My twins are just over three years old and while I have thought about potty training them (and have attempted more than once) I didn’t really feel they were ready until now. I was increasingly annoyed by the variety of unhelpful comments by other moms at their preschool and obnoxious comments about how “they potty trained their kids before they were two.” Awesome was my general response. What I wanted to say is “I will bring my boys by this weekend and you can train them too” and various other swear words. But I smiled and thought bad things about them instead.
This weekend we hunkered down and planned to spend three days doing nothing but potty training. I was skeptical but optimistic. I spent a lot of time on Facebook and Twitter reading about other fun things people were doing and wishing I was outside. While I know we could do this outside I wanted to keep the boys inside so that they could get used to being in the house and not peeing everywhere.
Here’s the short summary. Day 1 – my Swiffer Wet Jet was my BFF and we went through every pair of underwear we owned for the boys. Day 2 – morning the same as Day 1. Then, both boys pooped on the potty and the rest of the day was accident free. Day 3 – the best of them all. Fingers crossed it continues!
Toilet training twins is not for the faint of heart or those with little patience. It is twice the work, twice the pee, twice the poo. Competition doesn’t motivate my boys, nor does shame or admonishment. So, I resorted to rewards.
Thank god for peanut M&M’s and Thomas the Train underwear. Pretty sure I couldn’t have done it without them.
Kerrie blogs at Family Food and Travel. She is a mom of twin boys (born March 2010) who she often refers to as the ‘twinado’. Kerrie loves, writing, travel, photography, and fabulous food. Prior to kids, Kerrie was an avid reader and scrapbooker and hopes to one day return to those activities. Kerrie once considered herself successful, that was until she attempted toilet training twins.
I really do think a lot of it is child independent. My first kiddo was 3 years, 4 months. And her little sister independently trained for her second birthday (as in she got the potty off the shelf and pooped in it on her own). It happens when it happens.
I think all kids do it when they are ready. Sure, parents may think they are doing the training but kids either get it or they don't. My oldest was 3.5 – and it was our third try. I never changed my approach at all – same all 3 times. He was just READY.
Youngest is getting there – he has had a lot of success both times I have tried, and then he stops. I know he CAN do it, he is choosing not to – because he just isn't ready yet. He will be 3 at the end of august, and I do think we should be able to get it done by then.
My recent post The lilac thief strikes again – and a shout out to RCSS Kanata
Hang in there, it sounds like you're doing great! Don't let other people's "helpful" advice get you down, they're not the ones doing the work and you know what's best for your kids.