It's Potty Time!

Can our babies and young children be potty trained? 

Of course! Jett was only 10 months old the last time he went #2 in his diaper. #1 took longer, but he has it down. :) As for wiping his bottom on his own (well), he was 5 years old.

Young babies

Teach your baby to be diaper free right away.
  Notes at 13 months old: 

Jett hasn't gone #2 a diaper in many months and he's only 13 months old now! He whines until we put him on his potty then he goes every time! He went in a public bathroom at 12 months old. And we brought the potty with to visit my sister this weekend and he went at her house as well. If your child never gets used to wearing a soiled diaper, he'll be much more likely to communicate to you when he needs to go.

When I did have him go diaper-less, he was communicating that he needed to pee by the end of the day. But then winter came so I had to but clothes back on him! This is much easier to do than you'd think.

I highly recommend reading Diaper Free by Ingrid Bauer for details.

Babies or children with a digit span of 2 or 2.5

You'll need to watch for signs to tell you when your child is ready. At 22 months old, Jett had been waiting until I checked his diapers, which were dry and THEN peeing on the changing table. So, it was easy for me to transition him from peeing on the table to peeing in the potty (which he has been doing for a long time, just not consistently.) So it just hasn't been a struggle.

While I'm taking off his diaper, I sing whatever nursery rhyme comes into my head at that moment like: "Let's pee pee in the potty, the potty, the potty, Let's pee pee in the potty & see where it will go!" Or "this is the way we pee in the potty, pee in the potty, pee in the potty, etc." He gets excited and says "pee" and "potty" and then does it. Of course, this is one of many strategies I've been using, but he seems to WANT to hold it and we've had a lot of dry diapers this way. (I only had one wet diaper yesterday and it was my fault!!) Now if I could just get him to TELL me when he needs to pee... that would be great! (He's refuses to poop in diapers, so that was an easy one.)


Teach your child to feel what it means to be "wet" vs. "dry"

Potty training would be very difficult if your child can't tell the different between wet and dry. (When I moved from Florida, I had difficulty telling the difference between wet and cold!) Here is a great video by Anat Baniel, creator of ABM (Anat Baniel Method) that shows how to help with potty training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqIbVv7gslU

Videos on Potty Training

Jett and Oliver (2.5) respond really well to shows about potty training. Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood has several really good ones particularly about not holding it even though you are playing. Elmo has a potty one and so does Bear in the Big Blue House Potty Time (there's like 3 potty episodes on one DVD). All three of those are very gentle with cute little songs and such... At least that would get your child into the mindset and teach some cute key phrases and nice habits. Other parents have recommended the Potty Time DVD from Signing Time founder, Rachel Coleman.

Potty Training and Infection

Can an infection cause potty training issues? Yes! Kids with PANDAS or PANS can lose the ability to control their urine. In such a case, if the PANS/PANDAS is properly addressed, potty training should resume. See the book America is Infected. Jett has been treated for PANS, but when he is sick, he may wet the bed.

Bed Wetting

Nighttime wetness can be from adrenal issues or sleep apnea. (More info to come.) Jett stopped wetting the bed at night when I started the QRI Home Laser Program. 

Teach a child with DS how to use the toilet (in four days)

http://tinyurl.com/43rrl4w
I didn't use this method, but it has worked for many families.


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