Potty Training - How to Begin

I have 3 trained and 2 to go and one on the way. I like to wait a little longer until they are 2 1/2 years old even 3...I like for them to use the regular stool and be able to pull their own underware up/down by themselves. And when they are ready I just go commando style (I usually train in the warm months of summer) no diapers, pullups or underware-not even at night or on outtings-(well they do wear underware on outtings) my experience with my kids is that they learn faster when they are older and they are not confused by the back and forth of diapers and pull-ups...but I am a stay at home mom so it is easier for me to spend all day wiping up pee/poop...Much success and stick with it what ever you decide

Here is the book I have read: http://www.amazon.com/No-Cry-Potty-Training-Solution-Good.... I am in the process of training my soon to be 3 year old and all I can say is "patience". Don't become frustrated. The book offered lots of great starters.

Check out the "3 day potty training method"...I highly recommend this potty training "boot camp" approach. I do home childcare and now have had 2 children do this. Parents do it at home over a long weekend (and if more than 3 days is needed, thats ok...don't be alarmed..its just a starting off point as far as I am concerned!).

To me it shows incredible commitment on the parents part..and I was willing to follow thru at daycare....I do not wish to be trained (taking a child at timed intervals to "make" them try to go potty.)...I want them to be able to read their own body..and have me appropriately and quickly respond!

My daycare children that this has worked for started as a 28 month old boy and a 22 month old girl. Both ended up back in pull ups for sleeping ONLY...the older one was completely out of them after another 2 months.....the 22 month old is just a few weeks into it...but I am eliminating (attempting) the PU's at nap this week..she was dry every day last week at nap. Long bedtimes may take longer and we are all ok with that. She has no accidents...NONE..during the day..and tells me when she needs to go..I never ask. Its fantastic!

Key to this is we are working as a team.

Good luck!

I trained my daughter by 22 months, I read a bunch of early start potty books. Most of them said to do this:

1. teach them about wet and dry
2. teach them where the pee and poop go. (to do this, take his stool and put it in the toilet, showing and telling him that this is where poop goes).
3. Spend time every day trying to get him to go pee in the potty. Watch his schedule and time a potty "Reading session" for when you think he needs to go. Have him sit on the potty, while you read to him. At the end of the session (10 minutes max), you go pee.
4. Model for him as much as possible, and have his daddy model for him.
5. Once he's had 12-15 hits in the potty, he should understand (1) where pee/poop go, and (2) how to control his muscles.
6. Once he is able to go on the potty, put him on a schedule with rules: go first thing in the morning, before leaving the house, before eating, etc. During this time period, you are trying to help him to learn the timing, i.e. how to read his own body. He could get it fast or it might take some time. Either way, be very patient and do not show any emotion save for excitement when he has hits and successes.
7. Once he is dry 90% of the time, put him in training undies--NOT PULL UPS! They need to feel the wet.

Good luck! And good for you for wanting to teach your son the very rewarding process of being able to go to the potty.

I had borrowed a video from our library years ago - I don't know that name of it but I'm sure that if you check there they would have many choices for you.

Good luck!