YOU ASKED: Hello, I would like to say that I LOVE your blog and look forward to your daily postings! I would like your opinion on potty training! I know it is a subject that everyone feels differently on, but I am stuck! I have a little boy, 27 months. I started potty training him at 25 months, we were doing GREAT, and went four days without accidents other then sleeping at night. Now he will only go on the potty if he is at home and pant-less– Oh no!
My question to you, is how did you handle potty training with your oldest, how long did it take, and did he ever regress? Any words of encouragement? Thanks!
OH- and keep up the great blog!
I ANSWERED: Hi! Thanks for reading and writing 
I have to start by reminding the readers that you said, “I would like your opinion.” PLEASE remember that this is just what it is: MY OPINION. Its not right or wrong, its just what worked for US and what led to the success of Potty Training our 1st son Rocco.
In regards to Potty Training, its important not to compare your child to others. (and its hard) Every child is different and reacts differently to new situations. Some children need you to be matter of fact with them, others need charts for potty training, some need rewards, others need and like to be taught while some fight it and want to do everything on their own time. Some do it 100% on their own with no help. and WHEN? It happens for some when they turn 2 and others by the time they are 4. Point being- ITS OK! IT WILL HAPPEN!
As I thought about my reply to you and what advice I would give you regarding what I did, how long it took, etc. I remember trying everything which I’m not going to write out. Instead in the next paragraph, I’ll tell you what DID work. Rocco gave me mixed signals at an early age and I rolled with it. He didn’t revert back because I stopped pushing it and trying different things and then I let it happen on his terms. I was one that made a chart:
Had a bowl of m&m’s:
Read books: This one in particular-
We tried undies, then naked-ness…. Gosh, this seems like forever and a day ago but it wasn’t. Even Roman took the potty to the family room one night and showed him how its done (12 mo. old):
After I tried everything, I told myself, “I’m done & this will happen he’s ready.” What you need to remember is that once your son gets it and it happens, its done & there’s no going back. (some would disagree) I could tell you the details about what I did, what I tried, what I read, the 7/8 steps to potty training, type the books, articles, etc. and explain to you how much I stressed…. Instead, this is what finally worked with us.
First and foremost, ROCCO WAS READY. I recommend stopping whatever your doing and LETTING HIM decide when he wants to go and when its time. He’ll know when he’s ready. Recommended by our Pediatrician– We began referring to the bathroom as the “Pee Pee Place” or “Poo Poo Place”. All you need to do is pave the way for him to succeed. Put a potty in the bathroom and start telling him EVERY time you go. “Mommy’s going pee in the pee pee place. Do you need to go too?” If he says “no.” You say, “OK.” Done. You go and don’t mention it further. Any time Rocco was pooping somewhere around the house (in his diaper), I told him, “Rocco we don’t poop (ex. “by the couch”). We poop in the pooping place (bath room). Go poop in there.” I walked him to the bathroom and LET him poop IN HIS DIAPER, IN THE BATHROOM. He could take book, a toy, anything in there with him but you want to get him VERY familiar with the BATHROOM and that is where you go pee & poop. Eventually, he will start telling you. Rocco would say, “I need to go to the poopy place!” I opened the door, he went in and went to the bathroom but NOT on the potty. After a little while of that, Rocco became VERY comfortable with the bathroom and through talking and ‘trying’, he began ‘trying’ on the potty–1st the little potty, then the big toilet. Some times Rocco would even say yes to trying and then get scared and want the diaper back on. FINE. Over time, it was like a light switch and before I knew it, we were calling the “Pee Pee Place” a BATHROOM and he no longer went in his diaper but in the actual potty. Then within 1-2 weeks, he was trained 24/7.
ASIDE FROM MY STORY (which will be different with Roman, I’m SURE)
I will also send you off to read some of the following:
Potty Training from BabyCenter
Potty Training CHART from Pampers
Potty watch- A watch that reminds your child to try to go to the potty (you can set it for 30, 60, 90 minutes)…start at 30 min. Something that worked for us too!
I HOPE THIS HELPS YOU IN SOME WAY! If you have any questions or you DO want more details on one thing or another, Please Ask. Click the ‘COMMENT’ button below!
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Hello fellow mom! I used the 3 day potty training method and my daughter literally was potty trained in 3 days. Even at night at 28 months. We did have issues when she did have diarrhea, but that was to be expected. I’d be happy to send you a PDF file of that if you want to provide your email address. – Amanda
Love the “pee pee place and poo poo place” That’s a good idea.
We are just letting our son kinda do it in his own time. But I do really like that Idea about having him poo in his diaper in the bathroom. 
My mom was advised by my grandmother when we were kids, and my brother just wasn’t getting it. (My mom worked REALLY hard and was frustrated) My grandmother told her “He will not go to school in diapers” She basically gave up forcing it at that point, and let go. Someday he would get it, and well he did get it, around the same time I did. haha (We were only 14 months apart)
Great info! Love the tips.
So…this is what worked for us. I agree with Angelique each kid is different, this is the method I like and has so far worked! My oldest Benjamin, was trained in two days both day and night and now over 1 year later we’ve never looked back. I am currently on day three with my not quite 27 month old son and having GREAT success! From 18months on we put the potty in the bathroom, talked about it and if they wanted to go, we let them, sometimes they did and sometimes they tried and sometimes they said no. No biggie! We let this proceed for months with no real stress over it. When Benjamin consistently was going in his diaper taking it off and bringing it to me immediately after he had gone I decided it was time at 2yrs and 8 months. For Judah, he was waking up with a dry diaper for several days in a row and a couple times while we were out said he had to poop, I asked if he wanted to go where we were or when we got home, he held it each time and went on the potty as soon as we walked in the door. So for both of them I waited till there were major signs they were ready. For Judah I was really shocked because I feel he is really young for a boy, but he does have a big brother he wants to be exactly like.
So first thing, we took them out of the crib, so they could get up from bed and make it to the bathroom when they need to. Then we went strait to undies, we never did the pull up thing at all. I would like to tell you the first day is a walk in the park, haha, quite the contrary! Both had at least 8 accidents in their pants, no biggie we say you go on the potty and not in your pants. Now some may completely disagree with me on this, but we did time out when they had an accident. My boys LOATHE time out! So keeping in mind I knew they were both ready and could hold it, we associated going in your pants with time out (something they wanted nothing to do with) and when they went on the potty 4 m & m’s were given. When they pooped they got a mini candy bar. Every 45 minutes during the day for the first week I take them and put them on the potty, then stretch the time out until they really start telling me they have to go (which happens really quickly). For Benjamin he only had 1 accident on day 2. Judah had 2 yesterday morning and none so far today. As far as nights go, same thing, no pull ups just underwear. I go in around 2am, barely wake them up, walk them into the bathroom help them onto the potty, make sure they go and back to bed. Benjamin’s first night was horrendous and I changed the sheets like 6 times. Judah’s first two nights, no accidents at all. I kept waking Benjamin up for about 3 months, then he was fine. I plan to do the same for Judah.
Hope that helps!
Thank you, I love to hear other perspectives on Potty Training. I originally did the “Three Day Method” but my son did not respond well to that so we changed it up a bit! We use pull-ups and rewards. I really like the idea of the “Pee Pee Place” and will add that into our journey along with a chart with stickers and rewards. I feel I am coming to understand this thing called “parenting”
and feel my son will respond well to stickers, charts, etc. THANK YOU!
I love to hear other perspectives too! and what worked for them! I tried a lot and when it came down to it, its a muscle thing. When their little muscles are able to hold it and tell you, it will happen. Just remember-kids WANT to be ‘big’ and do ‘adult’ things… It will happen soon! You’re doing a great job
ooh. I like the idea of going in the diaper in the ‘poo poo place’. I’m stealing that starting tomorrow! Wish me luck…can’t believe I’m on #3 and don’t have this down pat. You definitely are right- no two kids are the same!