problems potty training with Twins

[shatterdmumof5]

Hi I'm new to all this. but would appriciate some advice please. I have id twin girls who were 3 in june..they were 3 months prem also. I started potty training at the start of the summer hols...things still are not great to be honest, I have two older children who were pretty straight forward to potty train in fact my daughter only wet herself once!
This has been tough!! twin 1 is only just now asking for potty and does well overall, twin two started well but now basically just wets herself regardless. Finding this really difficult..I have little if no help as hubby works away, and a 14 month old who is constantly after the potty! just feel like putting the nappy back on her at the mo as its getting me down. I'm fully aware they start nursery in a few weeks too and thought we'd have cracked this by now : ( any advice would be most welcome x

Hi there,

I kind of understand your dilemma. I have b/g twins and their approach to potty training has been completely different. (See my post 'DD2.6 knows what to do just doesn't want to do it').

I've learnt that no 2 kids are the same even if they are twins. DS has taken to it like a dream. I just put him in pants and a t-shirt during the day and he just takes himself off to do a wee when we wants one. I do also ask him alot (say every 30 mins) but he's often says no and I trust him or if I think it's been a while, I'll put him on there myself.

DD is a completely different story. Emotionally attached to her nappy. When we tried to go cold turkey she had a meltdown after the first day. So rather than risk putting her off for life, we're having to take a softly softly approach, letting her wear her nappy when she wants and asking her to sit on the potty all the time. I try and leave her nappy off during the day for a bit but when we stops and thinks 'where's my nappy' she'll ask for it again but I just try and divert her. I sense it's going to be a long road with DD and I've realised that I can't force her because she'll just get too upset and end up in nappies for longer. If twin 2 doesn't mind wetting herself and you don't mind the washing/mess that possibly stick with it and try and get her to the potty (even if she's finished - she may start associating the wetness and where it's got to end up). If wetting herself is causing some distress, then it might be worth trying again in a few weeks.

I do sympathise with training 2 kids at once. We have 2 separate potties, decorated with their chosen stickers etc. and sometimes a chocolate buttons for a successful deposit in the potty. Don't worry about nursery, they'll understand if they're not trained yet. Mine are going up to the 3-5 room at xmas and I asked if she had to be in pants by then but they said it wont matter - we can't rush her, only encourage her (frustrating as it is!)

JG