ndr: mom's of boys--potty training recommendations.

prazenjc

since so many D&R regulars are moms, too, i thought i would ask here, rather than delve into thebump, since i don't really frequent there.  do you have a potty seat you recommend? Preston is showing signs of interest and i wanted to get one to have for when he really is interested (i know it can be much closer to 3 years old when that happens and i will not rush it--it will be in his time). but, since he is showing the signs, i don't want to be unprepared for when its truly time.

so---what is your recommendation?

UsedToBeGoldie

the Bjorn - best ever.  i did a lot of research online and asking friends- and all rec'd it, and i'm glad they did- it's so easy to clean, etc.  I have another type and i HATE it and i plan to throw it out and get another Bjorn when my twins potty train.

the 3-day method is awesome. 

My older son showed signs- to the point of asking to go and he pooped on the potty - right at 2 years old... daycare started to keep him in underwear all day and he did great- but soon lost interest and had tons of accidents and was upset by it - so we put him back in pullups and didn't put him on the potty unless he asked.

He never asked...

and then close to 3yo we got him a bunch of cool new underwear and talked them up- how he could wear them when he turned 3 and used the potty, etc.  We did the 3-day the weekend after his birthday and on day 3 it clicked- and he never went back.  In 2 years he's had maybe 5 accidents total.  he did awesome.

One of my twins has been similar- in Oct started asking to go potty... was doing it really well - so we did the 3-day in Nov, but sort of halfassed b/c we were so busy... and then a few weeks later he started having accidents- so again, we went back to pullups and plan to PT him at 3yo like his older brother (and also his twin... we'll see how that goes- he shows NO interest, lol).

a lot of the time i think 2yo's see others doing it and want to try- but then get bored with it... i'm a big believer in giving it a try but not being upset if it's not the right time.  I think boys do better at 3yo , when they really "get it".

 

egs_sweetness

I'm not a mom but I have lots of experience training boys since I teach at a preschool! I recommend a potty seat that fits on the toilet. It's much easier than dumping the little chairs plus it helps them get used to the big potty so it's easier in the long run. I've known lots of kids to have problems with public restrooms when they're not used to full sized toilets. 

Here are some other tips: 

Since he's showing interest start having him sit on the potty as often as you can. Right after he wakes up in the morning and nap time is usually best. If he goes at all make a huuuuge deal out of it.

While  he's getting used to pulling his pants up and down have him in pull ups rather than diapers.  Once he's gone on the potty a few times and is pretty capable of pulling his pants up and down on his own switch over to underwear. It'll be messy for a few days but they learn a lot faster being messy (usually) than from not feeling it in the pull up/diaper. Reminders are key at this point. I usually have them "try" before transitions like going outside or snack, since theyre motivated so they can do the next thing. You'll be doing a lot of laundry. Get cheap undies so you can cut the nastier ones and throw them away. 

And since he's showing interest now, pursue it. I can't tell you how many parents have waited past the interest point thinking they were too young and then the kid isn't interested at all so we end up with a four year old totally uninterested in using the potty.

In my experience making it a fun, positive experience when they're interested usually works well. Good luck!  

tiffanysbride

In addition to what others said i would have him sit facing the tank. It is hard to control at first so it helps. Second it helps with the standing transistion, which DS made very quickly. Plus they feel secure on the big potty. 

If he has an interest you can always test the waters. DS showed signs but wasn't ready physically for a few more months. By 2.5 he was ready and it happened pretty quickly. Best thing to do is make sure they are ready physically, can hold it and sense they need to go. I second the bjorn potty. 

jennylove1084

We have a Bjorn that I really like and then one from bru I don't.  The cup lifts out of the Bjorn for easy dumping but the bru one you remove the seat ring to dump the tub.  The reason I got it is bc it's called a 3 in 1 and the tub flips over to convert to a step stool and the ring fits on the toilet.

Good luck!  We had it sitting in the bathroom and DS decided it was time - no training involved. 

Jhawks482

We have a frog potty- not sure what the brand is, but I've seen them at Wal mart and Target. I love it because it has a very high splash guard that many other pottys did not. We used it until DS was completely trained, and then started using the big potty (with no additional training seat). In regards to training, the 3 day training works well, but ONLY if they are ready. If they aren't ready, it simply won't work. I saw so much praise on the PT board about the 3 day training and how awesome it is. I feel like that method is seen as the "holy grail" of potty training methods but i really think it can lead to big disappointment for both mom and kid if it doesn't work. Unfortunately, the only way to know is to try and see. If your DS shows interest, give it a shot! Don't push, and remember potty training is absolutely in his control. GL!

emoflamingo

We used a potty seat that fit on our potty because then he'd be used to the big potty. And a step stool so he could get up easy. Definitely agree with the pull-ups. And if he pees on the potty, make a sticker chart. The Dollar Tree has some of the best (and cheap!) stickers you can find.

We didn't push it too hard because we didn't want to regress and he eventually got the hang of it. The stickers really helped. Well, during the daytime. He sleeps so heavily that he doesn't always wake up at night so he still wears a pull-up at night. Pedi says it's normal to 6 y/o and accepted until 8 y/o.

MrsJMDC

i would get the cheapest little potty chair you can find.. nothing fancy.. it is for poop after all.. when my little guy was 2 he wanted to because I had him go to the bathroom with hubby every chance I could (DH was not fond of this). after a couple of times on the small potty I would get one of the attachments for the toilet and a stool.. it is not as hard as some people make it out to be. Good Luck. FWIW my girl potty trained great and so did my boy BUT my boy is still wetting the bed and he is almost 4... he straight told me he is TOO TIRED to get out of bed.. boys I feel are a little more stubborn than girls. GL again

Knitty

Neither of my children liked to sit on the big toilet - they were worried by being so high and by the noise, the position felt unnatural, and they needed to be helped to climb up.

We used the Baby Bjorn one recommended upthread. 

And since he's showing interest now, pursue it. I can't tell you how many parents have waited past the interest point thinking they were too young and then the kid isn't interested at all so we end up with a four year old totally uninterested in using the potty.

ITA

queenbone

We have a 3 in 1 seat for both toilets.  It has the toilet lid, the potty seat, and the adult seat.  So easy and then we don't have extra stuff cluttering up the bathroom. I got ours at the local diaper service store.

Sisugal

The thing that worked best with my son was to take an old tube of lipstick, flush the toilet and mark an X when the water is out of the toilet bowl.  Then you make it a game of target practice! 

I don't remember what kind of potty chair we used prior to that ---- too many years have gone by.