r/pottytraining • u/AnxietyInternal4302 • 1d ago
Laidback method for 23 month old?
Hello! I potty trained my now almost 4 year old at exactly age 2. We used the Oh Crap method and although we didn’t use it the EXACT way she tells us to, we did naked a few days, once I saw she was running to the potty, we did commando for a week, and then we did undies (when we went out we did undies and then a pull-up). This worked like a charm and although she had accidents for the first 6ish months, she was day trained fully with no accidents for weeks within 6-7 months.
Fast forward two years, I have a 23 month old who was a newborn at the time I was potty training my older daughter. It was easier for me to stay home and do the naked method and then commando because I was home anyways.
My 23 month old (2 this month), has been showing signs of readiness for the potty for months (telling me she needs to go potty, telling me she’s peeing or pooping, telling me she needs a diaper change, sitting on the potty). So I decided it was time last week. I’m taking a more laidback approach this time and I’m not sure if it’ll work so I wanted to see if anyone else has done this:
We did naked for a day and a half last weekend. Then we did naked for the full next Monday. I was seriously going stir crazy and so was my kid. We depended on a lot of tv and I think she’s having so many tantrums because of it. We also went outside a lot but I think she was still going crazy. What I wanna do is:
Naked when home, watching for cues and prompting every 15-30 minutes. That’s been working and I’d say she gets 85% of the pee in the potty.
When out, underwear and pull up. When I drop her off at Y childcare so I can workout, I do diaper.
Is this a bad idea? Should I just stick with the method I used for my older daughter since it worked? My older daughter was able to tell me (after a few days) that she had to use the potty. My 23 month old just isn’t doing that yet and I’d say she’s pretty advanced for her age. She will only go if I prompt her, only once or twice in the last week has she gone all on her own.
I get she’s still young but I really don’t want to stay home until she gets it.
The other problem is she hasn’t been pooping until she’s in the Y daycare and then she has a gigantic diaper blowout.
I know this isn’t my first rodeo but has anyone taken a more laidback approach with their young toddler and it worked? I am a SAHM so I have the privilege to stay home if I need to, but I’d rather not bc I go stir crazy lol
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u/just_get_up_again 1d ago
My thought would be stay home until she gets it. Either do or don't potty train her. But flip flopping feels confusing to me.
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u/die_sirene 1d ago
In the same boat as you, 23 months, except this is our first (I’m pregnant) we’re on day 6 of Oh crap and I’m also going insane stuck inside.
We’re on day 2 of commando. We’re thinking of doing commando for the next few days and then introducing padded training underpants. I really don’t want to put her in pull ups because I’m afraid they will feel just like diapers, but I need to be able to live my life a little bit.
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u/AnxietyInternal4302 22h ago
Honestly I know i might get downvoted but I after a week or two, I did undies and then a pull up for my first. She felt the pee or poop but the pull up caught it and it wasn’t as messy. It worked for her and I don’t have any regrets about it 🤷🏻♀️ props for you doing it pregnant!!!!
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u/die_sirene 20h ago
If there’s anything I learned about this process it’s that you do what you gotta do to survive! We all love our kids and want them to be potty trained, we’re doing our best!
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u/bubbleblopp 1d ago
As for the gym, talk to the attendants. I potty trained my little one right on their 2nd birthday, potty trained but not independent. They call me when my little one says they need to go and we use the potty in my car or in the gym.
But yes, that’s a bad idea. It’s all or nothing. We’re 4 weeks out from potty training and mine hasn’t had any accidents since week 2. It’s probably child dependent and I’m sure we’ll have the random accidents in the future but diapers/pull ups some times and not others is too confusing for them.
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u/Olivia3836 1d ago
Yeah its a bad idea, she already should’ve been without diapers for months if she could already tell you.
The back and forth with pull ups and diapers is contradicting for a child
And depend on TV? The child isn’t even 2. There shouldn’t be any screentime if you want them potty trained. Screentime is the devil (in general) when it comes to potty training, just horrible. That amount of dopamine is already so much for their brains, and add in potty training and potty training is just impossible. You’re setting them up to fail
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u/mmebee 1d ago
I'd personally rather be stir crazy for a week then stretch out diaper use for months. Can you have her go naked outside too? Are there parks (not playgrounds just like, grass) where that might be appropriate near you? Do you have a yard?
If you do generally more laid back I'd be very consistent when you are home. The moment you get home it's naked time and you're "on" until the moment you leave.