The Higbee Family: Help!!

1.29.2009

Help!!

We are officially trying to potty train Afton and I am officially the worst potty trainer in the world. I hate potty training so I wait until they are old enough to really talk to, bribe, negotiate with, etc. Max was 3 1/2- and technically my two aunts did it for me... in ONE day (Thanks Aunt Kim and Aunt Melanie!) and I waited until Abby was about 3 1/2 as well. Unfortunately, Afton is sooooo ready. She's been ready for months and shows all the "signs" of being ready. The bad news is... I have NO IDEA how to potty train a 2 year old. What works for 3 year olds isn't working for her. So... .HELP ME!! I desperately need your advice and tips so we can get this over with... or maybe I could just have her go spend a day with Aunt Melanie?

10 comments:

Nursapalooza said...: How funny, I waited like forever too, I was in no hurry, and neither were my kids.

bribery worked best with my boy

my daughter...just practice; January 29, 2009 at 9:45 PM
Anonymous said...: I so wish I could be helpful, but I do the 3 1/2 thing. In fact I was afraid Rose would make it to 4 -- but then it was so easy it was worth the wait.

I love the photo! Good luck.; January 29, 2009 at 10:46 PM
Teri said...: I got my kids a Dora seat that just sits right on the toilet, I liked that because then I didn't have to clean out the baby potty chair. I think some kids are afraid of the toilet though so sometimes those portable potty chairs are probably better. Brooklyn had a hard time sitting on the toilet long enough so she would go, I used to paint her toe nails while she sat then she would go. Then once she did go I would seriously make the hugest deal out of it, I wanted her know how happy I was. I would also turn running water on the bathroom so it might trick them into going. My kids never liked the whole sticker chart, candy worked best for them. Every time they went they got a skittle. Buying cute panties helped too, Brooklyn was excited to pick out her own panties. When she put on her Cinderella panties I told her that if she peed or had a accident in them then Cinderella would be very sad. For some reason that effected her, she did not want to pee in her underwear in fear that Cinderella would be disappointed. It probably sounds totally silly, but I was so ready to be done with diapers! Good luck!; January 30, 2009 at 8:00 AM
Teri said...: Hey Katie,
Another thing I did was once I decided I was ready to potty train was being totally done with diapers. I didn't buy anymore at all. I remember Weston asking for diaper when I was trying to potty train him, I told him we were out and had to wear underwear now because he was a big boy. I remember him fighting with me about not wanting to wear underwear so all day he walked around with nothing on. I think he wanted a diaper so he had comfort in knowing it was there and he could go in them if he couldn't make it to the toilet. Him walking around with nothing on I think helped, he was more aware that he couldn't just pee on the ground, so he would run to the toilet. I think it confuses them if you go back and forth from underwear to diapers. I never did pull ups either. It was terrifying going to church or out in public while I potty trained, but I always brought extra clothes in case of an accident. Even when he went to bed at night, he wore underwear. I remember thinking how is he going to know to wake up to go? But he did, he just woke up and went. I did have a plastic under his sheets and kept his nice blanket off his bed while we did this though. I think I was lucky he never wet his bed, I wet my bed until I was 7!! Not kidding! Hope this helps. Sorry I wrote so much!- Teri; January 30, 2009 at 8:10 AM
Nursapalooza said...: wow, what great ideas. I also heard about the potty training in one day book, my next door neighbor did it. You keep filling them up with fluids, whatever they like; juice, milk, soda, soup, just TONS of fluid. Then you keep them naked from waste down. They're gonna have to go alot, so they'll learn the feeling of "urge" and keep the potty handy on a hard floor (like kitchen) with TV, toys near.

So, how's it goin?; January 30, 2009 at 9:36 AM
JJ said...: I did the potty training in a day book with Maunia and it totally worked. LOTS of fluids. You just have to plan to go absolutely nowhere for the day. Good Luck. (you may want to check the book out from the library it really worked.) Sierra just potty trained herself before she was two :-); January 30, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Keli said...: Averi potting trained at 26 months totally and completely, not even pull ups at night! I thought, "what are all the Mom's complaining about the potty training thing is so easy!" Little did I know I had absolutely nothing to do with that! That was all her...just who she is. Carter came along and whoa! I was jerked back into reality...the one where I am not a miracle worker. He potty trained by 3 1/2 with lots of candy and bribing. I also did the fancy big boy pants for him...and told him that Thomas would be sad if he pee'd or poo'ed on Thomas...however, my sweet boy decided not to take any chances (he loved Thomas too much!) so he refused to put them on...that one back fired! lol Good luck, I wish I had a pearl of wisdom...but I really don't! Good luck again!; January 30, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Carrick family said...: I started my kids to train at age 2. Sage was fully potty trained at 2 and half years old except peeing on her bed at some nights. Most of them were ready and wanted to do it so if Afton is ready, go for it! Don't put it off! I never buy pull up diapers for them. I just bought them underwears in their favorite cartoon. I always cheer and clap and say you are a big girl when they went to bathroom so they could feel good. The bad thing about it is when you go doing errands or shoppings, you worry about them peeing their pants or making trips to restrooms a lot but it is worth it. Now it is very cold and nothing to do to go out to do something, it is perfect time to start to train Afton if you are being home a lot. Candy bribery is good too. Good luck!!!; February 2, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Danielle said...: Good luck with that one, I am in the midst of doing the same thing with Z and hes ready but I am not, sounds so horrible doesnt it!; February 5, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Lesa said...: i should start too! She is ready...Im not!!I hate the messy undies!!! I just want to throw them away after and thats just like diapers right?? Let me know what works for you; February 9, 2009 at 9:37 PM

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