I Can Only Guarantee Clean Hands April 20, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Parenthood, Princess Hannah, Thoughts , trackbackWarning: Potty Talk ahead!
Some of you have emailed asking for more specifics of how I potty trained Hannah. Since I have only potty trained one child, (who was text book easy when the timing was right) I pretty much have no idea what I’m talking about when it comes to this subject.
Now that I’ve cleared the air . . .
Please read the following with a big grain of salt.
Let’s move on to today’s topic: Potty training
Well, in my very limited experience, this is my advice:
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE:
Your kid has to be ready.
End of story.
After your kid is ready, there are a few pointers I’d like to share:
First off , you need several potty’s. A potty topper (or whatever they’re called) in every bathroom. And a portable potty in the room they play in most. Once your kid gets the hang of “the potty sensation” you will have five seconds MAX to get them on the potty for success! (no pressure or anything!)
It’s okay for them to have accidents. The uncomfortable feeling of wet pee on their leg will motivate them. It sure did Hannah! (And don’t worry, they do learn to hold their pee, and you will have more than five seconds when they start doing the “potty dance.”)
On the first few days of training, let them run around in their panties/underwear and a shirt. NO PANTS. This will allow easy on and off access as you both get used to running to the potty. Give them a towel to sit on while they play on the ground or on your furniture.
It takes about 20 minutes after you give them liquid to register that they need to pee. Trust me, just take them to the potty, even if they don’t think they need to go! Have lots of fun things like special activity books, books, and treats for the potty!
Make the bathroom a party! Balloons, streamers, toys, books, etc! Make the potty room just as fun as the play room! (Which is why a lot of kids refuse to be potty trained. They would rather pee in their diaper than stop playing. But . . . if the bathroom was just as enticing . . . you get the idea.)
After a couple days, they will get the hang of it, and they should start having dry nights. Even though Hannah has dry nights, I still put a diaper on her to sleep because I am neurotic. Maybe after a month of dry nights, I’ll quit. 
Potty training is not suggested right after a major move, or right after a baby. But, we just had a major move six weeks ago and Hannah did great. There is no way I could have potty trained her right after Dallin was born. NO FREAKING WAY.
Peer pressure works wonders. Hannah has two friends on our street that are four, and potty trained. Hannah was embarrassed about her diaper, so she was ready. THANK GOODNESS FOR PEER PRESSURE! 
Okay, now I know this process can be SUPER frustrating. This is the third time we tried to potty train. The first time, right before she turned two, neither Hannah or I were ready. We tried again at Christmas, and she definitely wasn’t ready. Then, it just naturally happened a few weeks ago.
Keep in mind that BOTH of you need to be ready.
Also, I try to keep this quote in my head when Hannah has an accident: You cannot make someone do better by making them feel worse. I have to repeat this again and again when I get frustrated. Cleaning up pee is not my favorite thing.
I cannot guarantee your kid will be potty trained after this, I can only guarantee one thing:
All this going to the potty business will make for very clean little hands.
Comments»
I will definitely file this advice away, for the future.
I definitely agree with this post. Waiting until the child is ready is the absolute key. Both my girls trained without any fuss.
Usually you can tell a child is ready when they show an interest in the toilet. When they ask to have their diaper changed or identify when they’ve peed.
What did my kids do? I can’t remember, they were so easy. They were really ready.
And Em, thanks for this:
“You cannot make someone do better by making them feel worse.”
I feel like a gigantic lightbulb went on over my head and music started to play just for me. I really needed to hear this. Thanks.
xox