We started potty training Ethan when he was 3 because this was 'The age' supposedly. According to some websites, some signs of potty training readiness are: 1) fewer wet diapers, 2) understanding simple directions, 3) understanding bathroom lingo like poo and pee, 4) predictable bowel movements, 5) perform simple undressing, etc. Ethan met 1 of the signs so I thought we should try and like what everybody says, every kid is different. I didn't expect him to be potty trained in 7 days but I want to get him into a habit of just sitting on the
potty (which was pimped out with flushing sounds and music).
It took him a while to get used to the habit so we were off and on about our potty training program because we were frustrated and I have to admit we got lazy.
When he turned 4 that's when we really started getting serious about the potty again. It was our main priority above anything else. Here's how we went through with it:
Materials we used:
- Potty seat attachments
- Potty chairs
- Potty watch
- Stickers / iPad for reward
- PATIENCE! (you can buy it from the store called Virtues and More haha)
Instructions:
1) Load Ethan with liquids, I meant let him drink liquids. :)
2) Take Ethan every 30 minutes, after a few days increase it another 30 mins, an hour, every 2 and so on.
3) Everytime he goes, give him a reward. If he doesn't don't yell, just hold it in and try again next time.
4) Repeat Step 1
Incentives:
1) He can be enrolled to any 4 year old pre K classes (preschools in our area will only accept potty trained 4 year olds)
2) 35 cents per Pull Ups diaper savings which translates to $35/month = $420/year
Alrighty, We're all set and We were ready to go!
Btw, the
Potty Watch was just OK, I had to turn it off at night as it works round the clock (duh, it's a watch!). It's essentially a timer that you can set for 30, 60 and 90 minutes. Anyway, as weeks went by, we saw Ethan getting more comfortable using the potty. The iPad as a reward helped a lot. He would pee right away just to get the iPad, he wasn't too thrilled about the stickers but it helped in the beginning. December of last year (2015) is when we committed ourselves to letting Ethan just wear briefs to school. He had accidents at school fewer and fewer times. The bummer was when he had poo accidents at school! We know when Ethan has to go #2 because his legs get stiff, it's because of his CP. He says after the fact "I pee peed", "I poo pooed". I appreciate that he says it but I need him to say it before he goes. I'm not quite sure if he doesn't feel the sensation or he just can't express himself. He also has weak abdominal muscles related to his CP. I have raised this concern to his pediatrician, the answer I got so far was just to wait and see.
Anyway, fast forward to today. It has gotten a bit better, I found that letting him stand to pee is sort of working for him. He no longer wears a diaper / pull ups at night. He's still not fully potty trained though.
What has worked for your child? How do we encourage him to tell us when he needs to go?