Natalie is almost 21 mths.and we've begun the "exposure" to the whole potty thing. Did you all use a potty chair and then work into the big potty, or did you just go straight to the big potty and skip the potty chair?

Thanks!

By Kayleesmommy on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 05:44 pm:

My dd is also 21 months and we just bought her one of the seats that fits on the toilet. We wanted to try that because some of her number 2s are still yucky and I really didn't want to clean it. I have tried it with her and she loves it. She hasn't peed yet but she has pooped a few times. She thinks it is great because she sees us sit on the toilet to go. After I go I show her and tell her what it is. She still isn't even close to being potty trained but we try to get the poops in the toilet as often as possible. Just make sure whatever you do give lots of praise. With my dd we have a goodie basket and when she poops we give her a cookie or something of that sort but even lots of praise with words will make her proud. Good luck and if you learn any neat tricks make sure to tell me!

By Crystal915 on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 05:44 pm:

We started the potty chair in the living room at 18 months, to get them used to it. It wasn't until after their 2nd bday that they really got it, and by then we moved onto the big potty, (except during the time Maddie was in a cast) because Shane wouldn't go unless he could stand up, and monkey see, monkey do... Mads wanted the big potty. Anyway, that doesn't apply to you, so go with the chair in an easy location for now. Also, I highly recommend "Potty Power!" DVD, it's annoying as all get out, but it worked when Mads had a serious setback after her broken leg. It actually got both kids motivated better than anything else we tried!!

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 06:41 pm:

Both of mine used a potty chair and eventually moved to the big toilet.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 07:01 pm:

Natalie has sat on the potty with a bare butt(just because, not to do anything) and loves it up there! That's why I was wondering. Our bathrooms are small, so we were kind of thinking of just doing the big potty but I wondered what the pros and cons of that might be, or if it was really just a preference.

Also, at the beginning, did you take the poops from diapers and put them in the potty to show where it goes? She watches me and helps me in the potty, so she knows what is supposed to go in there. Thanks a lot!

By Kayleesmommy on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 07:50 pm:

I think if she loves to sit on the big potty go with it. I feel cleaning out a potty chair is just as bad as changing a poopy diaper. That is just me though. It may even be worse than changing a poopy diaper. I would try the big potty and if she just doesn't agree then try the potty chair. I know that they say to put the potty in the living room or some where like that but I wouldn't want it in my living room. I guess it is totally up to you though. Are you sure that she is ready? They say if their diaper is still pretty dry after a nap or after night then they should be ready. I don't think that my dd is quite ready but good for your dd if she is. I have another girl due in a few weeks so I am not rushing anything with my dd. Good luck and do whatever seems the best for you and your dd.

By Breann on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 08:24 pm:

We went straight to the big potty. I didn't want to clean out the potty chair!

By Reds9298 on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 08:34 pm:

I'm not sure if she's totally ready either. We're just beginning...reading potty books, sitting there, helping me, talking about it, etc. She's never had a dry diaper from a nap or bedtime, but she has had 2 hr. dry ones during the day. (We've always done 2hrs. on diaper changes.) Plus she understands a lot of potty "lingo" and is interested. She will tell me about half the time when she has pooped, but hasn't made the connection between feeling wet and the term "pee-pee".

I don't want the potty chair in my living room either. Just a choice like everything else I guess DH and I were just thinking the less transitions the better, so we were going to go with the big potty.

We both agreed that the idea of cleaning out the potty chair is worse than a poopy diaper anyday!!LOL

I really appreciate everyone's ideas.
Being wet or poopy has never bothered her. Do you think that is going to hinder the process for us?

By Reds9298 on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 08:37 pm:

Oh and Kayleesmommy...we found the cutest potty book this weekend that I hadn't seen before. It's called "Lift the Lid, Use the Potty" by Annie Ingle. It's a lift-the-flap board book, very detailed, and graphic. Goes through the process of what to do with a bunny family. She's very into it. Natalie sits on the potty on the book She tried to sit her stuffed Barney on the potty yesterday (without supervision of course) and looked like a deer in headlights when he fell right in. It was so cute! It was a great opportunity for us to talk about exactly what CAN go in the potty!

By Kayleesmommy on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 09:46 pm:

Oh I will have to look for that book. It sounds cute!

By Andi on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 10:25 pm:

We use the regular potty and just put a potty seat insert over the adult seat so she won't fall in. She has yet to go potty in the toilet but every night before her bath she tries and then she does this cute little dance when she is done.
She even tries to do it standing up like her big brother, it's pretty funny to watch.

By Reds9298 on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 08:58 am:

Andi, that's too funny!!

By Reds9298 on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 09:07 am:

Are you guys using pull-up diapers yet? We aren't. Should we start?

By Andi on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 03:47 pm:

Deanna, my feeling is this....Potty Training is the same as a move to a Big Girl Bed. When she is ready you will know. You don't want to rush it and all kids are so different.
I think Dylan was 21/2 when he was potty trained. Yes, boy tend to take longer than girls but they will all do it in there own time.

Pull Ups are usually for Potty Training so they can get a diaper on and off easily and they can do it alone. Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

By Kiki on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 10:58 pm:

I would just take it one day at time. Don't rush the process. Pull-ups are good when they are able to undress and dress themselves with little help from mom. We purchased the book and video about potty training. I can't recall the name of it but there is a girl version and a boy version and the packaging is red (not much help, I know). I found that to be helpful especially in the beginning. Having her follow you in the bathroom is also great way to start too. I used both the little potty chair and the big potty insert. Anytime she was successful, we made a huge deal out of it. The only problem we had was with bowel movements. She has a very sensitive gag reflex and when she would smell her bowel movement she would literally get sick. She would pee in the potty but would refuse to have a bowel movement in one. I finally had to use bribery to get her to use the potty for bowel movements. I went to the dollar store and picked up a bunch of toys and knick knacks for her and put them into a velvet bag. Every time she had a bowel movement in the potty she was awarded by being able to take one item out of the mystery bag. I can laugh about it now but it was extremely frustrating at the time. lol Potty wipes are a must when potty training. I hope this helps.

By Reds9298 on Saturday, March 18, 2006 - 07:39 am:

Thanks for the suggestions ladies! Yes, we are going very slow. We're not expecting anything out of her really, just experiencing the potty. It doesn't sound like it's time for pull-ups, so thanks for that info. I wasn't sure about those. The wipes are also a good idea for potty time, too, when the time comes that is!

Thanks again to everyone!

By Mommy797 on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 - 06:27 pm:

My daughter used the potty ring that sat on the toilet. Emily seemed to like that best. Potty training took a long time, so keep up the faith. Eventually what worked for Emily was The Princess Potty Game. I bought it online and it was awesome. In 3 days she was potty trained. If you're interested, it's at www.creativepottytraining.com. I tell all the moms I run into about it because it was a lifesaver!

By Mazoku85 on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 02:38 pm:

I have questions as well, my son will be 2 next weekand havent even started exposure or anything to the potty. Most books say to wait til you know they are ready. Butif this helps I am starting on the big potty, I already have a seat to put on it.

My mother in law, used the potty chair to train her younger son and it worked beautifully..but he still will not use a big potty and he is 4 years old.

By Colette on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 02:40 pm:

I used one of those seats that fit on a normal toilet with all 3.

By Boxzgrl on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 03:50 pm:

Ditto Colette. Kaitlyn's original potty that we bought her ended up getting used as a stool and an aid to help her get in trouble, lol.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 07:00 pm:

I used a potty chair with both and they never had trouble transitioning to the big potty.

By Tripletmom on Thursday, April 13, 2006 - 07:26 pm:

We used a potty chair for Katie She had her 1st poop watching teletubbies.We started the potty in the bathroom with no success.We put the potty in front of the t.v. and it happened I guess she felt relaxed.Katie was constipated before we started to potty train so she associated pain with poop.We just kept reading the potty books with her and singing songs and praising her for at least just sitting there and getting use to it.It took about a week with no relapses.