toilet training- both at once?

TwinsMommy ↓

Sun, Nov 28 2010, 12:33 am

both at once or one at a time??? I can't decide!

Both are developmentally delayed but academically bright. Neither has really been ready, but I see small signs of readiness in both and I'm willing to start pushing. I have a feeling that physically one twin is truly more ready.

I've tried here and there before but it hasn't been the right time. I started trying this week again (and then I got the stomach flu and took a break-- ha!).... and when sitting them both on the potties one kept screaming, getting up and running away (making the other one start screaming..). Emotionally and academically she totally chapps that this is the start of a major change in her life. Keep pushing with her or allow her to watch me train the other one first and just let her keep playing when it's her twins' "potty time" and nonchalantly keep changing her pullup?

The fact that it's a boy and a girl and both have lots of diagnoses and delays doesn't help, of course. They're almost 4.

mummy-bh

Sun, Nov 28 2010, 12:56 am

I tried to train my two at the same time, I thought they were both ready and it was a good time for me as well. Then after a couple of days it was obvious that one was more ready than the other, so I carried on with her and she 'chapped' the whole thing within another few days. With her sister, I just ignored the whole issue and carried on putting diapers on her. I made a special effort not to mention it to her, but instead would praise her toilet-going sister within earshot. Of course my older kids jumped on the bandwagon and started telling the one wearing a diaper what a baby she was..... Rolling Eyes

it was a tough time. I thought that the diaper-wearing kid would copy the toilet-going kid, as she has done for so many other things (walking, speech) but she was just happy to be the 'baby'and it was only after my husband sat her down and gave her a stern talking to (we knew at this stage that she was completely aware, as she would announce "I'm a baby and right now I'm making in my nappy"), as well as the promise of a big bribe, then within a day she was out of diapers!

lilacdreams

Sun, Nov 28 2010, 4:51 pm

I dont have twins but I had 2 kids train at the same time. They are 17 mos apart but when one was 1.5 and the other almost 3, I saw the older one was ready. So we went ahead and encouraged her to ue the toilet. Within a few days the younger one was clambering up to the toilet also, and really making on it!!! so we did the 2 together. It was rough for a week or so, but then all of a sudden it was amazing! 2 kids out of diapers in one go!

My advice would be try the one who is more ready, and see if the other is interested. Just because they are twins (and also boy and girl) doesn'tmean they will do everything together. Boys normally go later than girls. GL with whatever you decide.

Motheroftwins

Sun, Nov 28 2010, 6:35 pm

I trained both at the same time. I had 1 week to get it done, bwtn school and camp and I was determined to do it. I felt that one was slightly more ready than the other, but that wasnt stopping me. I bought 2 potties and 2 potty seats - that go on the toilet (one for each toilet), but we mostly used the potties that you can put in any room.....I agree that they are gross to clean, but felt that if I was training both, I had to have toilets available for both of them at the same time, and if I got one potty and one toilet seat, it would be a fight who sits where. So, I made a sticker chart for each girl and hung it up where they could see/reach it. I bought loads of stickers and prizes. I started by having them walk around naked for 1-2 days....they peed and pooped all over the floor - I kept them where there was no carpet. If I saw them peeing or pooping, I would run them to sit on the potty which was conveniently right nearby. If they made in the potty, they got a sticker and a prize - most of the time it was a few MMs and the prize. After a couple of days, they basically got it - although one was more into it (surprisingly it was the one who I thought wasnt ready - the one who I thought would get it right away was a little scared and took a lil longer). Once they mostly understood it, I told them if they make on the toilet (not the portable potty) they get bigger prizes - coloring books, balls, etc. I found that by the 5th day they were both potty trained! I rewarded them with a big prize. And we never looked back! They are even night trained...if u have any questions, feel free to PM me....GOOD LUCK!! oh yah - I also made it a point of hoooooraying when they made in the potty - we would call my dh at work, my parents, my in laws, friends on the block, sis in law etc....helped them get excited abt doing right!!