Knowing This Takes MONTHS Off Potty Training

If you're struggling with potty training, the underlying reason usually comes down to just one of a few common causes. If one of these core things isn't quite right, it can lead to months or even years of struggling to toilet train your child.
And with that can come a wide range of much bigger problems including chronic constipation, UTI's and a severe fear of the bathroom and/or the toilet itself.
In this video you'll learn the 3 most important signs to look for to make sure they are ready to start potty training.
I hope this one helps!
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#emmahubbard #toddlerdevelopment #pottytraining
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[@EmmaHubbard]

Is your little one ready? Don't forget to get your free Toilet Training Essentials list here: brightestbeginning.com/bb_optin/toileting-essentials-guide/

[@manufactotum6064]

Thanks for the reply! My first little one is due in December….so I still have no clue how it’ll be. Maybe I will have bigger fish to fry, who knows…..

[@monikab3413]

Thank you for all your potty training videos, they are really helpful! I cannot find a family toilet seat for our square shaped toilet, could you perhaps recommend a good toilet seat reductor for this type instead? We would really like to start the potty training journey as right as possible. 🙈 Thank you so much!

[@AussieAngeS]

Hi Emma thank you for this video, we’re starting potty training now and my boy has been using the big toilet with a ladder occasionally but not always. I’m not pushing him at all, however he has been telling me he needs to go pee pee so we go to the toilet, and yes he does it. Small steps 🥰

[@EmmaHubbard]

Hi! It's so nice to hear from you again! And it's so exciting that you have started potty training with your little one and even better that he's having some success. ❤️

[@paddlefar9175]

I was lucky to be able to be a stay-at-home mom, which helps when attempting early toilet training. I started training my twin boys to potty train at 18 months of age, by buying a low sitting, secure feeling toilet. At first they thought it was a toy and didn’t understand it was for more than anything other than just sitting on, and so they would not pee or poop into it, so I had to ask my tolerant husband to help out. We took the potty outside and hubby graciously complied and showed the boys that he was peeing into it, which helped them understood what it was for, especially after we put a little turd in it too, from their diaper, and pretended their dad or I did that too! We put the low sitting, easy access toilet on top of a couple towels, in the area of the house that they played most, for quick easy access (toddlers can’t hold it in long) and I would give them long shirts to wear, with nothing on their bottoms, and when I saw them suddenly stop playing and give that “concentration look”, I”d point to the potty and encourage them to run over to it and sit on down in it. They had to be show to push their penis downward though, for best results, when peeing, but the odd accident that occurred was easily collected by the towels. It’s important that you try to get good at predicting when they most likely will need to pee after drinking a good slug of liquids and be watching for the slight body language that they might give when they have to pee, to help them figure out what to do. The one son toilet trained in a matter of a couple of weeks, fairly reliably and he was moved to pull-ups that he could fully manage it himself. My other son took a few more months longer to train fully for the day time, being a very deep sleeper, so he needed to wear diapers at night and he even wet the bed the odd night, so soak pads were used in his bed for years. Bed wetting was not because he was mentally behind his brother, (He has a masters degree in Geo-Chemistry now and he was promoted to senior scientist at his company by age 28), so please, never make a bedwetter feel bad for bed wetting, it’s beyond their complete control sometimes. Perhaps they could also just be a very deep sleeper?

[@ntombilenhledlamini9524]

Thanks for this ❤

[@LicharaDream]

Thank you for the detailed story! I think my son (22 months) is ready, so I was wondering how to proceed with everything :)

[@GeenPagliacci]

Emma, I'm totally loving your new set up , congratz to that!🎉❤ I'm watching your videos since my postpartum period and your advices helped me a lot, thank you for your amazing work

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks so much! I love it so much more too! Also thanks for trusting me enough to keep coming back and watching❤

[@sneharai4156]

This is the only video about toilet training I could relate to. I had started EC with my daughter right after she could hold her head upright. But after we had started weaning her, constipation hit her really hard. Early on, once she couldn't poop for 10 days straight. We had to give her a special herb. She remained severely constipated until she started walking. I was still doing EC on her and she used to strain a lot and cry and fuss while pooping. Gradually, she started being horrified to go and eventually, she withheld the pushing and entirely refused to go. And that worsened her constipation. And then I stopped doing EC entirely. This was around when she was 8 months. Now she is 21 months old and poops regularly in the diaper. And we, the family members and she herself, are no more anxious about it. I know that she is now ready for potty training but I will wait for this winter to pass and probably start after her 2nd birthday.

[@xylophone1212]

Lazy elimination communication: we put our baby on the toilet whenever we changed his diaper or during “transitions.” When he first wakes. After he eats. After a nap. After a car ride. Before baths. Before bed. By month 8, my baby was 80% pooping in the toilet, 20% diaper. By 15 months, nearly 100% pooping in the toilet. I recommend starting when they can keep their head upright. Use a seat reducer. Prop up their legs so they’re in a squatting position. Get a stool to sit on for yourself. Keep them on the toilet for a few minutes. If they pee or poop, then cool. If not, no worries. They’re called potti-tunities. Give them the opportunity to use the potty. My son went through a period where we had to look away for him to poop. So I would read him a book facing away from him, but he could see the book behind my shoulder. Also, when we’re at home, we change his diaper in the bathroom only. No other room in the house. I want him to understand what the bathroom is for. Also, teach them sign language for poop. We just pound two fists together because it was easy for him.

[@KarissaPukas]

Yesss 👏🏼 we did this too. It was awesome.

[@xylophone1212]

@@KarissaPukas yeah if you make it a part of the diaper changing routine, they’ll just always be used to the toilet!

[@ladyjulbug]

These are great ideas. That's kinda how we trained our dogs to go outside, too...just took them out at times they were most likely to need to go.

[@shyjanz6601]

I've done the same thing and we were the same way, but at 14 months a major life change happened for our family and my toddler began completely refusing the toilet. Seems like all that hard work went down the drain

[@xylophone1212]

@@shyjanz6601 I’m sorry to hear you and your family went through a life changing situation. And then the toilet refusal on top of that. I hope things are better for you.

[@MNSweet]

I feel like I got lucky having my little guy a month or so after yours. All the topics you want to write about are right in time for me.

[@EmmaHubbard]

That's so good! Our little one just turned 1 this month. Yours must be turning one soon?

[@MNSweet]

@EmmaHubbard Oh I thought yours was older. My son is turning 2. Your content is just so perfectly lined up and I guess I didn't pay enough attention to when you posted your announcement videos.

[@EmmaHubbard]

@@MNSweet Happy 2nd birthday! Toddlers are so much fun - full of energy and lots of character! I hope he has an amazing birthday!

[@agnediciuniene9861]

I was born behind the iron curtain (in societ occupated country). There were no disposable diapers. Almost all the kids were potty trained between ages 6 months to 12(18) months. I still can't get it how it was possible.

[@SolveigMineo]

Some parents still do it, it is called "elimination communication". You learn to guess when you baby needs to go to the toilet and the baby learns to express his need sooner. It is good for the child but it is hard work for the parents, generally the mother. And of course, often the poop or pee is missed so you need to fully clean and change the baby. In elimination communication, the baby does not wear modern disposable diapers, therefore he has a clearer sensation of feeling wet.

[@agnediciuniene9861]

@@SolveigMineo I tried elimination communication with my first born. Only for poop, since they pee so frequently and we loved active life. Anyway, from 6 to 12 months he was defecating into a toilet. Once he turned 1 year old, he refused to continue that. And then he successfully toilet trained himself at 2 years and 3 months old. Right after we changed daycare. I decided to stop trying for a month because we were changing daycare, but one day he just said he wanted to pee in a toilet and did so from that day onward.

[@kibbykibby]

Me too! I hear it so much and I look at my kids and I'm like how!!?!?!?!

[@LicharaDream]

Exactly, same here! :) And because of lack of disposable diapers, there was also a lot of pressure from the daycare centers. My parents and my husband's parents told us they used to wake us twice in the middle of the night and they would sit us on the potty and then just wait there until we did something. They said we would fall asleep there many times. I'm wondering how tired we all must have been.

[@SolveigMineo]

@@agnediciuniene9861 you did great 🙏

[@sestricaanutka]

My son is 19 months old and hates the dypers: trying to take them off, not wanting to put them on. So we did start potty training, especially because he is able to hold his pee for several hours. He likes to sit on the potty, puts his animals on it as well, watches us pee, but he has not done anything in the pot yet. I am not forcing him, but because he hates his pampers its all a bit frustrating 😢

[@esthershambaugh2889]

I've just watched through your potty training playlist, this one is good because it actually tells when is a good age/time to use your methods. One question I have not seen addressed is what if your child wont sit on the potty for more than a few seconds? My 17m old has sat and had success but after doing potty training for a week he doesn't want to sit for more than a few seconds.

[@manufactotum6064]

Dear Emma, Any thoughts on elimination communication?

[@EmmaHubbard]

Hi @manufactotum6064, I didn't do elimination communication with my 3 children. Really it's just personal preference. If it's something you are interested then give it a go. If not then that's also ok.

[@bjj_9925]

There is a book called The Tiny Potty Training Book by Andrea Olson. I havent read it, but the premise is that 60 years ago over 92% of American toddlers were potty trained by the age of 18 months, but after the invention of disposable diapers this changed. Basically the book teaches you to potty train at an earlier age than 2. My question is, how much truth there is to that, there's so much contradicting information it's really exhausting. How come 60 years ago basically everyone was potty trained by the age of 2 and now we have to wait SO DAMN LONG.

[@brandimartin5140]

The kids in my family are all potty trained by 2 years old. I personally believe this idea is true.

[@MiVidaBellisima]

The diets were much different at that time too, even from the nutrition that creates mama’s breastmilk

[@ladyjulbug]

My 11 month old has been pulling out diapers and wipes when she needs a change since she started pushing herself to them at 3-4 months. She can't really detect when she needs to use the potty before and communicate it yet, but she is so interested in being on the potty. She "asks" to sit on it every time she sees me go. I've started just putting her on it immediately after her 2 naps each day to see if she'll go, and she usually does...but i think it's just fun for her right now and we'll keep doing that until she's ready for actually using it full time. She's not even big enough for pull ups yet.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks for sharing!

[@sabine46]

Our boy was interested very early on, and we were doing so well too! Even started practicing wearing just pants. But the birth of his sister set him right back (completely understandable!). So we started from the start again! When I check his nappy and it's dry, I ask if he wants to go potty and right before bed we go potty. Taking it easy to get his groove back! (He will be 3 in February)

[@EmmaHubbard]

Sounds like you are back on track. As you mentioned toilet training regressions are extremely common when big changes happen in their world (very understandable as any change is unsettling).

[@robertapatterson4776]

Should i start if i just stopped him from breastfeeding the past couple weeks. Is that considered a big change in his life. My son is about to be two in a couple weeks but is showing signs he's ready like telling me when poops or trying to take wet diapers off.

[@MiVidaBellisima]

That’s a big change to a toddler

[@jerridavis6462]

Great video! Enjoyed from Texas!

[@EmmaHubbard]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@OperaticRockstar]

Is there anyway I could request some videos geared specifically towards ASD kids? Your videos are great!

[@Angela_1438]

We're just about to move so happy I saw this....

[@EmmaHubbard]

Same here!

[@braria9855]

Some feedback: I enjoy your videos and also the short clips you usually insert, but I've been feeling that the amount of transitions, animations and clips (and the shortness of the clips) was on the verge of overstimulating in this one, I hope you do continue to do this, but at the same time will appreciate it a bit toned down personally, idk how the rest of your audience, but it might be food for thought.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks for your feedback. ❤️

[@FenandaDeMelo-Cohen]

Do you have a potty training course?

[@MSEAD123]

My 14 mo. old is now pooping more solid poops usually daily to a couple times a day. I am wondering if it is too hard though to start potty training? He never seems strained or uncomfortable though. But he has always been the world's happiest baby even with countless colds from daycare and teething. He eats 3 meals a day with snacks and has about 4, 4 oz milk/formula bottles, and breastfeeds still twice a day.

[@ngohoiGEM]

Babies are born with sphincter control. Waiting for them to be ready is a myth by nappy producing companies. They can be trained, you need to be consistent. In fact, late potty training is even more linked to constipation, bowel issues, not to mention the constant contact of their skin with poop and pee. So much more hygenic to train earlier.

[@christinet4951]

What about during sleep? And tips for teaching them to wipe?

[@martinmukonje6739]

Thank you, it's very insightful 😊

[@EmmaHubbard]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@ShantallPirie]

What's your advice for what to do during nap times / bed times while the child is asleep? I'm assuming the child will still have to wear diapers during this time while they're asleep...?

[@kimberlyzamora6018]

What should i do my daughter is terrified to sit on the toilet and wont use hers either

[@monikab3413]

@EmnaHubbard Thank you for all your potty training videos, they are really helpful! I cannot find a family toilet seat for our square shaped toilet, could you perhaps recommend a good toilet seat reductor for this type instead? We would really like to start the potty training journey as right as possible. 🙈 Thank you so much!

[@abdelazizkenza2675]

I tried with my daughter few months she was 2 and half year but she was holding her pee so I stopped, now she is sitting on the potty with her clothes on. She started to notice when her diaper is bothering her, so I will try again I hope this time is the right one😅

[@EmmaHubbard]

I hope it goes smoothly this time round!

[@kareemmargaretabiade990]

Thank you

[@EmmaHubbard]

You're welcome

[@ntombilenhledlamini9524]

My son tells me when he wants to poop and pee but he won't sit on the potty and do the deed, he literally runs away to hide and do it elsewhere. If i bring him the potty when he is doing the deed he'll stop run away to finish elaswhere ... He even tells me that poop n pee go in the potty but he just doesn't want to do it there.. any advice?

[@Zora3y]

what do you think of using medicinal syrup or other safe medicine to alleviate constipation? I seen some people claim they used it in order to potty train their kid? My thoughts are aren't such things kind of pushy? Is waiting for better time more appropriate?

[@EmmaHubbard]

For options to alleviate constipation, it would be best to you talk to your doctor, as this is outside my scope. Sorry.

[@ewelinar6217]

My toddler doesn't like the smell of poo, therefore doesn't want to poo in the potty or toilet. It's difficult to eliminate this issue

[@EmmaHubbard]

That can be tricky. With other kids I have worked with who dislike the smell, we have got around this by placing a scent/perfume that they like on the sleeve of their t-shirt or on a handkerchief and smelling that when they go to poop. This can sometimes mask the smell. I hope that helps!

[@gunther3274]

Buy Poo-Pouri!

[@readingroomcafeproject]

we have the potty around, and she's likes sitting on it. When she's having nappy off time she sometimes wees in the potty. Sometimes she doesn't! she's not even 2 yet, though.

[@EmmaHubbard]

That's great!

[@laurabiancadragomir7354]

❤❤❤

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks!

[@annakuta8031]

mine can poop in the potty when i iask him but peeing is completely different issue 🤣

[@EmmaHubbard]

That's great you have had success with the poops. Sometimes it helps to add a little motivation to wee. There are things called wee targets that go in the toilet bowl and once they're 'hit' by wee they reveal an interesting picture. I have also seen a product that you can put in the water which makes the water change colour when urine mixes with it. Maybe these might help😊

[@dianx93]

Sorry but the bladder control part was BS. Learn about Elimination Communication! Babies can control their bladder very early, they just get used to being able to go whenever so they do that instead and don't practice holding it. Unless your baby doesn't like going in their diapers, then they might hold it until you take it off. These "early potty training" problems don't happen if you actually start early enough.

[@AnaValenz_]

That's just 1 method. Not everyone does it that way.

[@gw6667]

I agree. I think a concerted effort at 2 yrs of age can be done you just have to take a great effort to teach how your child recognizes the feeling of being ready to go

[@viviannehernandez4515]

Also not everyone has the time for EC early on. It’s a very time and effort consuming method. But right on if you can do it!

[@viviannehernandez4515]

@@P_Petkov That’s amazing! Are you a stay at home parent?

[@ceeemm172]

I mean, part of the goal of EC is to provide potty opportunities when the baby is ready, not when the adult thinks it’s time. Babies will preferentially pee into open air instead of into cloth at first, but you may need to prompt every fifteen minutes. We did EC just for #2s until the digestive transition and it was very much about us being ready and not him

[@heidilhansen]

I m 69 I still ware diapers

[@KarissaPukas]

Personally, we found the exact opposite! Elimination communication was one of the best things we’ve done as a family. Having the potty just always be a part of the routine made it simple. Our daughter was out of daytime diapers @ 19m. She has had more her body awareness than her peers because of this. Highly recommend starting “early” 🤍

[@EmmaHubbard]

Thanks so much for sharing @KarissaPukas! It's great that you found EC helpful. I am really interested to find out more about EC, particularly from parents who have used and found it helpful. I'm curious about what your daughter was doing at 19 months. When you say she was out of daytime diapers at 19mths (which is fantastic) was she independently taking herself to the toilet (so she would notice those internal feelings of needing to do a poop or a wee and going to the bathroom) or were you prompting her to go to the toilet when you noticed the signs or if it was a particular time (eg on waking from a nap or after eating)? Based on my understanding of EC, EC is about noticing your baby's signs that they are about to wee or poop and/or using specific times like after a meal (when there's a bowel reflex etc) to place the baby or toddler on the toilet. What I am wondering is what age do children who use the EC method do this independently - so independently notice their need to go, take themselves to the toilet, and go without adult reminders or prompts, as well as no longer have any accidents? Thanks in advance!

[@ronjab4586]

​​@@EmmaHubbardYour last paragraph is spot on. EC is about learning the baby's cues but learning to use the potty independently, still remains necessary and is an entirely different thing. Ideally, it's a smooth transition from reacting to baby's cues and providing potty opportunities to promting the kid and providing some help to going independently. But just as it is the case with more traditional potty training, in the end it depends on the readiness of the child if this transition is successful or not and when (at which age) it is successful. My recommendation if you want to learn more about this, is to look into regions of the world, where EC is the norm and doesn't have a fancy name for it (or even just regions where early potty training is the norm). When we did EC with our first, we only had the Westernized idealistic concept of it and expected it to be that great alternative to potty training. Conversations with family and coworkers from other regions of the world made me realize that EC is an alternative to diapers, not potty training/learning. However, when you look for the term and experiences with EC specifically, it's difficult to find experiences of people who still struggled with potty training despite doing EC successfully. I think the reason is that in the Western World, if EC doesn't work out, we can just stop, switch to diapers and usually don't cross that world of EC again. So those experiences are underrepresented whereas a smooth transition from EC to using the potty independently can lead to someone promoting the idea that EC is the guarantee that leads to early potty training success. However, when communicating with people from regions where disposable diapers are just not as frequently used, you will still find a wide range of potty training/learning experiences.

[@EmmaHubbard]

Hi @ronjab4586 thank you so much for your detailed answer. You're right from what I had read about EC it sounded like the children are potty trained earlier than those who didn't do EC. But I couldn't actually find any specific ages that states the age they achieve complete independence. I had never heard of EC as an alternative to diapers, but I had heard it was an alternative to potty training. So it was extremely interesting to hear that children who use EC still need to learn to use the potty independently. And the timing of when this occurs depends on the child's readiness. Which makes complete sense to me. I am definitely going to look more into the other regions where EC is the norm, as well as, where early potty training is the norm to find out more details regarding the age these children are completely independent (so not needing adult help at all). Again thanks so much for taking the time to provide such a detailed answer. ❤️