Potty Training- When Do You Start? How Do You Start? Help!!

Hi Moms,

We've had some emails about Potty Training and when is the right time to start, how do you do it and any other helpful hints. Help out our newer moms--who are looking to get the answers!

Thanks,

Meridian Momtourage Team

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Permalink Reply by Angie Hoffman on August 12, 2011 at 9:33am

I had a hard time starting. How do you do it? What do you do? All the advice I got was "when your kids are ready they just do it". I hated that advice! Here's what worked for us.

My son was 2 years 9 months. The first day I used the kitchen timer and set it for 30 minutes. Everytime it went off we tried to pee. If it was a sucess I set it again for another 30 minutes. If he didn't I set it for 10 minute incriments until he went. He got one M&M every time he peed. We used the timer for 2 or 3 days and he got an M&M for about a week. When he did use the toilet we clapped and made a big deal yelling and telling everyone in the house. And if he had a accident (and he had 2 or 3) we just reminded him to use the potty. WE DIDN'T MAKE IT A NEGATIVE SITUATION. I switched him to underwear that first day and never used pull ups. (We use them when he sleeps only)

To go poop on the toilet I made a 'potty box'. I went to the dollar store and got about 20-30 toys. Unwrapped, so he could see them, I put them in a decorated empty diaper box. Every time he went he got to pick out a toy.

Another thing that helped me this summer was carrying around a potty in my truck with wipes and lysol wipes. When my son had to go, he had to go immediately! Sometimes there is no bathroom, or your might be somewhere you don't want your kids in the bathroom. That helped for about the first month, until he learned to pee standing up.

Make sure you are CONSISTENT and make it a fun happy experience! Good Luck!