Potty Training- The Timeline Method

I received so much support from friends and cyber friends while potty training that I thought I would write about what finally worked for us.

This is how we went from, pre-school teacher April, 2012 wow your son really doesn’t give into peer pressure does he? He’s the only one not potty trained

to June, 2012 pre-school teacher tommy is now the teacher…we are bringing kids over to the potty when he goes and he is teaching them how to go potty

Sorry had to take a laughing break because both comments crack me up. Now I can begin to type again. The first comment is funny, I mean do I want him to be the kid that gives in to peer pressure, of course not. The second comment, just down right weird. I thought you told me all the kids were already potty trained…hmmm?

image from squidoo.com

The method we used I am calling the Timeline Method. If this is trademarked somewhere sorry about that, just let me know and I will give ya props!

In April, soon after the above comment, I began to tell Tommy that when you turn 3 you go potty. Very matter of fact and casually I would mention this into our conversations. Your birthday party, oh yes you will be getting some presents oh and yes you will be 3 so you will be using the potty and wearing underwear…yay! Always with a smile and excitement in my voice.

Up to this point he had absolutely no interest and also could not be bribed with my fancy m&m’s ™ or mysterious prize box.

Fast forward to his birthday party in late May. We are getting dressed and he says, wait I can’t wear pull-ups™ I wear underwear now…I’m 3.

I was about to say, well it’s ok for today because we have a million people coming over- but I had to go with it. YES you are right. We put on underwear that he had picked out at the store and we went for it!

The great thing is- he actually went for it…. during the party and for each day since then! PHEW!

With the assistance of the timeline method, and now we also like the m&m’s ™ and prize box we are, wait for it, wait for it…..POTTY TRAINED.

My next challenge- phasing out the rewards. I now wait to see if he asks, if he does I give him his precious bribe..if not we just let it be.

GOOD LUCK POTTY TRAINING! Every Kid is different and will eventually get there!

You will survive the mess of it all! You just have to figure out what will work for your kid!

40denise Taylor

Thanks for sharing this my 2 1/2 year old will be hopefully potty training soon.
Barbara P.

I have never heard of this but it sure sounds interesting! Thank you!
Tracy Awalt Juliano

Great info to have. Thanks for posting.
http://twitter.com/acountrygirlcan Amber

New follower via GFC
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Great Info hopefully I will one day be needing this info
Brooke Westmoreland

Will be helpful
carol roberts

my son was potty trained after 2 and a half he was complety then a few mistakes in the wash room where he pooped and brought it to me and said it stinks and never had a problem again
Shirley

Great idea!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Seyma-Doris-Bennett-Shabbir/741951199 Seyma Doris Bennett Shabbir

My second son is so hard to potty train. I have tried rewards. He seemed to be potty trained months back and just reverted to his diapers again. My older did the same when he was younger. We should try the underwear thing but right now he wants the underwear over his diaper. LOL
Jennifer Hiles

It’s something to try! It sounds like a good idea to me. I haven’t started potty training yet – my daughter is 14 months. I did introduce her to the potty chair but now she thinks it’s a toy, takes the seat ring out and twirls it around her arm. But everytime she barges in on me in the bathroom I say “mommy going pee, mommy using the big potty like a big girl” I don’t know if it means anything to her but I figure it’s worth a try!
Teressa oliver

My degree is in child development and this is probably one of the most common topics all parents have. One of the things to understand is gender development is also different. It isn’t uncommon for boys not to potty train until age 5 or 6 because they are not physically developed yet. Best advice is to be patient!
ToriH.

Great method.
http://twitter.com/TJB86 TJB

Interesting method.
Jan Messali

We did pretty much the same thing. My son was a breeze to train. As soon as we set out the potty chair he wanted to use it and never had a daytime accident. My daughter was another story. It’s awesome that your son was so excited about this the ‘minute’ he turned three.

http://www.thefamilythat.com Laurie

I have learned a lot from this messy experience …. really they have to be ready and something has to click … having a date/timeline worked well for my son.

Jessica P.

I don’t have kids yet,but from what my Mom has told me,it seems like it’s a lot harder to potty train boys. My little brother took forever,he would just pee outside!:P lol
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=776409917 Chelsea Saulpaugh

Congrats on the milestone! I don’t have any kids yet, but I do babysit friend’s kids a lot. Most of them seem to be in potty training mode right now and I can’t believe all of the different methods parents take in accomplishing the task. Good luck parents everywhere.
Natasha Brodsky

I dread potty training more than any part of child rearing. Congratulations on the milestone. It’s a tough one!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1351614087 Tina Louise

I sure do remember potty training days. Congarts
Karina Lee

i’m so not looking forward to potty training
Jo-Ann Brightman

I’m glad you figured out a method that worked for you. Congratulations
http://www.facebook.com/hunbago Steve Bago

for me those days gone:)
Kamilah Berry

oh, I have to send this to my sis!
http://www.aliztravelzone.com/ aliz

good for you…
Tara

Awesome. Congratulations. We are trying to finish up potty training too.

http://www.thefamilythat.com Laurie

Good luck …it sure is messy business

Barbara P.

Awesome, congratulations!!
http://twitter.com/TJB86 TJB

My little nephew will be starting potty training soon — I’ll pass this blog along to his Mom.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Allison-Downes/100000807547080 Allison Downes

I like this method Im going to share it with my sister, Thanks for posting!
kimberly o

I am trying so hard to get my daughter potty trained. It will leave me just one in diapers. She tells me she is ready…she needs to go…but won’t patience is key I guess.
stacy h

i think this sounds like a great method! we do similar for weeding out rewards =)

http://www.thefamilythat.com Laurie

i thought we were done with rewards… then today, he reminded me that I owed him quite a few! lol!

http://twitter.com/mahnrafjtb Tina F

I love all new ideas for the potty training time.
Tim

Interesting.
http://www.facebook.com/carol.roberts.1976 Carol Roberts

interesting
Jennifer Jo Archdeacon

that is one great way to get them trained, I am so impressed

http://www.thefamilythat.com Laurie

Just sort of funny the way something is going to work for one kid, and not the next- you just never know.

sara m ford

it can be hard to train but each get it in there own time

http://www.thefamilythat.com Laurie

I agree Sara. I never knew until we started to train our son, I thought when they were ready they just sort of got it. It definitely was a process for all of us!

Michelle S

I am not looking forward to this stage ((( lol I’ll need lots of help!
AngelaLilly

LOL My mom was unable to train me until I was over 3 years old. She even took me to a kid shrink who said that I thought my waste was a part of me and thus I wanted to have control over letting it go. LOL I am still a control freak…but I use the toilet! LOL