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Getting Started with Potty Training

Find tips for successfully potty training your toddler.
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Posted by danosamo
May 13, 2009 7:09 PM
Potty Training
Thank you! I have been a preschool teacher for over 30 years. Most of those years I have had one to five toddlers in my class. My policy on potty training is NOT BEFORE 2 1/2! and only during warm weather. Before I adopted the 2 1/2 year age for potty training we were all in tears and the process took months. Most children had a hard time staying dry through nap and through the night past their third birthday.
Waiting gives us time to find the schedule a child is on and by this time the child has the necessary skills and vocabulary to be successful. If parents will wait I can guarantee their child will be fully potty trained in one week and with happy faces all around! We wait for warm weather because we do not use pull-ups the few accidents they have only make them more aware of when they need to use the potty.
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Posted by Suzy_qy
May 13, 2009 9:49 AM
Astounded at the misinformation put forth on this subject!!!
"She has to know she has to go.
She has to associate the physical sensations of having to go with a certain result—before it happens.
She has to care about that result.
She has to have the physical maturity to control herself long enough to get to the pot.
All of this requires an awareness and development that infants and young toddlers do not yet possess. They go when they gotta go—it is as simple as that." THE ABOVE IS AN INACCURATE STATEMENT. Infants are remarkably able to coordinate the muscles used to learn how to "go". This is why in 50% of the world infants DO NOT WEAR DIAPERS and learn to go on the potty when held over it and "cued". I just read "Early Start Potty Training" by Linda Sonna and it blew my mind. It gave all the reasons why infants and young toddlers are perfectly capable of learning to go on the potty and furthermore, why it is healthier for our children if we do so. PLEASE don't buy into the "Wait until your child is 'ready'" theory perpetuated by Dr. Brazelton in the 1960's (btw, who was a spokesperson for Pampers). FYI I am NOT "crunchy" or a hippy-type in any way (I love our crib)....I am just totally convinced that I will do "EC" ("Elimination Communication") with my baby due in September (I am also potty training my 19 month old now...I wish I hadn't waited!!). PLEASE do yourself a favor and look into Ecing and read Dr. Sonna's book. I was convinced by page 13!!
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Posted by CedarParkD...
November 5, 2008 12:07 PM
My Potty Training Success
I definitely agree with many of the points you touch on in the article. I believe every child learns and reacts differently to learning how to potty. The key is to make that initial mind body connection. That's how I trained my daughter in 4 1/2 hours. An absolute great program. Check out: http://www.pottytrain-in-5hours.com Good Luck
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