Lynda LovelandLynda Loveland's Babyology Blog
WRAL Morning News Anchor Lynda Loveland recently delivered her third child, Carys. In her blog, Lynda chronicles her experiences as a mother.

Potty Training the Baby

Yep, you read it correctly! Carys, my almost 17 month old, is getting a big kick out of peeing in the toilet. I'm like, what....are you kidding me! One kid at a time here! I'm still dealing with my three year old, Caiden!

It started a few months ago when I was potty training Caiden. I had Caiden and Carys with me in the bathroom. I sat Caiden on the toilet...and got zip. I thought what the heck, while I'm here, I'll just sit Carys on there. And would you believe she peed!!! She was 15 months old at the time. I was dumbstruck!

I never really considered continuing the training with Carys. I mean jeez, the kid can only say a couple of words, she still drools and doesn't have all her teeth yet! Well, yesterday, I took off her diaper and thought I would let her run around a litte while in the buff. Let things air out a bit ya know. She made a bee-line for the bathroom. I thought, that little stinker's going to play in the sink. I followed her and dontcha know she climbed up on the stool and sat down on the toilet!!! She started giggling and looked happy to be there. I was right in the middle of making dinner, but I thought what the heck, I'll hang out a bit with her and see what happens. I sat down next to her and we looked at books together.

It had been about five minutes with nothing to show, when Caiden comes in and starts pulling on Carys and playing with her. I thought, ok, it's all over now, the mood is broken and the moment has passed. But he left, finally, and she settled back on the toilet. Within a few seconds, I hear a tinkle. I see a smile forming on her face and than she goes full throttle! She was SSOOOOOO excited! I was beaming!!! My baby was peeing on the potty, the big potty.

I figured that was just another isolated incident. I still had no intention of going through potty training with her. My boy is still giving me fits. Well, apparently Carys had other plans. Would you believe an hour later, she marched right back into the bathroom, clumsily climbed up on the stool and sat down on the toilet! I thought, no way. She's just playing. But within a minute, she peed again!!!! Gleefully, I might add. I was beside myself. Can you believe it? Of course since she's showing interest now, she'll probably rebel when it comes time to get serious about potty training. I still have no plans to push it. I'll let her initiate it.

Like I said, I'm a bit overwhelmed by the boy. Speaking of him, we've made some headway. Although I really thought it was going to be a long haul. A couple of weeks ago he made like the dog and did his business in the backyard. He said he liked pooping on the grass. That's my nature boy! Thank goodness our yard is fenced in!

Anyway, every day when he came home from daycare, I told him to tell me when he has to poop or pee. I was trying to give him some control, because it DOES NOT WORK the other way. I guess it finally sorta clicked because late last week he came up to me and told me he had to go poop. I thought I'd won the lottery! He sat down and out it came. Before he even stood up, he was asking for a big piece of chocolate.

I haven't cleaned up any load laden Batman underwear since, although I think my husband did once. Caiden still has some liquid accidents though. I'd say we're about 60% there. Imagine, just ONE child in diapers...

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That's good news, Lynda. Perhaps Caiden will want to use the big potty now that his very little sister is using it! Good luck! I hope it continues.

I feel your pain! I've got a 3-year old son who is not making any headway in the business of potty training. We put him in underwear, take him to the potty every 10-15 minutes, then two minutes after screaming to get off because he "doesn't have to pee-pee", there he stands in wet pants. I'm at my wits end on what to do right now. He starts pre-school next month and I'm not sure he's gonna be ready. Thankfully, his school is not sticklers on the having to be completely potty trained, but I really don't want to send him with him not being at least well on the way.

You may want to try sitting him on the potty first thing in the morning as well. Is your daycare using the same reward based method that you are? If your child care provider isn't on the same page as you, it's not going to work. You may also wish to consider having your son clean up his own accidents. Not in a punitive way, but having him shake the solids from his diaper or underpants into the potty, and/or rinsing the underwear before it's laundered. Obviously, he's going to need help with these steps, but it's important to get the message across. He is the one responsible for keeping clean, and using the potty is quicker, and has less mess.

You also may want to make the switch to underpants. Wet and dirty underwear are uncomfortable, and thus, will encourage your child to take potty training seriously. Diapers and pull ups send mixed messages to children.

Sounds like your daughter is ready. It's early, but she's got the idea.

cricket, try putting a training potty in front of the TV. Have your child sit on it until he goes. Once thats done, let him up, and repeat hourly. Provide plenty of fluids to encourage the need. Once he's got the idea, move the potty into the bathroom, and make him stay until he's done. It's boring in there, so they will get it done quickly. I don't allow my child to watch much TV, so having an episode of Dora was a big incentive to stay put.

Congratulations. I'm still not having any luck with my 3 yr old. He seems to have no interest at all but I'm not giving up.

Ya know...i NEVER thought i could be entertained by reading a "potty blog", but i gotta tell ya...i get a kick out of these Lynda! HAHAHHA!!!!

Thanks so much for the ideas Yelena! Some of them we are already using. He stays with my mother right now while my hubby & I are at work, and she is definitely on the same page with us about the training. I think it's just going to take us switching him to underpants full time and making him help clean up when he has an accident. I don't use pull-ups a lot as I really feel they are nothing more than glorified diapers. I did try the "cool alert" type in hopes that it may help, but he didn't even notice it at all.

I'm trying not to make it a huge struggle, but I'm really hoping that he gets the right idea soon. :o)

I know how excited you are for your daughter. My daughter, who is 2 now, pulled her diaper off at 19 months and hasn't looked back. We didn't encourage her, but we didn't stop her either. I have been told that girls are easier than boys. Caiden will catch up in his own time. Good Luck.

Lynda, I'm the mother of a 25 year old who's been potty trained for over 23 years. Why are you going to hold off with training Carys? She's obviously ready to practically train herself. You're right not to push her, but I think it sounds as if she'll self train. What a bright little girl!

Linda, Carys is an interesting and unusual name. I'm sure the question has been asked before, but I'm kinda new here. How did you come up with her name?

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