What would you say if I could teach you to successfully potty train your twins in 4 days before the age of two?
Interesting concept, isn’t it? Within this book I will give you the tools to enable you to potty train your children in four days. I will explain the Potty Training Boot Camp program and everything you will need to get started, and then take you on a step by step process of the 4 day potty training experience. As a mother of twins, I searched desperately for some guidance on potty training. I have read several chapters from books and articles on potty training, and there are many different types of advice, although NOTHING regarding twins. Some think you can potty train before a year, even at six months. Others say that children will decide when they are ready, and will certainly be trained before kindergarten.
Why is 18 – 24 months the perfect age?
At this age toddlers are starting to realize their bodily functions, they can walk themselves to and from the potty, they can pull their pants down, and they understand simple requests. They aren’t afraid of things yet, therefore they do not have the fear of pooping in the potty and flushing it away. They haven’t hit the headstrong “terrible two’s”, during which they become beautifully proficient with the word “NO”!
What do I mean by “potty trained”?
Your children will be in big girl/boy underwear during the waking hours and possibly the nap hours within 4 days. You will never have to put them in a diaper again. Their bladders need to be ready for nights, and once they are trained during the day, this book will give you guidance for night training. I am not going to tell you that there won’t be accidents after they are potty trained, because there will be. This is not a perfect science, and toddlers get busy doing things and sometimes they forget. Keep in mind that there will be accidents at any age, as it comes with the territory. Whether you train your children to use the potty at 18 months or 4 years, there are going to be some challenges along the way. I would certainly rather clean up the accident of a two year old than a four year old, wouldn’t you?
How does the program work?
Potty Training Bootcamp for Twins is a program based on loving and consistent training in conjunction with the use of the American Sign Language "potty" sign. Using the ASL “potty” sign is imperative to the training, as children at this age are much more efficient at communicating quickly through signing than verbalizing their needs. While infants and toddlers have a desire to communicate their needs and wishes, they lack the ability to do so clearly because the production of speech, which requires coordinating the lips, tongue, breath, and vocal cords simultaneously, lags behind cognitive ability in the first months and years of life. Hand-eye coordination is possible in advance of the acquisition of verbal skills, and infants and toddlers can learn to express their needs using simple signs for common words, such as “potty”.
The program is a big commitment on your part, as it takes four days to complete. You will have to set aside this time in advance, with nothing overlapping. If you can truly commit to four days out of your life to COMPLETELY FOCUS on your little ones, you will never have to use a diaper again.
How will I know my toddlers are ready?
Twins are typically born a little earlier than singletons, as we all know, so as their mother, you need to keep that in mind. You need to decide if they are showing signs of being ready. I am the mother of boy/girl twins born at 36 ½ weeks and potty trained before their second birthday. If your children were born with complications, and are struggling with developmental milestones, this may work better a little later down the line. You know your babies, so do what you feel is right for them. In Chapter One, I have detailed signs to look for when deciding whether your children are ready or not.
My children aren’t talking yet.
My babies did not have a large vocabulary when we potty trained, so your children do not need this to complete the program. If you have done any sign language, the American Sign Language sign for “potty” is a must. If not, you can practice the “potty” sign several weeks before you start training, as children quickly catch onto sign language. Your twins MUST become proficient at this sign. I will explain how to teach the sign in Chapter Two.
I have other children at home.
If you have older or younger children, please have someone that can take your other children, or at least keep them occupied, for the four days. If you have higher multiples, you will need someone to help you, with the same commitment that you have.
What if my children are older?
You can still use the basics of this program, but will come up against different challenges. The older your children are, the more you will have to use reasoning and bribery. Although they will “get it” in the first day or two, you will struggle because they are more independent and strong headed than a younger child, and may not want to use the potty on a regular basis. The program as it is, will work well up to about 26 months, and then you will start battling with the fact that your child understands what you want him or her to do, but may fight you on it. You will have to use more reasoning and more bribery with an older child. It could also potentially take longer than 4 days to have them consistently using the potty.
What do I need to make this program work?
1. Your children must meet ALL of the “I’m ready to learn” signs and the “external” signs outlined in Chapter One.
2. Your children must be completely comfortable using the “sign” for potty.
3. A full commitment of 4 – 5 days for your children with no outside interference.
4. Someone to help you during the day with any other children you have.
5. An “I won’t give up!” attitude to carry you to day 4.
6. The energy of a Duracell bunny, and the patience of a saint!
Each of these points is KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS!