Updated 3/7/2018
Oh the dreaded potty training......
Im thinking I would write a post about my experiences, facts and thoughts on potty training.
Now I started putting Nash on the potty when he was 18 months old. I wasn't forcing it or anything, he actually liked it. I would tell him that this is where you go potty and pretty soon he would start saying "potty".
When Nash turned 2 he went pee in the potty a couple times and I was so proud of him. I did put underwear on him to show him what underwear felt like than a diaper. Right before he turned 3 he lost interest in the potty. I did get him his own potty... but he would rather go in the "mommy and daddy potty"
Nash is moderate autistic, so potty training and other things are very hard for him to understand. We talked to Nashs therapists and teacher and decided that school would help us and him understand what the potty is.
I know this sounds weird, but when Nash would see me go potty than he would tell me he wants to go potty and wear underwear too. It works for me and him so I worked with it.
For a couple of months now I put underwear (he prefers paw patrol or cars underwear) on and set his potty timer for 20 min. Every 20 min I would say pee time; take him to the bathroom, turn on the water, sit him on the toilet, and pour warm water down his belly. Ya its weird but he peed every time, no matter what. Hes at that point now where he can go without the water and he now tells me when he needs to go...only if his underwear is on. After every bathroom time which is now 30 min, if he went pee he would get a sucker or fruit snack. He would ONLY get these if he went pee. If he goes poo (which he has done more than a couple times) he get to choose something at wal mart or McDonalds. Nash would pee a little and hold it in than tell me he needs to go pee. He is such a big boy!!
Any way here are some facts:
- Patience is a virtue here....lots and lots of patience.
- Lots and lots of accidents. Don't get mad tell them its ok and that they will try again with a new pair of underwear.
- Watch cartoons about going potty, like Daniel tiger. I like the song he sings to go potty.
- Get a potty watch if they can stand to wear it.
- If they poo in the underwear, say "ok since you pooed in the underwear we have to throw them away". If its their favorite underwear...throw it away anyway. Its a good way to teach them that if they poo in them they are gone forever.
- Bribing is needed. You already read what I bribe Nash with. Another way is to tape a toy in front of the toilet and if they poo they get to play with it for 20 min. Than put it back and next time they poo they can play with it again.
- I put nash on the toilet backwards so that hes facing the lid. He doesn't fall in and he has more control.
- You thought you were done with poop.... haha ya your wrong.
- Every time they go potty act like its a party. Clap, dance, jump around, yell good job!! Nash LOVES it!
- Let them choose what underwear they want. It helps...
- First couple of days let them run around naked.
- Get them a special potty timer
- Get a very own potty or potty liner of their choice.
- Let them flush the toilet. It makes them feel more big.
- NEVER get mad and yell at them and tell them its naughty... they are learning remember.
- Let them choose when they want to start. Nash is 3 and a half and hes just getting it. Don't rush it'll click one day.
- Let one parent teach. Both parents are good but both have different ways of training.... its very confusing. I potty train Nash myself and I actually don't mind it. They way preston does it is way different so we stuck with what I do.
- On Nashs 2nd B day I asked for underwear. They are expensive!!! I asked for a size bigger and now that hes 3 they fit him perfect. So don't be afraid to ask for underwear for the kids birthday or even christmas.
- Wait till them and you are comfortable with the peeing till you go places with underwear on. Get a system down. I'm at the point where Nash can go to grandmas and wal mart with underwear on and no accidents. Just small close places first.
- When I started putting pants on Nash with his underwear thats when he was telling me when he needed to go pee.
- Show them the body parts and what they do and where the pee and poo goes.
- Get a chart. Every time they go potty mark a box. When its full they get a big prize. Do this once they understand it more.
- When they are busy and playing they will forget to tell you when they need to go. Make sure when they play remind them if they need to go. Nash does this, when hes watching a movie he always remembers when to go. Its they playing part that's hard, but he's catching on quick.
- Im a working mom so I only put underwear and potty train after work and on my days off. I would like to take a couple days and just do potty training. I have read that you can do it in 3 days but it depends on the kid and parent. I am very constant with it.
- Pinterest has a lot of ideas and tips. Check it out.
- Read books about potty time. Nash likes the "everybody poops" book. We also have " a potty for me" he likes to read.
- When you put on the underwear tell them they cannot pee or poo on ( insert character name). I put Nash's on and I tell him "ok you can't pee on marshall or chase, so make sure you tell mommy when you need to go potty" It works for Nash. One day he told me " I no pee on mater, I pee potty" It was way cute and he was even doing the potty dance.
- For pooing my husband cut out a diaper and put it on Nash and it worked. Now whenever he needs to poo he asks for a diaper. We are slowly getting rid of the diaper, its mainly for comfort and security which there is nothing wrong with this. He is still pooing in the potty he just wants his comfort. At first on this we would have him poo in the bathroom with his diaper, than slowly cut out more and more of the diaper and showed him where poo goes. Now when he poos in the potty he yells " mom look at my poo!! Im a big boy".
Update on nash: he is fully potty trained just the cut out diaper with pooing. Night time we are slowly getting. Im really glad I waited till Nash was ready. I've read that boys take longer because they can't hold their pee in. Although now nash will wear underwear all day, no matter where we go. If he needs to go he'll tell us and he'll hold it in till we make it to the potty. He caught on so quick! I'm so proud of him.
Small update: he is now, well as of 3 months ago is going by himself without assistance while standing and peeing. The pee stickers we have help him aim. With him standing is WAY easy on us!! especially him. I also taught him to pee outside. Its nice...sometimes. At first he didn't like it, I told him to pee on the rocks or pee on that bug. He loved it and he caught on. The bad side... when we are at the park or other places outside he thinks he can go pee on the rocks in front of everybody. We are slowly teaching him not to.
Every kid and mommy and daddy are different. Everyone has their own way of potty training.
Nash is my first kid so I got more one on one with him. So when I have another I would know what to do instead of pulling my hair out.
I hope this post helps someone out there.
Make sure mamas to have a glass of wine in hand if your doing the what I like to call the "3 day challenge". Trust me your gonna need a whole bottle and more haha.
