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!!!

[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!)

[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.

[seeker]

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

[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!

[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

[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.

[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.

[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!