps and throughout the night) and sat on the potty and read a book.  He must have learned that from his dad!  

‘Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.’   –   Emerson”

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Potty Training…Is there a magic word?

Okay – it is true confessions time!  I am at a loss, and hate to admit that my almost 3 year old daughter seems to have managed to best me on potty training.  I was impressed that Jamee seemed to have had a pretty easy time – but it certainly has not worked that way for me.  Lilah is very capable of going without diapers – and has proved this during weekend shopping outings.  She seemed to easily manage – communicating when it was time to visit the restroom.

Lilah wearing her pull-up as a hat

At age 18 months I ‘introduced’ Lilah to the concept – and purchased a small seat that sits on the toilet, with a stool used for accessibility.  I had heard that it was important not to push too early, so we waited until she was 27 months before we started really trying to ‘train’ – not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable and losing her cooperation in the process.

When Lilah is at home she does not wear a diaper, and uses the potty when needed.  She follows all the ‘rules’ – and always remembers to wipe and flush.  We praise her for her actions, hoping this will be the positive reinforcement needed.  When she is at daycare she ALWAYS chooses to wear diapers!  Perhaps she does not want to be bothered with interrupting her play?  I give her a choice of wearing her new Dora and Sesame Street underwear or putting on a diaper – and the choice is consistently to wear her Elmo diapers.  Is it a problem that I am giving her a choice?

Lilah’s daycare has other children her age, and they all seem to be wearing diapers.  The children are regularly taken to the potty – and receive stickers and praise when they successfully use the potty.  Perhaps when one switches the others will fall in line?  Of course I would love for Lilah to be a leader in this arena!  She will be moving to preschool late next year and will be required to be potty trained by that time.  I really want this to happen sooner than later – since it is obvious she is capable, but chooses not to ‘participate’ fully.  The le•top staff has contributed suggestions – including ‘you’re getting to be a big girl’ and the pretty panties angle.  Nothing has worked so far. Is there a ‘magic word’ I should know?  Let’s share!

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My Success at Potty Training

Might as well watch a little DVD if I'm going to sit her for awhile.

We’ve all heard how difficult it is to potty train our little ones. For the most part, children will just figure it out when they’re ready because (as one lady friend informed me), have you ever seen a grown woman not know how to use a bathroom? True, but when you’re trying to get your 2-year old potty trained for preschool the following year, the pressure is on! Fortunately for me, my experience wasn’t bad at all. In fact, I am warning you now… you probably don’t want to read about how easy I had it.

I started potty training Miranda at 18 months. It was more of introducing her to the potty. When she woke up each morning, I would sit her on the toilet and see if she would go. Sometimes she did, sometimes she didn’t. She didn’t make the connection but I was persistent. (Hey, anything to save a diaper!) We consistently read “Once Upon A Potty” and also watched the video just to introduce her to the concept. Throughout the day I would ask her, “Do you need to go potty?” (No). We’d go to the store, “Do you need to go potty?” (No). We’d go to the park, “Do you need to go potty?” (No). Naturally, every time I checked her diaper, it was wet.

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