As promised, here’s an update of Cooper’s potty-training progress: Zero, Zip, Zilch, Nada, Nothing.
Cooper turns two on February 23rd. He’s an outgoing little man with dirty blond hair, big blue eyes and dimple. He loves balls, trains, cars, his Bear and his pacifier. And he hates the potty. I mean, he really seems to dislike it, and for the life of me, I can’t figure out why. I can understand why the big toilet, with the high seat and loud flushing noises might intimidate a little kid…but I’m not sure why he’s so hesitant to even sit on the training potty. I can count on one hand the times I’ve gotten him on it and most of those times have required bribery: a chocolate chip or a TV show. Even then, he sits long enough to get his chip and is up and running. I wonder if the plastic is cold on his little buns?
One day last week, I decided to roll up the rug in the living room, put the potty in the middle of it, undress Cooper and give him a sippy cup of water to drink. He now tells me when he’s peeing and when’s he’s pooped and we talk about putting pee-pee and poo-poo in the potty. I tried to get him to sit down every once in a while. After an hour without any accidents on the floor, I knew he probably had to “go”. However, it was soon evident that he wasn’t going to be able to relax enough to “try” on the potty. I had been hoping serendipity might play a role and that with an enthusiastic enough round of applause from Mommy, he might get the idea. A moment later, I saw him casually leaning on the couch, with an elbow propping him up and looking like a much younger version of the man he will become. He cocked his head, looked at me with a big grin on his face, and said “Pee-pee” and then peed on the floor.
I think it’s safe to say “He’s still not ready,” but I want to keep trying every so often just to make sure I don’t miss a window of opportunity that might get me out of washing diapers for too much longer. The good news is that his Size Two Thirsties are still working just fine for us. I’ve been using the Size Twos since he was about eight months and after dozens and dozens of washes my snaps, gussets, elastics and covers, Duo Fab-Fitteds and inserts are holding up just fine.
Are any of you currently potty-training your cloth-diapered toddler? If so, how’s it going?
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I tried early potty training my now 20 mo. old, but it is not working either
I mean, he loves the toilet! Some days he even lets me know he needs to go before peeing! But it is very inconsistent. I have to give him though, that I have not been very consistent because I am pregnant and between the terrible first trimester and my last, in which I am super tired and picking him up an down the toilet sometimes is too much; plus a trip that daddy took that set everything back by a few months, I have not been the most dedicated potty mom.
Have you tried the toilet with no adapter? This is the only way our child likes it!
Check out Oh Crap Potty Training http://www.jamieglowacki.com/ (I’m not with her, but really liked her book).
It really sounds like he’s ready. He was able to recognize that he had to pee and tell you before he started to pee. That is big! Potty training takes time and consistency, don’t think he can’t do it at this age because the first try didn’t get in the potty.
Jamie also has a radio show, you might like this http://www.blogtalkradio.com/ohcrap/2013/01/29/potty-training-ready-vs-capable-and-the-naysayers
My 2 year (and 2 week!) old is now fully potty trained, including reliable self-initiation. For the first two months or so without diapers we had to prompt her, but she still got it mostly right.
I’d recommend reading O Crap Potty Training (http://www.jamieglowacki.com) – that’s the method I followed. She actually argues against “casual” potty training and just suggests you go for it and make it a Big Deal for the kiddo.
Good luck
Yeah, we tried this too. We were very laid back and low key until he turned 2.5 (almost exactly) and then we boot-camped it for a week when we were all home and could focus on it exclusively. It worked! I think it was a combination of age, being ready/able and the personality of our son. It was stressful until he actually went when he sat down. Once he went that one time, we essentially threw a ticker tape parade for him and because he loves praise, that was all he needed. We were good from there on out. However, a year later, he is still in super undies at night, but I’m not too concerned since he’s 100% self sufficient during the day. Night time stuff will come. And I have to wash his sister’s diapers anyway, so no big to throw his in there with hers. Good luck on your journey!
We made it a special occasion for my daughter. Bought special stickers and she got to buy special big girl undies, when she got a certain number of stickers for going on the potty, then she got to choose the undies that she wore. It worked like a charm and by the end of the weekend she was ready. But I also never used the little plastic potties, I always had a step stool and a seat cover for her to use on the big girl potty. Keep trying! You can do it!
I’ve been doing part-time EC with my one-year-old since she was 3 months, and she’s given signs that she sometimes knows what she’s doing. When weather warms up and she’s a little older we plan to roll up the rugs and boot camp her. It would be awesome for her to be trained by the time we’re ready for number 2!
That is exactly what my 22 month old little girl does lol we’ve peed on the floor lots, but have yet to go in the potty. I guess we aren’t ready either…
You’re both doing great! He will know when he’s ready! He might even surprise you one day and just be ready all of a sudden.
I’m using part time Elimination Communication with my 4 month old baby girl. We use cloth diapers for back-up and my baby girl really seems to like it. She’s my third EC’d baby and my fifth child. I noticed with my 4 month old and with my last baby that neither one liked sitting on the potty at first because it was cold. Once I made fleece potty cozies for them they calmed down and started to enjoy sitting on the potty.
I wonder if making a big fun to-do about potty training would help? I tried to conventionally potty train my first two children and it was a nightmare both times. My next two were EC’d but for reasons that would take too long to explain here, they both ended up in disposables later on. When it was time to potty train them I threw them potty parties ala Teri Crane. Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro is the name of her book. I also used a DVD called Potty Power. My son was fully potty trained in a few days and my daughter in a couple of weeks. If for some reason EC is interrupted with my current baby I’ll be throwing another potty party when it’s time for her to be out of diapers.
Good luck!
My 3.5 year old finally seems to be going for it. After our fourth attempt last summer (fiasco!) I threw up my hands and decided he was just going to have to potty train himself. When he started expressing interest over Christmas break I left him alone and only offered help when asked, and now he is using the potty of his own initiative 1-3 times a day, and getting better all the time. I am thrilled that it is finally happening! We tried all the fast methods and it just doesn’t work with his personality.
I LOVE the blackbird design. Can’t wait to try it on our son. My cousin told me she loves Thirsties so I’m expecting great things!
I noticed with our little guy that he was more ready at 3. Actually the month after his 3rd birthday he decided he wanted to potty train himself. I reminded him the first day and the second he said no mommy I don’t need your help. He has had a total of 5 accidents, and was potty trained overnight within a month. I think it is definitely easier on everyone to just let them be ready. I know not all kids will make the choice but that was wonderful for us
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