What was YOUR potty training technique, and how well did it work?

[Legoleia]

Oh gosh, I'm really not getting on very well with potty training DS - we can't seem to get from the 'sit on the potty for 15 mins and a wee might come out' stage to the 'actively asking to go' bit. He is almost 3.

SO what worked for you? Please?! [slightly desperate]

We first introduced the potty in the evening - ds would sit on it and have a story, and got into the habit of 'performing' while on it (to congratulations, but not effusive ones). We then also introduced it in the morning routine too.

I had been expecting to take a week off in the summer when ds was about 28 months, but at 26 months he seemed ready (he had been having odd times in pants by then with more or less sucess) and we 'went for it' over a weekend (when my mother was staying for additional support!) - turned up at nursery having had a relatively good weekend and went from there.

Plenty of spare clothes needed at all times. Potty needed under the buggy at all times.

I think it was the gradual introduction of the potty that helped ds - he wasn't suddenly expected to be potty trained, but learned what the potty was for.

Hmmm, so he just started asking on to go?

What will I do if DS never does this?!!!!

A random 'on' slipped in there - sorry!

technique? bribery (weeing chocolates, pooing chocolates, special weeing car for the first day with no accidents...)

I asked (often) if he wanted a wee, and told him to sit on the potty if he was jigging from foot to foot and clutching his willy (mothers intuition)

We got through a whole box of 'celebrations' chocs the first week, and there was a day at nursery when he wee'd ever half an hour for the praise (and stickers) it brought.

It took a while before he started asking to go for a wee, and longer before he would admit to needing a poo. Much longer (months). Before that, it was all 'observe and pounce' by me...

waiting until she was ready

Legoleia - no - CaptainKarvol's 'observe and pounce' is much more the way to go to start with. However, if he has already associated the potty with what its meant for, this probably works more easily!

We still (ds 3.8) get 'I need a wee' to which we retort - 'well go then - hurry up' as he is quite capable of going himself (and washing his hands )(although not yet competant at flushing)

so in fact, I need potty training?

i did "cods bootcamp" we stayed in all week and i put ds on the potty every 5-10 mins. made a huge fuss when he did something on there and ignored it when he didnt. no trousers all week, pants on day 3+ it took us a week exactly. on day 6 he had a few accidents, but the next day he was golden. has been dry ever since (about a year ago) and hes dry in the night too. but he was ready.

I must admit that it wasn't a good time of year when we did it because, when out with the dog (the dog has to be walked even if potty training is in progress) it was really difficult to strip off the all-in-one waterproof and get the trousers down quickly enough!!!

lol mistlethrush, i remember ds having to go behind a bush near our house. it was on the main walk into town and every time we passed it til we moved he would point at it and proudly announce "i wee wee'd there"

and then there was the time (a day later) when dh wouldnt take him into the cafe for a wee because he thought we could make it home and ds p*ssed down the back of his neck

... then there was the time in town when ds announced he needed a wee - quite near Debenhams, but the toilets on the top floor - no way was I going to get there in time. It was relatively quiet, so we just stopped by a drain in the street....

Lissie, have you had the 'I need a wee' just because he wants to wee behind a bush because its 'fun'? That's a good one....

lol, yep. he's so proud of doing bush wee's. he stands there tummy pushed out, shoulders back, todger aimed and big grin on his face. he also wants to do "benji wee's" leg cocked up against a fence. thank god he's never seen the dog poo outside...

Whenever we pass a certain bush in the park he always wants a wee ! Luckily he can now be persuaded to wait 5 mins and get to the loos so its not so for me!!!

lol.

With dd 2.7, introduced the potty to her. Regularly encouraged her to sit on it to wee and poo.

Went commando - tried to stay in rather than go out. Potty always nearby. Allowed her to wet/soil herself - thankfully she was quite quick to get the poo right. But wet herself regularly for 1 week before it clicked. She was dry at night within another week.

Nursery continued with the training during the week.

Not sure it will be that easy with ds this summer round ...