Re: Experience with potty training : need help

[Guest guest]

When was young my son never gave me an indication one way or another that he was ready to be toilet trained. We read books and watched videos about " the potty " long before we ever started training. Since he never showed me the signs he was ready, I waited until he was three and a half. I woke up one day and decided it was time for him to start. I used the same methods I did with my “typical” daughter. Although acted oblivious to all my actions, he wasn’t. I put up a piece of construction paper on the wall of the bathroom. We got in the car and went to Target. I made a big deal out of picking out stickers at the store. One kind of sticker was for " Pee Pee " and one for " Poopie. " We also picked out " big boy " underpants. We stayed home for two days and I put him in the underpants. (I didn’t use pull-ups because our kids hate the feeling of being wet) We continued to read potty books and talk about it even though he gave me no indication one way or another he was listening to me. When I had to use the restroom, I would put him on the toilet next. My needs reminded me not to forget to put him on the toilet. The first time he used the toilet, we danced around the house, called Dad, and were singing with delight this stupid song that our family always sings when something great happens. Within two days, he was trained for daytime. I didn't even attempt nighttime until he woke up dry. Then I yanked off the diaper and put him on the toilet. If you wait for signs, it will never happen. That is part of the problem with our kind of kids. I never knew one way or another if he cared or understood a thing I said. This is truly a big issue with language too. I think parents sometimes stop talking to their kids because they get no feedback, a smile or clue they are hearing us. This is a common mistake parents make. The hardest thing I ever did was to keep talking to a kid that was unresponsive. It wasn't until he was older that I realized he was listening but didn't know how to respond or us the nonverbal signs that showed he was listening. Hope this helps,Marcia

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

I'll share our potty learning story in hopes that it will help. My son began

potty learning at his school PAC program when he turned 3. Until then, we

hadn't pushed for potty learning at all because we had too many other things to

worry about. By having him go every hour and giving him something to drink just

before to ensure success at every potty break, they had him potty trained within

3 months. I think it took this long because we weren't doing the program at

home and it was confusing him. My advice, when they start potty training at

school do the exact same program at home. I can give specifics on their process

if you like, but it's similar to what everyone else described. While his level

of potty training was great, he wasn't potty trained in the true sense because

he would never go on his own. He just went when someone told him to go. Then

we had this brief period where we hit on the right supplements and the stars

aligned and he started saying " poopy " or " potty " and dragging us to the

bathroom. We were so excited. He didn't always go independently, but he was

doing it sometimes. This level of independent pottying lasted for about a week

and then went away mysteriously. Even though it went away, this showed us that

something was going on in his gastrointestinal system that prevented him from

feeling when he had to go. Note that his gastro tests were very normal - he

wasn't as high as he could be on Lactobacilli and bifidobacterium, but he was in

the normal range. He showed no yeast. Again, we started experimenting with

different probiotics and digestive enzymes until we hit it (different for every

kid, but high amounts of DPP-IV plus Sac Boullardi are crucial for my child) .

He could finally feel when he needed to go consistently. He's been fully potty

trained ever since for BMs and urine. In fact, in the last 6 months, he had one

accident because he didn't stop playing and was so disappointed with himself

that he cried and was inconsolable for 10 minutes. We still have a long way to

go in terms of healing his gut, but this level of healing helped to potty train

him. Thus, I would recommend looking at his gastro health and including that in

your potty training solution.

>

> When was young my son never gave me an indication one way or another

> that he was ready to be toilet trained. We read books and watched videos

> about " the potty " long before we ever started training. Since he never

> showed me the signs he was ready, I waited until he was three and a half. I

> woke up one day and decided it was time for him to start.

>

>

>

> I used the same methods I did with my " typical " daughter. Although

> acted oblivious to all my actions, he wasn't. I put up a piece of

> construction paper on the wall of the bathroom. We got in the car and went

> to Target. I made a big deal out of picking out stickers at the store. One

> kind of sticker was for " Pee Pee " and one for " Poopie. " We also picked out

> " big boy " underpants.

>

>

>

> We stayed home for two days and I put him in the underpants. (I didn't use

> pull-ups because our kids hate the feeling of being wet) We continued to

> read potty books and talk about it even though he gave me no indication one

> way or another he was listening to me.

>

>

>

> When I had to use the restroom, I would put him on the toilet next. My

> needs reminded me not to forget to put him on the toilet. The first time he

> used the toilet, we danced around the house, called Dad, and were singing

> with delight this stupid song that our family always sings when something

> great happens. Within two days, he was trained for daytime. I didn't even

> attempt nighttime until he woke up dry. Then I yanked off the diaper and

> put him on the toilet.

>

>

>

> If you wait for signs, it will never happen. That is part of the problem

> with our kind of kids. I never knew one way or another if he cared or

> understood a thing I said. This is truly a big issue with language too. I

> think parents sometimes stop talking to their kids because they get no

> feedback, a smile or clue they are hearing us. This is a common mistake

> parents make. The hardest thing I ever did was to keep talking to a kid

> that was unresponsive. It wasn't until he was older that I realized he was

> listening but didn't know how to respond or us the nonverbal signs that

> showed he was listening.

>

>

>

> Hope this helps,

>

> Marcia

>