Since we are in the throes of potty training Ada, I thought I'd throw out a few of the things I've learned along the way.
1) Make sure the girl is ready.
This can be tricky because each kid is different. Lauren trained at 2 and a half, but Ellie was completely done by
22 months.
My best gauge to judge it is if they can take off/put on their own clothes, if they tell you when they go in their diaper, if they want to be changed quickly, and if they go for long periods with clean diapers.
2) Prepare for it to last a while.
It will take a month until you can port them around without fear/a change of clothing. I like to start them with Gerber potty training undies (sold by onesies in the baby isle) because they are soft, have multiple layers for better absorbency, and are easy to get off and on.
My older two only day trained at first and wet their diapers through the night for an additional 6 months. I just kept them in diapers at night until they were consistently dry in the morning then made sure to have them go potty at night. Ada seems to be doing both night and day training at the same time so that is definitely a bonus.
3) Provide incentives.
Our girls have done well with a sticker chart, candies, and lots and lots of praises. With one girl I had to provide some added incentives from the dollar store, we called them "pooping prizes," to help in that area, but after a few days the problem was solved.
4) Clearly explain what you are doing and the steps they'll need to take to make it happen.
This time around we actually bought an on the ground kid potty, but with the older two we just used the insert for the toilet seat with a stool and that worked just fine. We let them have a few days with the seat before we started training so they could see what it is, sit on it, and start to feel comfortable.
I've also had success with potty training videos checked out from the library. Most are just 30 minutes long and explain in a kid friendly way what potty training is and how they can do it. The girls loved them. Ellie is asking to watch Ada's potty training videos with her.
[Beware: some come with HORRIBLE songs that may get stuck in your head for hours]
5) Commit to training.
I'm not big on pull-ups because they are the same thing as a diaper, so once they're ready (OK, once I'm ready) we commit 100% to potty training. That means no more diapers during the day time, (except during nap time when I put a diaper on to spare the laundry), the girl is free and clear.
This is a terrifying step, but luckily my girls haven't liked the feeling of getting themselves wet, or even worse dirty, and have quickly made the connection on how to avoid such unpleasantness. And if you need/want your carpets cleaned you'll have ample excuse.
My MIL also made a great suggestion, that for the first few days you don't put any undies on the child so they actually feel when they go. I usually have the girls wear a dress/skirt (or not) so they're not totally exposed and let them go free.
Also, prepare to spend a fair amount of time in the bathroom. We take in reading material, sing songs, tell jokes, and hang out to create that essential comfortable, relaxed feeling.
6) Make it a family affair.
I can see their cheeks turning pink in the future when they read about this, but we all get involved with potty training and talk them up every chance we get. We tell the grandparents about their success, clap and dance every time they go, call and tell Dad at work, and try to make it a great and happy experience.
I've really appreciated having my 2 big girls this time around and they've been so great to help Ada, cheer for her, assist her choosing stickers, and eat some of her special treats. She also wants to be just like her sisters so the incentive of being a "big girl" by going on the potty is great motivation.
7) Reward yourself with the diaper savings money!
Since I have been CONTINUOUSLY buying diapers since February 2006, this one rings true for me.
