Potty training!!

[snickers71801]

Ok guys, I know that this has probably been covered several times and then some, but I think that Taby is about ready to start potty training. I was told that if you start them too early, it does something to them and then they are really hard to train. Something about that you have to wait for the right time, the only thing is I am not sure when is the right time. She is almost 3 1/2 and yes I am ready to get rid of the diapers and lately I think she is too. She has learned how to take pants off and strip the diaper when it is wet. But how can I get her to tell me when she has to go. Do I just take her every half hour or something? She doesn't want to sit on her cool little potty chair when I have tried to take her to the potty. She would rather sit on the big potty. Should I coax her to hers or just let her use the big one? Today she threw her diaper on the table and that is so gross. I am ready to get rid of the diapers once and for all, but just want to make sure that it would be the best time to potty train her now. Thanks so much guys!!!!!!!!!!

[donnac]

I know that this won't be a lot of insight, but I don't think that there is a magical time for our kids to be ready. My son wasn't potty trained until he was 8. Of course, he wasn't walking until he was 3 1/2, and his muscle tone was very low, and he has some urilogical issues. The Down Syndrome Association of Charlotte had an article on potty training several months ago. I don't know if you can access it on their website or not (I've never looked up their website, but it is DSACNC.ORG) If you would like, I can e-mail it to you, or even fax or snail mail it. If is just a shourt three paragraph article.

Donna

[donnac]

Oops, last sentence should read:

It is just a short three paragraph article.

[Claire]

Adam did not walk until he was 5. He is now 7 and fully potty trained during the day. The way we did it is before we started training him we thought him how to say pipi and poopoo. Once her understood the difference, we started figuring out when he would go. Then we set a routine and put him on the potty. Like at school everyday at 10am he was put on the potty so the same at home and so on. Every time he succeeded we made a real big deal of it, and when he had an acccident we didn't. We just said Oh well maybe next time Adam. It took us about a year to get to where we are now. If we go to a strange place we show him where the bathroom is and he has always asked to go, actually he loves new toilets. ;D Hope it works for you but I also beleive that the earlier you start the better. With Adam everything he learns is from routine and repetition. So that's what we worked with. Repetitions and eventually he caught on to what we were trying to do.

[meghans_mom]

Meghan just turned 4 and is almost fully trained...her school offered a class and i'll share w/ you some of the things i learned....
Teach her words or sign for pee, poop - what ever words you'll use with her...get her familiar w/ them.
About the potty...if she dislikes the little potty and likes the big one, then yes, have her use the one she likes. leave the small potty out in her playroom so she;ll see it and maybe even use it on her own. when kids are involved in playing they get distracted and forget about the potty...in my opinion, it's good to have one where they can see it -- in the playroom or den, as a reminder...not all people agree w/ that, I know....but it's worked for us.
They recommmended taking the child every 30-45 mins, using a kitchen timer...pain, yes, but it helps get the bladder trained. you can slowly stretch out this time frame, as the child gets used to it. Take her first thing in the AM, and before bed as well.
if she pees/poops in her diaper, still take her to the potty as soon as you discover it...we make it exciting...."run, run, run to the potty" (we also do that when MM is reluctant to go)...and then put her on the potty, or empty the dirty diaper into the potty w/ her watching, saying "this is where we poop, not in our pants" (or whatever). DONT SCOLD!
Make sure she's wearing clothes she can easily remove, no overalls, no onesies, so she can help w/ clothing removal.
Don't let her sit any longer than 5 mins at a clip...if nothing happens, take her off and go back to the regular schedule, don't let her sit there til she 'performs'.
When she does perform, make a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig deal!! Whatever will be the best reward for Taby....a special song, hand clapping and high 5's, a few M&M or Reeces Pieces (we don't use food rewards, as I disagree, but that's just me), stickers, etc.
When MM goes she likes to "wipe" so if she tells me "pee pee" and doesn't, then there's no wiping and no flushing...which are her 'rewards' (besides the hand clapping and high 5s)
Also, you may want to read potty books w/ her....there are a few cute ones....You can usually find them discounted at TJ Maxx or Marshalls (the potty book for girls, I think it's called?). And have special books for her to read on the potty, and ONLY on the potty (if she'll respond to that)...
at first we made a HUGE deal...told daddy and grandma. etc...so she'd be really excited about it.
there are Potty videos, dolls and even a new Elmo potty doll. we got MM a doll that "wets" and play w/ it and explain everything, etc.
anyways - that's all I can think of for now, hope some of it helps. laurie

[Claire]

I forgot to add that we also bought the movie Bear in the Big Blue House (Adam;s favorite) It's called I like my potty. Bear trains the little mouse and makes it look fun. He was sure glued to the TV once he understood the pee and poop meant. He would even say " No pee in potty mouse" when the little mouse had an accident. ;D

[tammym]

Hello. My daughter, Tierney is 4 1/2 and I'm in the process of potty training her. She has ben wearing panties for almost 3 weeks now. The last two days, she has not had an accident. We take her every hour. We give her hish 5s. That is a very big deal for and then she proceeds to tell everyone in the house that she has gone to the bathroom. She attends school and they are wonderful about taking her. If she tells me that she does not need to go, I wait for about 5 more minutes and take her. We usually sing a favorite song are we count and before we get to 5 she has gone to the bathroom. It just takes a lot a patience. But just make a big deal out of it when she goes to the bathroom. I don't like to reward with food or candy so the high 5s work great for my family. Lol to you.

[tchamness]

Hello to the board. I havn't actually posted in here in years. I have a lovely 8 year old daughter with ds. I have a question about older children and potty training. She is potty trained since she was about 4. And for all you moms and pops out there, I will share my secret. I was so scared about leaving her alone that everytime I went to the bathroom I took her with me. lol. Seriously though she does a good job, i was wondering if anyone had suggestions about night time breaking. She still wears a pull up at night. Normally you would just cut off liquids after a certain time, but she dehydrates so easily. She usually wakes up with her lips dryed and chapped even if you let her drink before bed or give her a drink during the night. I make her go before she goes to sleep but she sometimes wets soo much that I have to change the bed in the middle of the night. Any suggestions? thanks