Gina Fords 'potty training in one week' - is it ever really that easy???!

[mumsgonemad123]

so i read Gina Fords little book from cover to cover, decided that my twin boys, aged 2 years 5 months were definately ready according to her criteria, and decided that Christmas time would a good time to start as no tots groups for nearly three weeks, nothing much planned, all shopping done, family all live very local and hubby off work, an ideal time to be at home and really concentrate on it. Was hoping that by Christmas day we could be over the hump so to speak.

End of day one today and i am completely frazzled and really not looking forward to tommoro!! one of the boys managed one wee in the potty all day and the other boy managed nothing. My boys are VERY lively at home and kind of feed off each others energy, running and bouncing around and that is the main problem, just cant get them to be calm enough to sit on their pottys. Its frustrating cos i know they are ready, they are very verbal and talk in complete sentences, very capable of understanding instructions etc, old enough now to have some bladder control, etc, etc, but they are livewires and just wild at times to be honest, i talk to them and they just dont listen, completely shut off from what i am saying usually cos they are interacting with each other.

I would really appreciate any advice, success stories, moral support, any input really. Am i being unrealistic to expect any success on the first day? anybody think Gina Fords method is flawed? Should i be waiting till they are closer to 3 years old? help please!!!

[SmileItsSeasonal]

Interesting reading.... Dd is 2y4m and I was reluctantly debating starting potty training after Christmas. Perhaps I'll wait. I like the idea of offering pants vs nappy each morning, thanks whoever posted that idea!

[montysma1]

Waited till twins were 3. Potty ledt sitting about for few weeks before that which they occasionally sat and peed in for the novelty if they had no nappy on. Meant they knew what it was for.

Then just went cold turkey, no nappys on. No accidents from either onthe first day or any day after. So, leave it i'd say, we were dry in a day.

[chickflick]

Yes if in doubt at all then postpone and wait.
I did not wait and persevered and i kid you not DS is still not reliably toilet trained (as in has regular accidents) three and a half YEARS later.
I think a lot depends on their personality-and yours.

[BlastOff]

Thank you. I'm glad that it's going well for you. We all make different choices and have different opinions, and that's as it should be. Sorry if I was a bit spikey

[mumsgonemad123]

blastoff really sorry, i never meant at all to sound ungrateful for advice and opinions, i just was very surprised i suppose at the weight of comments towards doing it lateish (IMHO) i really do appreciate everyones input and its great that this thread now has so many posts
mrspepperpotty yes when i read my post back the 'so there' did sound childish! i just meant it as a joke though.

Today is just day 4 and DS is definately getting it. Can see light at the end of the tunnel, only 2 accidents all day today, one poo and one wee! he has improved day on day and i have to say it really isn't that stressful. At the end of the day you have poo to deal with anyway so whether its in a nappy or in pants doesnt really make much of a difference to me. And one pair of wet trousers and a little puddle on the floor, what is stressful about that? If we get there in say 2 weeks then it is well worth it, i feel better for experiencing it and getting on with it than leaving it for some future date and wondering about the unknown. I think its something that you know is looming once they are in their two's and for me just going for it has been better than just thinking about it if that makes sense. If you could look into the future and choose between 2 weeks potty training at age 2.5 or 48 hours at age 3, surely all things considered you may as well go for it at 2.5???

Its interesting how many people believe it to be hard work, that really has not been my experience so far despite the doubts on the first two days. I was very close to giving up after day 2 and particularly being almost swayed by opinion on here, but glad i didnt. With twins i have found parenting to be hard work, period. These last few days have been not a patch on what i went through when the twins were newborns, 6 months old, 12 months old, 18 months old etc, its been a bumpy ride!

[seeker]

Absolutely, pretty candles! Can't understand why anyone would get worked up about a bit of toddle pee!

[PrettyCandlesAndTinselToo]

Surely peeing against a tree or down a storm drain is just like any other behaviour that is acceptable in a toddler but unacceptable in an older chidl or an adult? You accept it as part of their development, and gently guide them out of it as they get older. Just like eating with their fists, or public nudity.

[LikeAnAdventCandleButNotQuite]

What about doing a 'Wee Wee WHistle'? At that age, I imagine they are on the go a LOT, and probably just don't remeber to try, or can't always pay attentionm to whether they feel the urge? Maybe introduce a whistle, or play their favourite nursery rhyme at intervals during the day (each hour/hour and half) and every time they hear it they have to race to their pottys and 'have a try'? Then, once they;ve tried, back to playing (wooo!)

[mrspepperpotty]

Yes definitely! Weeing against a hedge or tree or similar risks some of it trickling down the pavement - not the end of the world maybe, but not very nice. And what if it's a poo?

[seeker]

So a plastic bag full of pee is preferable to the same amount of pee in a hedge or down a drain?

[mrspepperpotty]

Seeker, a portable potty comes with lots of plastic sacks (like nappy bags) which fit over the edges of the potty. They sit on the potty, do a wee or poo into the bag, then you take the bag off the potty, tie the top and throw away. Very handy when out and about - I would highly recommend.

[Llareggub]

My boys are incapable of getting into the bath without having their daily wee contest. The rules are getting quite complex. I just choose my battles, a bit of wee in their own bath isn't going to kill anyone, in fact, don't some people drink their urine?

[seeker]

Well of course you don't pee anywhere where youbmight upset or offend anyone or where it would be unhygienic. And poo is obviously different. But sureely it's ok tonpee in the sea? And the shower thing really baffles me- I really can't see a problem with that!

Whwtevr do you do with th used potty?

[brettgirl2]

Its just too complicated for me Seeker. If its OK to wee directly into a hedge/ shower is it also OK to:

1. Poo in the hedge/ shower
   
2. Wee in the garden
   
3. Poo in the garden
   
4. Wee in the bath
   
5. Wee in the swimming pool
   
6. Wee in the shower at the swimming pool
   
7. Wee in the drain groove in the swimming pool changing room?
   

When you go to the toilet at the seaside it may end up in the sea but I wouldnt have a wee in the sea myself.

FWIW DD did number 7 and announced it loudly in a busy changing room with DH. I am sure you would argue however relaxed you are about 'alfresco' peeing that number 7 on the list is not acceptable!!! I think it is just easier to tell a toddler consistently that they do wees and poos in a potty or toilet. They are just not old enough to understand the subtleties between different locations.

[seeker]

What do you do with the used potty?

[mrspepperpotty]

To all those of you who talk about carrying a potty around, try a portable potty which folds up and fits easily into the changing bag.

Sorry OP but your 'so there' did sound a bit childish. People are just trying to help you.

But blastoff I don't think it's that strange to say they look nicer in pants. Although it's not a good enough reason to train a child who isn't ready.

Not only are all children different, but also all parents are different, eg how much they dislike changing nappies v clearing up accidents. I HATE changing nappies so I potty trained early - but I accept this probably meant it took longer than if I'd waited till nearer 3. Not sure what I will do with DS2 aged 26m - he doesn't seem ready yet, but I don't want to leave it too long!

[seeker]

Ah. I'm more relaxed about discreet al fresco peeing! What do you do with the potty once it's been used?

The shower thing is new to me, though. How do you know whether people do or don't?

[brettgirl2]

I think in the mind of a 2 year old using a potty regardless of where it goes after is more consistent. Weeing in the shower isnt normal in polite society where I come from. Dd knows that she should use the potty/ toilet, sorry but I think that's normal!!!!!

[seeker]

What do you do with the used potty?

And - hang on- he's not allowed to pee in the shower???????

[brettgirl2]

Seeker obviously going in a hedge is fine but I think I was concerned that if I allowed it then dd would think it was OK to go in the garden, shower etc. It may be just me thinking too much but I know my SIL had a few probs like that with her son. As a result at the start I took potty out if we were going for a walk or to playground or something.

[PrettyCandlesAndTinselToo]

With 3 dc, we kept a potty in the car boot for years, but I don't recall any of them ever using it. The only time I ever carried a potty in the buggy was in the first few days of training, but, again, I don't think any of mine ever used it. TBH, the only one of mine who trained on a potty was dc1, and that was because there was a gorgeous handmade carpet in the hall that the bathroom led off from - a relic from pre-dc days. I still have it, but it's looking decidedly threadbare these days!

[seeker]

We never even had a potty, never mind carry one around! For the first few days you might have to plan your route a bit!

And I am a bit puzzled about the hedge thing. Are you saying that it's ok to get out the potty, get your child to pee in it then pour it into a hedge, then wipe out the potty with a baby wipe or something then put it back in your bag, but not all right for a tiny child to pee directly into the hedge concerned?

[brettgirl2]

Those of you who never carried potties did you never go anywhere without easy access to toilets??? Bizarre! Why is carrying a potty worse than a changing bag anyway? I always carry a spare set of clothes as all sorts can happen to the clothes of a 2 year old.

I suppose there is always a hedge but that to a very young child to me teaches them it is OK to go anywhere.

The three thing just comes from people saying it is easier at 3 (many whom have short term memories). One of my neighbours was on about how easy her son was at 3 (ie I was mad potty training earlier) but I distinctly remember him shitting his pants when they were outside playing!