Potty Training Case Study

POTTY TRAINING

Feature case studies of potty training day and night under two.

All those $$$ you get to save, no cleaning of messy bums and you get to be a certified save the environment mom.

Like I previously mentioned in this post about how to handle potty training regression, t we have been fully potty trained DAY AND NIGHT since bA was 18 months old.

To prove that it can be done, here are some other babies that were fully potty trained day and night before the age of two.

How to potty train DAY AND NIGHT before tow

Things you’ll need

A potty
Cloth diapers – 100% cotton diapers are best
Diaper covers
Waterproof bedcover
Few disposables (optional) for when you need a break
Cleaning materials
And lots of time

I won’t make it sound
all fancy for you, going down this route is not for the faint of heart but the rewards are well worth it.

Babies should be eager to let go of diapers; they are uncomfortable and kind of gross come on.
The only reason they hold onto them for as long as they can is because we’ve taught them that it’s okay, necessary even.

Before you tell me that it’s not okay to ‘force’ babies to readiness, let me snap back and say, they are ready to be shown where to go from birth (it’s called Elimination Communication) it is we who aren’t ready to show them. I’ll admit it is really stressful, especially for sleep deprived, still recovering new mommas, this too is a form of elimination communication. For the mamas brave enough to try from birth, you may want to check out …

How to potty train DAY AND NIGHT before
two

STAGE 1

Bare bum and waterproof cover

For three days or so, strip baby of diapers and lower garments (please make sure baby is warm enough) since bA was already walking when we started, we spent those days blocked off in an easy to clean room. For naps and if your baby is still mostly immobile, you should use the waterproof cover.

Observe baby very keenly. You will begin to observe some patterns, like time of the day he goes, how long after a meal or drink. You may even observe that he wakes to pee, my son did that.

Take note of your observations

Create a sound to associate with going

STAGE TWO

Cloth diapers and a potty

Put baby in cloth diapers to minimize mess. You don’t want Disposables, they absorb all the moisture and turn off baby’s sensitivity to when he goes. (I know it won’t be nice laundry, sorry)

Put baby on potty at those times you previously took note of. Immediately he wakes is a good and common time. Use the sound you’ve associated to give him a clue and to encourage him. He’s not likely to comply for the first few times.

Make him stay as long as possible or till he goes by doing something fun, like singing his favourite song, or learning body parts.

Gradually reduce the size of the diaper (cut it)

Important, change his diaper as soon as he goes in it, you don’t want him getting used to the feeling of wetness. Actually, you want it to irritate him.

This stage should last till you observe
1 an increase in the length of time before he goes
2 he wakes and maybe cries before he goes in diaper
3 he easily goes when placed on potty

STAGE THREE

Waterproof cover and communication

Break out your waterproof cover for nighttime

Pray this stage is short

Block off an easy to clean room for the first few days or till you are confident

Create a sort of game where you run to the toilet and go

Ask/sign him, or rather convince him hourly to go in the potty (beware because going was fun, my son began to raise false alarms)

Gradually increase the length of time between bathroom tips

Make a fixed time routine of going no 2 where he stays on the potty till he goes

For nighttime, use the waterproof cover (please keep the room warm), co-sleeping works best.
If he’s been waking during naps he should wake at night. Get up immediately and have him go potty

The frequency of night wakings should reduce to once or twice or none at all

This stage should last until he accurately asks or signs to go at the right times and you are accident free or almost accident free. A routine for no 2 should also be set by now

Tip: speed this stage up by giving him lots of water the first few days.

STAGE FOUR

Diaper free bum in easy to remove underwear (Watchful eyes)

Put him in light easy to remove underwear

Remind him frequently to go potty

He should begin to show interest in pulling his underwear himself and unfortunately holding his something which means spraying (we use the bathroom)

You will know this stage is over when he begins to ask more than you prompt

Your child is all potty
trained

Extra: Till I was confident, we used disposables when going out (buy a few with reattachable flaps) I still prompted since he is more likely to be distracted while on the go but it gave me the peace of mind. Somethings we would use one dry diaper for weeks, till it became to old.

Using disposables outside before stage 3 will elongate the process. With our trials and errors, it took 3 months to be completely potty trained.

Goodluck and tell me how it goes.