Moms Talk: The Leap From Diapers to Potties

My friends have all told me that potty-training the second child is easier than potty-training the first. So, when my youngest son turned 2.5, we celebrated by buying a cute frog-shaped training potty.

I really was convinced that he would train himself in a week. Now, as we near the two-month mark, I laugh at my naiveté. While I am convinced that the toddler is ready to train, I am equally convinced that he has a touch of bathroom ADD.

Yes, he uses the potty. Yes, he can tell us when he has to go. Both are obvious markers of potty readiness. Our problem isn’t the potty, but the rest of the bathroom. Our son is obsessed with the sink and the bathtub and all the watery fun that they can create. To him, the bathroom is a second playroom. The stories that have been witnessed in our bathrooms would turn even an iron stomach squeamish--especially when you add a training potty into the equation.

When the little man cries, “Go bathroom!” I am filled with terror. A watery mess always results, and my washing machine is getting a workout from all the spinning towels. Honestly, this second endeavor at potty conquering has me exhausted. I simply do NOT know how to keep him focused on the task at hand. And, as his curious mind draws him to the water taps, we find ourselves gating the bathrooms so he can’t play freely. Gated doorways do not foster easy potty access.

My oldest son potty trained at 3.5. His potty endeavors were lengthened by the birth of his brother. My biggest realization through potty-training my oldest son was that diapers and Pull-Ups were the same concept. Both keep a child from feeling wetness and make it harder to teach a child to use the potty. Once we put the oldest in big boy underpants, he potty-trained quickly. Sure, we had a few messes. But it was worth it in the end.

Our oldest was not nearly as obsessed with the faucets. He did love washing his hands and playing in the sink, but it didn’t completely distract him from using the potty. With the youngest, I am at my wits' end. While changing him over to big boy underpants will make him feel his accidents, I’m really not sure it will keep him from playing.

Currently, we are still encouraging our youngest to use the potty when he feels the urge. But I am not sure how to proceed from here. Do I delay the process for a few months? Do I switch him over to big boy underpants and hope for the best? How did you approach potty-training with your children? Were the younger siblings easier? I’m open to all advice that will keep me from purchasing more diapers!