2+ moms... Potty training?

mrsrep123 · September 2016

we currently have a 13 month old. Hoping to have him potty trained before baby # 2 arrives. I know not to rush him... But any thoughts, advice, experiences in this area? TIA

NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot · September 2016

Anything under 2 is pretty early to potty train. I took the very lazy approach. We got a little potty for every bathroom about the time DD turned two. Daycare put her in pull-ups every day so that she could pull them up and down and sit with the older, potty trained kids to get the process down. I often asked her if she had to go or wanted to try. And we talked about going and read books. She just eventually stopped going in the pull-ups and started going in the toilet. She was fully trained by 2 yrs 9 mos. Aside from a sticker reward chart and promising her a specific doll once she was completely trained, we didn't push at all. I had a friend whose Type A daughter trained herself right after the new baby came as sort of an attention seeking process. But I wouldn't recommend that, it seems like it could backfire.

Redpuma119 · September 2016

I have a DSD that we started working with on the potty at 2 1/2. She would go with us but her mom wanted to baby her and didn't push it at all. We'd send her home in big girl panties and she'd come back in diapers. Unfortunately accidents are still an issue.. And she's 6. Never a problem at our house but she poops in her panties daily at their place. I think it might be attention seeking since they have several younger children.

TresGatos · September 2016

Under 2 is definitely early, especially considering you would probably want to have him trained well before baby #2 arrives. DD is still in the middle of potty training and she is 2yrs 8mos. We got her a potty when she turned 2 and she was only mildly interested so we waited. The issue we have had with her is she does not mind wet or dirty diapers/pull-ups and if she has a pull-up on, she will use it rather than go to the potty. She does not like taking time out of her day to go sit on the potty. So we have now started just putting her in panties and reminding her to go potty. When we go out, we make sure to bring extra clothes in case of an accident.

mcvgal · September 2016

DS1 was 2.5 when DS2 was born. We tried to potty train in time for DS2 arrival and he just was not ready at all. We took a break and honestly it was easier to change a several diapers on maternity leave instead of newborn diapers and clean up accidents. We went back to potty training when he showed signs of being ready at a little past 3years.

pshaortao · September 2016

DD just turned two and is nowhere near ready. She showed interest for a couple weeks by grabbing her diaper and wanting to sit on the potty for oh all of 5 seconds. We're not in a rush either.

mrsrep123 · September 2016

Thanks everyone! I appreciate the feedback. At least that's something I can shelve unless LO starts showing some interest!!

Junemonkey · September 2016

I potty trained DS at 18 months before I had #2. They are 2 years apart. At 18 months he was putting himself on the potty without me asking him to try. He doesn't tell me he has to go unless we are in public. He always just takes himself and yells for me to turn on the water to wash his hands. He is now 3 and still has an accident here and there, but it is overall a win in my book. At 15 months I got the potty seat for him and just had him sit on it while I went myself. He sat with his diaper on until he felt comfortable sitting on it the whole time I was sitting. I never forced him to sit if he didn't want to. After he was comfortable with the potty I did the naked method, letting him run around the tiled floors for easy cleanup.I sat him on the potty every 15 minutes just long enough to read a short book, or if he would start to go I would move him to the potty. I gave praise when there was stuff in the potty, and just tried to encourage him to make it to the potty if he missed. I let him do just shorts no undies after he started to put himself on when he needed to go. He always went in undies, but did the potty if naked.The shorts were a looser feel after a couple misses he learned to always go to the potty. At 18 months I felt ok leaving the house with him in undies. He was super easy and early to train. It hadn't even crossed my mind to potty train DD who is now almost 15 months . Good luck if you decide to try to train!

kat81 · September 2016

I agree with the others and recommend waiting unless LO seems interested. The worse case scenario is to finish training just before LO is born, and then see massive regressions.

I don't know why people make such a big deal about having two in diapers. Changing diapers is easy--much easier than dealing with a newly trained / half-trained toddler! We had 3-4 mo of two in diapers and it was FINE. We waited for DS to say "I want to be done with diapers" to do it (just after 3rd birthday), and then it took 2 days and he was DONE. We did push DD into it earlier because she's starting a daycare that required it. But even she was about 2y, 8mo and was totally ready. She pee trained fast and took a month to get the poop part, but it wasn't that bad.

I also realize a downside of having this age gap larger than the previous one / having trained DD. I'm done with diaper bags, but I have to go back to them in May! With #2, I didn't have to go back, because we were still using a diaper bag for DS when she was born and just combined their stuff for a short time.

misslennon · September 2016

It's nice to have a potty or potty seat around for a little bit so they get used to seeing it!
At first, we did the whole timer thing. Every 30 minutes we are going to sit on the potty! That ended in frustration on both our ends. And was a miserable fail. We gave it a few months a then tried a new approach....
first, clear your schedule so your toddler has you full attention!
have them wear undies and a t-shirt. Tell them "tell mommy when you have to go potty!" Over and over and over. Like a hundred times a day (by day 3 or so hopefully they will be able to tell you!) Do check ins on their undies to make sure they are dry. If they are dry be super pumped and excited for them. Accidents will happen (this is how they learn!) when it does happen don't say anything negative like "that is so naughty" instead say " uh oh. Pee pee goes in the potty!" Scoop them up and put them on the potty. Repitition, consistency and LOTS of positive reinforcement are key!

mamatowildones · September 2016

My son was 2.5 when LO was born and still in diapers. A few months before I had tried and it was just not happening. Best advice I got was to stop and try again 3 months later. I did and he was ready. We stayed home for 5 days and just focused on using the potty and it was a piece of cake! Nap time and bedtime was another story though. We used pull ups for awhile before we just decided to go without and after a few days waking up wet and miserable he was all set!
Don't rush it. Try it and if it doesn't happen then wait a month or two.
Be patient about pooping. It's scary for them and they'll eventually get the hang of it.
Bribery works great during this time.

2babes3angels · September 2016

We were told not to even bother with potty training a boy til he turned 3, but we started potty training our oldest a month after he turned 2--baby brother was 2 months old at that point, and he was ready. We did the 3 day naked all day potty training jumpstart and it worked great! I think the biggest thing I learned was that this is a process. He did so well with going pee (he'd tell me when he had to go starting on day 2 and had very few accidents), but it took about 6 months after that before he would even consider going #2 on the potty (now he will do it just fine). He also still can't hold it overnight so he wears a diaper at bedtime. It's been less than a year since we started the process, so depending on your perspective that may be great or absolutely awful lol! I think once you decide he's ready, just being patient, consistent, giving lots of praise when he does well (even if he just makes it to the potty for the last 2 drops) and not getting frustrated when accidents happen will pay off in the end.

2babes3angels · September 2016

Oh we also got a potty watch--it was like $10 on amazon and it played music every 30, 60, or 90 mins to remind him to go potty. He loved wearing it and it helped remind me when it was time to take him. He didn't use it for long, but it was such a helpful tool!

jdebaie · September 2016

My DD just potty trained in July at almost 3 years old. We were practicing using the potty from about 2 1/2 but I don't think it really "clicked" until she was older. I will admit we used bribery M&Ms to help her be consistent when she did start going on the potty.

vrj0522 · September 2016

Unless your DS is showing clear signs that he is ready to be potty trained and is willing to do it, I say don't sweat it and wait until after baby is born. Regressions are pretty normal when a new baby is born and seeing that your son won't even be two by the time that happens, it might make it all really hard on him and you. DS was 2.5 when DD was born. His pediatrician recommended waiting until after she was born and even giving it a few months before potty training him. Best advice ever! It made the whole thing a lot easier and he was fully ready.

DD is different. She'll be two next month and wakes up dry every morning and after every nap, and then tells me when she needs to pee and poop before she does. She is SOOO ready! And yet I cannot convince her to sit on the potty or the toiler, even clothed. I'm hoping I can get her trained before our baby comes but again, I'm not sweating it and I'm just following her cues. It's possible to do before or around 2 yrs old, but it is definitely still early unless the kid is fully ready.

vrj0522 · September 2016

marymoore711 said:

Oh we also got a potty watch--it was like $10 on amazon and it played music every 30, 60, or 90 mins to remind him to go potty. He loved wearing it and it helped remind me when it was time to take him. He didn't use it for long, but it was such a helpful tool!

I love that idea!

2babes3angels · September 2016

jdebaie said:

My DD just potty trained in July at almost 3 years old. We were practicing using the potty from about 2 1/2 but I don't think it really "clicked" until she was older. I will admit we used bribery M&Ms to help her be consistent when she did start going on the potty.

Oh yes!! M&Ms were a great motivator for us, especially for going #2

mia1116 · September 2016

DS is just over 3 and we just potty trained in the last month. Boys tend to take longer. He also refuses to poop on the potty and still does that in a diaper. Forcing them before they are ready is not good and can cause you to have a constipated child. Let it happen naturally.

chickyclg · September 2016

We are shooting for the 3 day method with my twins in mid December. They will be 23 months and now they already tug at their diapers when wet.

I read a book that swears 22 months is the perfect age.

ataplus1 · September 2016

I trained my older child by putting the potty in the living room and then slowly moving it closer to the bathroom. It worked for him. I'm unfortunately not going to be able to try that with my 13 month old and a new baby. My 7 yr old didn't train until he was 3 and while I think it's a good idea to try, if you see that your LO is getting stressed out I would put the potty away and try again every couple of weeks. That's what my dr told me to do way back when. Lol

firstbaby2013 · September 2016

We tried to potty train dd1 before she was ready and it was a mess. We waited until she was ready and it was fast and easy. Don't push it. Having 2 in diapers for a bit is better than constantly changing soiled panties and pants. And cleaning the floor

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2+ moms... Potty training?

DS1 7/24/15

DS2 5/7/17

Re: 2+ moms... Potty training?

DS1 7/24/15

DS2 5/7/17

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