Half Potty Trained?

C., with all of my kids, they started potting training themselves way before *I* was ready. It seems today, that moms compete for how early their children are trained. And, even in the "old days"...because my mom cant stand that my kids still wear diapers at 2!!

I used to teach potty training, and my personal opinion, is not to push anything and keep them in diapers as long as you can. Of course, once they start wanting (and insisting) on going in the toilet, then you are sort of stuck getting pull-ups (expensive and not very absorbent.)

My rationale....as long as they are not fully ready..and physically can not hold it, it's more of a hassle then it is worth. It's a horrible feeling, to be half way through your grocery shopping, or somewhere without potties available, and have your little one start wiggling in their big kids pants....and they are too young to physically hold it for long.

So, when they ask, take them to the toilet, but just know that their body physically can not "hold it" for very long, and the earlier they are in big kids pants, the more accidents you are likely to have to contend with in the real world.

Hi C., my situation was much like yours. My daughter could poop in the toilet for a long time, but urinating took a little longer. What worked for us was getting undies with her favorite character. She loved them, and I explained that they could not be worn with the diapers, so in about two weeks or so, she learned to tell me when she had to go. She does not even wear diapers at night! It also helped that it was getting hot, and the diapers were not so comfortable. It all happened last month, around the time she turned two. I hope this helps.

Hi C.:
Wow your son is doing great.Usually they will urinate first,and the bowel movements in the toilet are last.If your like most moms, you want to get him out of those expensive diapers,and the messy clean up! I don't believe in pressuring, punishing,or belittleing A toddler to get them potty trained,(But) if they are eager ,and willing to learn,theres not a reason I can think of why you shouldn't pursue,or encourage it.I wouldn't put him in pull ups,while hes training.They are to much like diapers and don't allow the kids to feel that sensation,that makes them want to run to the toilet.Oh yeah,you'll have some accidents,but thats to be expected.Just have patience,and remember,if you embarras him,he may just relapse.Play it down.This may sound nuts(pardon the pun) lol But the way my boys learned,was catching their dad standing over the toilet peeing.Boys want to be just like their dad!!Seems to me, that its a little rougher for boys to catch on, because they stand for one and have to sit for the other! lol Us girls take care of it in one sitting! lol Ohhh I just had an idea! Uh Oh...lol I wonder if they have something like A target you could put in the linning of the bowl?? Give him something to (aim at) lol Now that would be some incentive!! Hey has that been patient yet? Your doin great C....I wish you and your growin son the best. J.

Hi C.,
I have 7 children and 5 of them reached the success of potty training at different ages. My 5 year old was almost three, where as my 4 year old was a little older then 3. Both boys. My 1 year old who is a girl (still in diapers), seems to be picking it up faster then my 2 year old who is a boy (still in diapers). I was told by a doctor that girls are faster then boys because boys feel the sensation of urinating near the exact moment of them having to urinate. What we did though which was advice from a friend of mines, was to put cheerios in the toilet and going pee was actually becoming a game for the boys. They would get all excited to go pee, so they could shoot the cheerios. All though it may not work for some kids, just a suggestion...Good luck~

She's so young that I don't think you have anything to worry about. Being even 1/2 trained at 2 is great. If you really want to make a go of it you could put up a Mommy and daughter pee chart and every time you go pee in the potty (like you go anywhere else hehe) you can put a sticker next to your name and she will want to keep up. I still don't think you have to force it but if you think she will benefit then go for it. Best wishes.

my daughter now 3 was also half potty trained around 21 months. i think that her bladder was still a little immature for her so sometimes she would wet the bed and had to use the potty like 20x a day or something (i'm exaggerating!)... it made shopping impossible. then when she had accidents, i think we insisted on using the potty so much that she lost her desire for it and she refused to use the potty anymore.

so we went easy and let it be her choice to use the potty. using only positive reinforcement and absolutely no pressures about using any potty. about 6-8 months later she started using the potty on her own terms out of the blue (i have no idea what inspired her to this day!) and has been potty trained since then. so i would definitely proceed with potty training but i just wouldn't force it on him, being 1/2 potty trained that early is a great achievement on its own anyways:)