Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Help Needed

ANYONE that has ever potty trained a child....
I need your opinion!!!!

In the past week Brody has started asking to go to the potty. We've had a little potty chair sitting by the toilet in the bathroom (just for him to get used to seeing it) for a month or so now. He used to sit on it (with his diaper on) and make grunting noises. It was pretty funny. Now he wants to sit on the potty (with both his diaper and pants off) and he actually pees!!! Every time he's asked to go potty...he's peed in the potty. The strange thing is that he'll look at me, grab the front of his diaper, and say "poop!". Then he'll run to the bathroom and (after I help him get his pants off) he'll pee on the potty. He hasn't pooped there yet.

The big question: Brody is only 17 months old. Do you think that we should start potty training? One friend told me to run with it while he's not being stubborn about it and she said that I should buy big boy underwear and put him in those. She said it'd be messy...but that pull ups are too absorbent and that it wouldn't be a big deal if he peed or pooped in them...so they wouldn't work as well as undies. What did you do? What would you do differently? Do you think it's crazy to start potty training him now? Once we put him in undies...is it bad to put diapers on him to go out in public or to work?

I guess I can just use any advice you can give me!!!!!!!

11 comments:

laura said...

i'm not there yet so i shouldn't really be giving advice...but go with it. lindsey is STILL having trouble with ben and he's 3 and a half. it's miserable. today i babysat him and he pooped in his pants bc he's scared to poop on the potty. i think if you do it sooner rather than later it's better. and i think that since he wants to start trying...why not?! good luck with whatever you decide. i bet he'll be a pro. he's such a bright boy!

Anonymous said...

You were potty trained by the time you were Brody's age. I would get the strangest looks when I took you to the nursery at church and told them that if you asked to go to the potty to let you go.

I think the point about getting the idea faster with underwear is true. I don't think there is a problem with switching back and forth when you are not at home until he gets more dependable.

suzspeaks said...

We are in major training mode right now...and we are doing ok, except with the poop. Jaxon will be 3 in April. I say, that if he is asking to go, go for it! It may work great right now, he may be into it now and then back off a little (this is what Jax did). It can't hurt to at least try.

I agree, that pull ups are a hinderance. We used them and they are just a diaper that you can "pull up". It is a pain to always have extra clothes...just in case, but it's the only way they know.

I started a few weeks ago letting him run around the house without anything on. I set the timer to go off every 20 minutes and we would go on the potty. He would get excited and run to the bathroom. Now, he's pretty much trained for #1! I think it would be easier to train him now than when you have a new baby!

Shauna said...

It doesnt hurt to give it a shot! Now - let me tell you what we do - we stay naked all day...as in we - I mean - Macy. That is how we are getting trained. I dont invest in pull ups because they have never really done much for any of my kids.

Anonymous said...

I saw as feature on TV recently that some mothers are training their babies at just a few months old. Evidently this can be done. Both of my girls were trained by Brody's age.

Anonymous said...

I do not remember at what age Steve and Cindy were potty trained, but I do remember that Steve was well potty trained before Cindy was born. So I say, go for it and that way you will not have 2 in diapers. Brody is so smart that I believe he will be trained in no time.

Cindi Koceich said...

If he's ready, I think it's a great idea! Most kids aren't ready that early, but he is definitely showing signs that he is ready. I think it's important not to make the training too much pressure on either of you. If putting him in a pull-up or diaper is easier when you're out then do it. I think wearing underwear with plastic pants over them is great for the final stages of potty training when he's just having accidents now and then. However, I've potty trained several kids through my home daycare and the rules changed with each one of them. Just go with your instincts and keep it easy and laid back! Oh, also, don't be surprised if he reverts when the baby is born. But the head start will make it easier if you have to do it again. :) Yay Brody!!

Teri said...

Yeah Brody! I would ditto many other's advise, esp if he is excited at big boy pants, if not wait on those. He's obviously getting it some with a diaper! I would remain flexible, of course I cannot talk, my children were so pokey, but once they were done, they were done. Enjoy!

Ledbetter Fam said...

Lots of people have left really great advice. I would say that if he is interested, give it a try for sure. Just stay relaxed about it and don't force the issue. Especially the #2 issue. A lot of boys tend to have trouble with that. We experienced this with Wade as well. He wanted to do #1on the potty, but when it came to #2 he didn't want to have anything to do with the potty. We made the mistake of forcing the issue for a while and it became a battle for a long time. Pull-ups have never worked for us. The only reason we have used them are for overnight for Lafe. He still doesn't wake up to go potty. Anyway, this is long, but only you will know what is right for Brody and your family. Just stay relaxed. Did I already say that? :) One of the doctors I used to work with had 4 boys and he said "You can train them when you are ready for 2 years or you can wait until they are 100% ready and do it in 2 days." I've found that is pretty much true after training two different little boys myself.

Good luck,
JB

Anonymous said...

I don't have any advice..but I was just thinking. If you print this blog as a book, Brody's kids are gonna get a kick out of reading all about their Dad's poop!

Rebecca said...

Not a mom, but I haven't commented in a while. I worked with TONS of small kids from 1-3 for a few years, and every kid progresses differently. From what I hear, if you have a BOY that is ready to potty train at 17 months, DO IT!!!