Potty Learning!

Yup, you know you want to do it. But how do you go about it? I talked to many been there done that moms and had great success with their tips. We started around 18 months with Big G. A little young but he really wanted to give it a go. We ran with it and it was a breeze with these tips.

Here is a link to a potty learning readiness checklist...start with this.

*Start by bringing your child into the bathroom with you. Let them watch you go and learn about the whole process.

*Read them potty learning stories. There is also a great Elmo video out.

*Stay home for 3 days. Have your child go without underpants on the entire 3 days. Well, at night they can wear some! But no diapers or pull ups. During these three days push liquids. You want them to learn the feeling of having to go potty. Have them drink very often.

*Put them on the potty every 30minutes to 1 hour. I know, it's a lot of work but worth it in the end.

*At night have them go potty right before bedtime. Then wake them up to go when you go to bed. They will sleep through the entire thing. Trust me! I would also take Big G around 3-4am. Yeah it's work but it saves you from having to clean up pee. We did this for around 3 months. He now sleeps all night long and goes to the bathroom when he wakes up in the morning.

*Have them sleep in fleece PJ bottoms. Carters makes great fleece pajamas. They are amazing. If they have an accident the pee is absorbed into the pajamas and not on your sheets.

*Once the child is going consistently you can stretch out the amount of time they go in between. We told Big G when to go to the bathroom for around 3 months. He went when we told him to go. Eventually we gave him more and more control.

*There will be accidents, they happen. Regression happens too. Just stick with it and you will be so happy that you did.

Big G is fully potty trained, even at night and during naps. It's the most amazing feeling ever. He now tells us when he has to go to the bathroom. We have such a new freedom.

I am sure I missed something. Do you have a tip? Please add it!