Potty Training 3

(Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here)

Where they are now

It’s been about 8 months since we started potty training.   Are we done yet?  Not quite.  As per a recent conversation with someone at the public school district they are not fully potty trained because a) They do not wipe after poo, b) They cannot use elementary school toilets because they cannot climb up and they cannot sit down without falling in, c) They cannot walk to the restrooms by themselves.

…I know, right?  What a way to measure!  She acted like it was their/my fault that they’d fall into the toilet!  They’re only 3 1/2, okay?  If you don’t provide them with toilets they can use, then they’re not going to be able to use them.  Also, they cannot walk by themselves through the entire school to get to the restrooms by the playground.  They’d have to pass the main (open) gates, pass 6 classrooms, turn right at the corner of the building (where they’re out of line of sight for anyone), and find the restrooms there (in front of ANOTHER exterior gate).  END OF RANT

I don’t disagree about the wiping after poo part.

I understand a lot of people have problems getting their kids to wipe their arses correctly.  I was looking at a forum and people were saying that their 4 year olds were making headway with the problem but some kids had problems until they’re like.. 8.   Generally, they recommend a) being sure to teach front to back wiping, b) showing them how to wipe (guiding their hand on the second poo wipe), and c) expect them to not get it right for a while.  Yes, skid marks.  Woohoo.  Something to look foward to at laundry time.

Final Thoughts

I waited until my kids were almost 3 to start potty training because I could.  There are some people who believe it can be accomplished very early (such as my mother-in-law, who insisted she thought she trained her children by this age when she saw them at 1.5 years.  My husband says this is bull.  Why my MIL decided she remembered potty training when she insists every other aspect of childcare was so long ago she can’t remember is beyond me).   I liked waiting until the kids were cognizant.  The anxiety of training went away after the first week and a half as things were going okay.  We didn’t force Z into panties all day until it was somewhat obvious she knew she could do it if she wanted to (hard to pinpoint what makes me think this, but it’s there).

Here’s some comments on the products we used:

• Bjorn potty chairs – good first step for twins since we could sit them both down for a long time (as necessary when starting), not as important for single kids, probably
• Bjorn step stool – very sturdy and good size, will get a lot of use out of it
• Rubbermaid step stool we already had – again, worked just fine
• Bjorn potty seat – really great.  I put up a Command Strip hook next to the toilet and the kids can get it down and put it on.
• Huggies pull-ups – worked just fine.  Pampers makes okay ones too, but we started with Huggies because of the side strips.
• Reusable training pants, Blueberry – the kids hated them, and wouldn’t even put them on; so much for being environmentally friendly
• Reusable training pants, some other brand- same thing as above
• Cute panties/underwear- works as an incentive if you get the right character ones, also check the size before you buy a whole bunch (ha ha, silly me)
• Little Looster “potty booster” – kids didn’t really like this in front of the toilet as the step is shallow and they couldn’t turn around easily, also it’s very large and hard to move out of the way for adults; we ended up using it at the pedestal sink where it’s working perfectly
• Waterproof flannel pads – still handy in the car where you might have to set up the Potette in the trunk
• Kandoo potty wipes- great wet wipes to really prevent those skid marks, we also used the adult Cottonelle wipes on them too with no problem
• The Potty Caddy – really not necessary, toilet paper inside was cute but on the scale of truck stop paper
• Aquaduck faucet extender – absolutely necessary for kids to use the sink on their own when they are young
• Potty training books – not that important if you just talk to your kids about it
• Kalencom Potette Plus 2 in 1 portable potty and liners – great for use as a travel seat topper AND stand alone potty (really cool).  Not as small as the folding ones but won’t pinch their arses
• Misc. cleaning supplies, including paper towels and carpet cleaner – you have kids, you have these
• Kiddopotamus Deluxe Piddle Pads, 2, for car seats – haven’t been very necessary yet, but nice to have anyway for those days the kids are soggy for one reason or another

 

Well, I posted all this because when I was researching potty training I could only find sparse guides to certain methods.  I didn’t know anyone who c/would tell me their whole potty training story and I wanted to hear one.   So here’s ours.  I hope it helps someone out there.  It’s not quite finished yet, but that’s life.

 

Edit 5/13:  I wanted to add a mention for the Hadaki Multitasker Duffle Bag.  I wanted a new bag for the Kalencom Potettes that was waterproof and cleanable.  This bag is all that and just a tiny bit bigger than it needs to be.  It’s great to replace the bag the Potettes come with once they’re  starting to fall apart.  (Of course, a gallon ziplock works fine too).

Edit 10/14:  In retrospect, I forgot to add that when they were 4 we had to revisit  correct wiping since they’d started using postage stamp sized tp pads.  Also, we found that one of them was afraid of flushing and had not flushed for a month or so until we caught on.  Finally, one of them has not mastered the idea that you wipe and drop it in the toilet between your legs.  She’s been putting it behind her and sometimes missed the toilet.  Yes, that’s right, all the little pieces of toilet paper I was picking up and thought they were playing with was actually USED and not flushed.  ARGHH.