Tag Archives: parenting

Night Training

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By Colleen Brunetti, M.Ed., C.H.C

I get a variety of questions about potty training, but they often follow a few specific themes. One of these themes is that of night training – when to start it, how long it takes, and what to expect.

First of all, know that it is perfectly normal for night training to take longer than day training. Yes, there are children who will do both around the same time, or one right after the other, but there are also many who may need longer to develop the bladder control while they sleep.

This is especially true for heavy sleepers, who may be in such deep slumber they don’t feel their body’s signals and thus wake up wet.

Also be aware that some night wetting is considered common right up until about age 6. No, this doesn’t mean you’re stuck with a couple of more years of bed-wetting, but if by chance this does occur, it is still considered biologically normal. Of course, if there is ever any concern, please check with your pediatrician.

There are a few things you can do to try to ease the transition:

  • Make sure your child is going potty just before going to sleep.
  • You may also want to limit liquids in the hour or so leading up to bedtime.
  • Some parents elect to wake a child late at night for a quick trip to the potty. This works well for some, and in others can actually just encourage energetic night waking, which nobody wants. The trick is just to know your kid on that one!
  • You can also try a rewards system for dry mornings – but do not scold or punish for accidents.
  • Keep extra sheets and clean pajamas handy so they are easy to access in the middle of the night or early morning.
  • Finally, know that in time this too shall pass.For more information on night training visit our TIPS page!

Facebook Questions!

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By Colleen Brunetti, M.Ed.

I recently asked our awesome Facebook family to hit me up with some potty training questions. The response was fantastic! 45 (and counting) questions later, I have my work cut out for me. Perfect! That’s what we are here for. So, without further ado, the first questions, with more answers to come!

How do I know when he is ready to go with just a pull-up or underwear during naps, or over night?

Potty training during sleep can seem pretty daunting! I know I put it off for as long as possible! However, it may not be as big a transition as might be anticipated.

There are a few things you can do. First, minimize liquids before sleep time so your child is more likely to not have to go at all. Next, as soon as they wake up, take them to the potty.

As for readiness, you may want to watch for times when he is waking up dry. That’s a good sign he has begun to develop the ability to hold it in his sleep.

Don’t be discouraged by some wet accidents during sleep time. Stock up on a few extra sheets and a protector for the mattress and give it a go. My son took over a year to really potty train during the day, yet night trained in a week. Go figure!

Omg I can get her to potty??

I had to giggle a bit at this one. Yes. Yes you can!

Children don’t enter college not potty trained, so it’s a pretty safe bet to say they learned somewhere along the way.

Patience. Consistency. A sense of humor. Extra cleaning products. You’ll get there!

My 3 year old son is doing great at home in just his underwear but as soon as we put pants on him he pees in them! So he goes around in just his underwear at home but when we leave the house he needs to be in pull- ups all the time.

I swear there is something about little boys and the love of as few clothes as possible!

Kind of a random idea, but what if at home you also put a pair of underwear OVER the pants, to give him a visual of what he wants to keep dry? Make it a game, and have a good giggle together while you try. It’s worth a shot, and if anything, you can get some very amusing photographs.

Also make sure he is taking responsibility for the wet accidents, from cleaning up the floor (or helping to do so), to putting soiled clothes in the wash, and then washing his own hands.

For leaving the house, I suggest maybe trying very short outings. Perhaps as short as a walk down the street and back at first, and then maybe a quick trip to the nearest store, and so on. Tell him if he stays dry on these very short trips, big things are in his future… whatever reward you deem as a good one.

 

Book Review: Even Firefighters Go to the Potty

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By Colleen Brunetti, M.Ed.

Even Firefighters Go to the Potty

By Wendy and Naomi Wax Illustrated by Stephen Gilpin

I’ve done quite a few potty training book reviews on this blog, so when the author of this book contacted me and asked if I’d like to take a look at her new book, I thought I’d take a little bit of a different spin.

I took my six year old to a friend’s house to read with her 22-month-old twins.  My son is like a cousin or big brother to these boys, and I thought it would be a lot of fun to see what they did. After all, who better to REALLY review a book than the kids themselves?

This book is charming, showing all sorts of childhood heroes delaying an event because they need to go potty, from the titled firefighter, to baseball players, to conductors and astronauts. My son giggled through the book as he read, and the twins, generally super active little guys, stayed well tuned in the entire time.

The twins sign "train" because, "Even conductors go to the potty!"

The twins sign "train" because, "Even conductors go to the potty!"

The illustrations are bright, bold, and engaging, and I particularly like the facial expressions on the characters. Thankfully, the missing waiter is shown washing his hands! We grownups might not want to dwell on it, but even waiters go to the potty too! It’s also a great time to practice the “I Wash My Hands” song, or perhaps talk about how how the characters are practicing “Stop and Go!” (click on each song title to hear clips of these Potty Time songs).

My very favorite part of this little activity though had to be when we were done reading and put the book to the side. One of the twins climbed up to the table to read it again, gleefully saying POTTY as he turned each page. I lunged for my video camera and caught a bit of it. Enjoy.

Click on the picture to open the video.

Click on the picture to open the video.

Holiday Gift Giving Ideas

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Potty Time Full CollectionA potty training tip: Build on the excitement of the holidays and introduce (or reinforce!) the fun that can be had with potty training.

That’s right… potty training can in fact be fun!

Are you looking for some gift ideas for the toddler in your life? Be sure to check out all of our potty training book reviews and our awesome collection of Potty Time products.

New! The Potty Time Full Collection now includes a potty training guide for parents and teachers!

Potty Time Success Story – A Potty Party!

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By Colleen Brunetti, MEd

Hopkins celebratesHere’s an idea to launch potty training in your house! Why not throw a Potty Time viewing party? Pop up that popcorn, pull out the undies or training pants, grab Hopkins and get ready to celebrate!

Recently, one mom shared with us how this played out in her house. Enjoy!

Adelaide (almost 3) has been interested in using the potty for a while. She has an older sister, Cait, and wants to be just like her. Continue reading →

Community Question: Getting Started

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By Colleen Brunetti, MEd

We get lots of good questions on our Facebook page, and from time to time we like to answer them here!

When is a good time to start potty training? How do you start potty training? (Thomas)

This is something all parents start to wonder, often around a child’s second birthday. Can it be true? Is it time to ditch the diapers?

When your child is ready to start depends completely on them! Continue reading →

Book Review: Uh Oh! Gotta Go! Potty Tales from Toddlers

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Uh Oh! Gotta Go!By Colleen Brunetti, MEd

Fans of Sesame Street will recognize the author of this story, Bob McGrath, who has spent 38 years on the show to date. This isn’t a Sesame Street book though – it’s one of his own creations.

Each page shows a different child up to something involving the potty, some making it just in time, others being a little creative with what they do with it, and of course the one who has the accident (it’s okay!). This book really showcases the creative and fun personalities of the potty training toddler, as well as children from many different ethnic backgrounds.

A really fun bonus in the back is a special page where your child can glue in their own picture and become a part of the story.

To read our other book reviews, click HERE

Book Review: Where’s the Poop?

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Where's the Poop?By Colleen Brunetti, MEd

This book by Julie Markes is a lift-the-flap book that uses animals from all over the world. On each page, a parent animal asks the baby one if they have pooped, and the response is “Yes”. The reader lifts flaps and first discovers different surprises in the environment, and then finally the hidden poop. On the last page, it is a human boy who has pooped, and his can be found (thankfully) in the toilet.

This is a very cute book, with sweet illustrations. Animal lovers will enjoy looking at all the baby animals in their habitats with their parents. Children who are a little rougher on their books will probably make short work of the delicate flaps. Wise parents of spirited little children will need to stress that although the animal poop was found in a variety of places, there is just one place for human poop in the house!

To read our other book reviews, click HERE

Book Review: The Potty Book for Girls/ for Boys

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The Potty Book for Girls, The Potty Book for BoysBy Colleen Brunetti, MEd

The Potty Book for Girls
The Potty Book for Boys

By Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Like all the other “for boys” and “for girls” books reviewed thus far, this is the same book, just switching out the gender. Told in ongoing rhyme, it tells the story of a child who loves to play and is ready to try a newly gifted potty.

Parents will get a chuckle out of the opening pages, which shows a very squirmy toddler getting a diaper change, and young children will identify with the main character who isn’t quite sure it’s time to give up that trusty diaper. After trying, and a few accidents, there is success and lots of happy pride. In the closing pages, the young reader is invited along to try too – a nice way to put ideas into action in this little book.

To read our other book reviews, go HERE

Book Review: My Big Girl/Boy Potty

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By Colleen Brunetti, MEd

My Big Girl Potty and My Big Boy Potty
By Joanna Cole

These two books are pretty much the same story, swapping out Michael in the boy book for Ashley in the girl book. The story is especially engaging as the young reader is introduced to the character and asked some questions. I used the boy book with my own son when we potty trained and he loved answering the questions and finding similarities between himself and Michael in the book.

In this story, the child is given a potty chair. They go through the steps of trying out the potty but not being ready, to having success, to still wearing a diaper at night, to celebrating with the purchase of some big kid undies. The books give a nod to accidents, assuring the child it is okay. At the end of the book, the young reader is assured they will use the potty to, and “won’t you be so proud!”

To read some of our other potty training books, look HERE!