Twins Potty Training Archives | Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site

Potty Training for Twins: Twin Parents Share How to Prepare

Twiniversity — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 15:20:26 +0000

When your twinnies start taking on toddlerhood, you may be wondering how best to approach potty training for twins. So we’ve rounded up some helpful tips for you from other twin parents who’ve been there! Whether you’re a brand new twin parent or your twins are reaching potty training age already, you’ve probably had your fair share of worries when thinking about getting TWO little ones to successfully use the potty. Keep reading for honest tips from real twin parents. Plus, at the end get a first-hand look at two twin moms’ full potty training stories and extra tips for what to prioritize before you officially start potty training YOUR twins. We asked our amazing community: How did you get yourself and your twins ready for potty training before officially starting? Here’s what twin parents had to say: “I waited until they were ready, makes it so much easier!” “We just did a long weekend without diapers and had two potty seats in the living room for lots of sitting on the seats. They were 3. We then did pull-ups on-the go-and only for bed for a while. I also drove with a potty seat 😂 I wasn’t wrangling them in any bathrooms.” “We followed the book/method “Oh Crap” and it worked like a charm in 3 days when they were just over 2.” “We did the three day method, and with one twin, the girl was successful after the three days and the other one was a full nine months later before he decided he was totally ready to do it . Once he decided it though he was out of diapers, completely even overnight and my daughter a year later is still in diapers overnight, she just sleep deeper.” “I had my daughter go with me before officially potty training her. She was about 3 years old. When she was ready, we did a weekend with no diapers. Had a few accidents but she got the hang of it over that weekend. Her twin brother on the other hand was habitually trained more recently. It was clockwork. He is special needs. They’re both almost 7 next month.” “A token chart which they LOVED. Every 5 pees and every poop on the toilet they got a sticker, etc.” “At least 3 days off work and nothing on the schedule.” “Read the ‘Oh Crap Potty Training’ book and made a concrete plan to tag team Got multiple small potties on Facebook marketplace.” “Give yourself a long weekend. 2 potties in the room you’re in most. Lots of wine and humor!” “Prep, prep, prep! Lots of reading and talking about starting.” “Roll up all the rugs and gather all the extra rag towels lol.” “Read books, went around the house and packed away all diapers together to donate.” “Used m & m’s as an incentive for a few weeks. Encouraged them to cheer each other on.” “Followed Big Little Feelings’ method and their advance prep tips.” How one twin mom potty trained her twins at separate times: My boys are 3 this July. I have had a potty in the play room since they were around 18 months, and then when they turned 2, I bought the steps and seat for the main toilet. One started showing an interest in using it and I decided in December we would try and potty train. I did plan to do them at the same time as I was off work but one was poorly. With twin one, I had a conversation about what we were doing and put undies on him. He wet himself maybe twice in the morning and each time was a bit upset and came to tell me. After that he was more aware and kept saying when he needed to go. He was trained in the 3-day window, but there were still accidents and poo’s were a bit more of a struggle. But he got there eventually. Twin two I potty trained last week using a different method. He was better with no pants. He struggled with poop, but we’re a week in, and he’s doing amazing for both. He says his tummy hurts when he actually needs the loo. Just remember they are individuals and might not be ready at the same time, and the methods might need adjusting to each. Also, don’t rush it. We tried twin 2 once before this time, and he just kept soiling himself and didn’t care, so we knew he wasn’t ready. Twin potty training advice from another twin mom based on a few twin potty training mishaps When my fraternal twins were about 15 months, I started mentally preparing myself for potty training. Like many others, I read “Oh Crap! Potty Training and felt like I had a decent understanding of where to start with potty training my twins. We had bought a training potty when they were around 21-22 months old, and one day around that time, my son showed interest in using the potty. So I let him pee in the potty, and he did it successfully. So I made the decision to officially begin potty training him starting the next morning with the whole no underwear on method. The first day or two he did pretty well, but then when it came to pooping in the potty, things started to go South. He pretty much refused to use the potty then and would pee himself without seeming to care at all. So long story short, we decided to pause on potty training and wait until they both actually turned two. Once we restarted a few months later, my son did much better. He would have accidents here and there, but I would say after 2 weeks he was pretty much potty trained. With my other twin though, we encountered a big mishap. After a few days into potty training she had a really tough time getting a BM out one time. It caused some discomfort and bleeding… Continue Reading Potty Training for Twins: Twin Parents Share How to Prepare

The post Potty Training for Twins: Twin Parents Share How to Prepare appeared first on Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site.

Night Potty Training: Here’s Everything You Need to Know From a Real Expert

Twiniversity — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

After 7 months of potty training twins (we took a 3-month sabbatical in the middle for a little reflection and mommy’s sanity), they are finally going boom-boom and wee-wee on the potty. Accidents are few and far between and I feel like we are really starting to live our best life! Did I forget to mention that they are only day potty trained? How do you even go about night potty training? Do I cut off all liquids hours before bed? Should I wake them up in the middle of the night and set them on the toilet? Should they wear underwear only? Are Pull-Ups okay? Do I need to worry if my twins are 4 years old and still wetting the bed at night? I am a mom in the dark on this one. Potty training my singleton was like a potty training fairytale: beautiful princess, stunning nightgown, her own personal porcelain throne, and clean, dry undies in the morning. She was potty trained at 2 ½ years old. She slept in a nighttime diaper for three weeks and never once had a wet diaper in the morning. Still to this day she has only had TWO accidents. EVER! I knew right away this potty training experience was the exception, not the rule. I was surprised by the fact that potty training my twins was hard, exhausting, and yet humbling. Because of my experience with potty training, I thought once your child did one, they automatically did the other. I can’t be the only mom to think this, and I needed some guidance. It surprised me to learn that night potty training and daytime potty training rarely happen at the same time. So, what can I do to potty train my twins at night? Absolutely Nothing! You can’t teach someone to do something while unconscious. According to Potty Training Expert and Twiniversity Membership guest speaker, Alexis Granelli, night potty training is hormonal not behavioral. What does this mean? “Withholding one’s pee during the night happens when one’s body is ready for it to happen”, says Granelli. So basically, no amount of pressure or convincing or even praise is going to make your child have a dry diaper in the morning until their body has figured out how to hold the pee in. Although there isn’t a to-do list for night potty training, there is a NOT-TO-DO list: Waking the Child at Night This is the most common mistake. By waking your child up to go to the toilet, they don’t develop the bladder-brain communication they need to stay dry at night. You are effectively taking away your child’s control of their bladder. Because of this, your child’s brain and bladder have no reason to build communication, so waking your child to pee just prolongs the bedwetting. Restricting Fluids Restricting fluids before sleep seems like a logical step in encouraging night dryness. Don’t do it. Is it a good idea to give your kids a 16 oz glass of milk before? No. But it is also not a good idea to restrict your child from drinking anything before bed. Restriction of fluids is unhealthy for children and can be counterproductive in helping them recognize the sensation of full bladder and developing control. Using Pull-Ups Pull-Ups or potty training pants are made to wick moisture away from the skin. Little kids generally do not feel wet when they pee in disposable potty training pants. We want our child to know when they are wet. Wet pants are uncomfortable, dry pants feel nice. If your child can’t feel when they go pee in their Pull-Up, there is no motivation to stop. Punishment When your child pees during sleep, it is done unconsciously and not on purpose. When you punish your child, you are punishing them for something which is not their fault. Punishment insinuates that your child is not making an effort or is wetting the bed on purpose and oftentimes builds negative self-esteem in your child. Bedwetting is common , so don’t get discouraged yet! 1 in 6 kids between the ages of 3 and 12 experience bedwetting, with twice as many boys wetting their beds as girls. According to www.webmd.com, after age 5 about 15% of children continue to wet the bed, and by age 10, 95% of children are dry at night. Can We Encourage Our Children to Get up and Potty at Night? “Potty training is more about being capable and less about being ready,” says Granelli, “don’t worry about night training and just focus on day training”. Here are some tips and tricks to encourage your child to stay dry all night long: Have a Daytime Potty Training Plan Since nighttime potty training stems from daytime training, it’s important to make sure you have your daytime plan in place. Setting up good habits for daytime potty breaks greatly helps during the nighttime hours. The better they are at listening to their bodies and going potty right away instead of waiting, the better they will do at going potty during the night. Liquid Intake Granelli says to think of liquid intake in the evening as an upside-down pyramid. Liquids with dinner are at the top, where the pyramid is widest. As the hours get closer to bedtime, you move down the pyramid, decreasing the amount of liquid as you move toward the tip, which signifies bedtime. Ideally, you want to skip the before bed glass of water. However, if they really need it, give them the smallest cup you have in the cupboard. Make a Bedtime Routine Regardless of where your child is in the potty training obstacle course, it’s a good idea to make sure they go to bed with an empty bladder. Once potty training at night is the goal, it’s important to make going potty a part of the bedtime routine just like brushing teeth. One last potty stop right before bed will maximize your child’s chances of a dry night. “Get them to… Continue Reading Night Potty Training: Here’s Everything You Need to Know From a Real Expert

The post Night Potty Training: Here’s Everything You Need to Know From a Real Expert appeared first on Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site.

Potty Training Regression: You Need to See This Moms Hilarious Diary

Twiniversity — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 14:16:34 +0000

Have your twins entered the dreaded potty training regression? Read one twin mom’s hilarious account of her potty training journey with twins here! I am in potty training hell! I have been “training” twins (can you really call it potty training if no one is going in the potty???) for 106 days; in twin math, 212 days. I’ve spent countless hours sitting on the bathroom floor waiting for toddlers to go pee, and I have wiped pee off of every surface in my house at one time or another. I went into potty training my twins very hopeful and optimistic (quite out of character for me) and we’ve had some successes. But we’ve also had potty training regression (by both parents and toddlers). Potty Training Day 1 August 2019 Pull-ups are on, the potty seat is on the toilet, bag of skittles waiting in the wings as a positive affirmation. Let’s do this! We had some successes today: both kids sat on the potty multiple times. No wee-wee or poop-poop were made while on the potty, but they sat! Day 5 Potty Training Regression Still nothing! We are now moving backward (can I call it potty training regression after only 5 days???) Twin A is no longer interested in using the potty and cries hysterically if put on the potty. Twin B is still willing to sit on the potty but demands the iPad (made that mistake when I was sure he would poop if I could just get him to sit longer) and skittles. Do you need help preparing for potty training your twins? Check out these 5 tips to get ready for your experience. Day 6 Potty Training Regression I broke down today and purchased two portable toddler potties. Potty training twins is hard no matter what. But it’s even harder when there are two hallways and thirteen stairs separating the two toilets. Why do twins always need to pee at the exact same time? I also purchased toddler underwear. Pull-ups were great at first, but now the twins are treating them just like diapers. Undies here we come! The twins seem excited, and I’m hoping this is the end of our potty training regression. Day 13 Potty Training Regression Note to self: when making the decision to purchase two portable potties, purchase the exact same two potties. The twins are currently fighting over who gets to sit on The Paw Patrol potty. (Buy a Paw Patrol potty here) To be clear, they just want to sit, they don’t actually want to pee in it. Day 14 Potty Training Regression Aaarg…….I’m putting this whole toilet training thing on hold! I shall refer to this time in my life as “MoM’s Potty Training Regression”…..I am reverting back to when life made sense and my house didn’t smell like urine! Take two month potty training sabbatical. Is potty training your twins more stressful than you had hoped? See what one twin mom says about her experience here. Day 1 (Potty Training Round Two) Dusted off the portable potties today. Rearranged the furniture to accommodate two bare-bummed toddlers and their view of the television. I’m taking the term “open concept” living to a new level! Welcome to my dining/living room with an open-air bathroom! We had some successes today!!! We officially peed in the potty!!! Did the break cure our potty training regression?? We had equally as many accidents as we had successes, but we did it! Day 3 of Potty Training Regression Peeing in the potty is going well! We are still using Pull-ups at nap and nighttime but undies when awake. Twin B is really getting the hang of this. He has had very few accidents and pooped on the potty for the first time today. Twin A is my strong-willed child. If using the potty is her idea, then she’ll do it. Otherwise, an accident is in my near future. Are you struggling to breastfeed your twins? Book your lactation consultation with Twiniversity founder and certified lactation consultant Natalie Diaz today. Day 35 of Potty Training Regression We have been transitioning the twins to the big potty with potty seats for about a week now. This seems to have caused some potty training regression. Twin B is more than willing to pee on the potty, as long as it is at home. Twin A will pee on the potty if wearing underwear, but openly admits she would rather have a diaper. Neither is pooping in the potty, even if offered a special toy, treat, or the use of the Paw Patrol potty. Day 67 of Potty Training Regression An executive decision was made this evening. The twins will now lose a bedtime snuggly if they wait to go poop in their bedtime diaper. After three months of potty training and my twins have figured out that they get a diaper for bedtime. Both prefer pooping in a diaper. Therefore, all they have to do is wait for bedtime, and they will get what they want. We have tried to stay positive. We’ve tried to be potty cheerleaders and reward potty training efforts but it is not working. We are tired, we are sore, and we are losing our minds one poopy diaper at a time. Time for plan B when dealing with potty training regression: consequences. Day 92 of Potty Training Regression While sitting in the bathroom with Twin B tonight, he informed me that I could take his snuggly because he wanted to be done (it had been 35 seconds since he sat on the potty). He has pooped on the potty four times in 92 days. Twin A has done it ZERO times. I have spent night after night reading about potty training regression, specifically articles about not pooping in the potty. We are now taking the advice of allowing the twins to ask for a diaper when needing to poop, as long as they stand in the bathroom to complete their business. Are you… Continue Reading Potty Training Regression: You Need to See This Moms Hilarious Diary

The post Potty Training Regression: You Need to See This Moms Hilarious Diary appeared first on Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site.

Potty Training Twins When Only One Child is Interested

Twiniversity — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 04:00:01 +0000

Read about a mom’s experience potty training twins when only one child was interested and the other was happy to sit back and wait. My twins arrived at almost 38 weeks gestation, delivered via c-section after I went into labor four days before it was scheduled. We were fortunate both babies were over six pounds apiece, my girl being born first and my boy second and one ounce larger. For the first year, my daughter was the one who did everything first. She was larger, ate more, and gained weight more quickly, slept less and needed to be held more. My boy was calm, sweet, and rarely fussed. My girl was the engine that drove most of our schedule. As they became more active, she would be the one trying the next stage before my boy had finished the one before. Yet, he always caught up quickly. While she would spend three months “swimming” on her stomach before learning to crawl, after watching her for a few days, he would skip the “swimming part” and go straight to crawling. It was the same thing with creeping and walking – she would spend weeks practicing before finally accomplishing it, and he would watch her for a few days after she’d gotten it, and just get straight to it. It figures it would be the same with potty training them. Our preschool is very supportive with potty training; they must be trained by the “threes” classroom, but they are very helpful with training them as well. My daughter, the youngest in her class with a summer birthday, is a cheerful little girl with a busy personality. Very quickly after entering the toddler class we switched to pull-ups and she quickly was able to tell us when she was wet. She went from there to running to the potty to go, and now spends the day in underwear at preschool. At home, we make it easy for her by having a step stool by the sink and the toilet. The small Elmo ring is always on the toilet downstairs and upstairs in the bathroom the twins use. Every time she goes we give her a Skittle, applaud loudly and make a big deal out of it. With both of my older children, we had to go cold turkey on the pull-ups; they were just using them like diapers, so I know that is soon in the cards for her as well. I know consistency is the key for potty training, and some bribery if necessary. It’s hard with two older children to be home enough on the weekends to commit to taking away pull-ups. Surprisingly, my son remains uninterested. While I always ask him if he needs to go potty (and he’ll even toddle into the bathroom, following his sister as she shrieks she needs to go) he hasn’t expressed more of an interest. For a while, he wanted a treat when we gave her one, and wanted to sit on the potty, but when I explained to him just sitting wasn’t going to get the treat, he stopped even bothering to sit. Since he couldn’t even tell us if he was wet and always blamed his dirty diapers on his sister when we asked if he needed to be changed, I don’t think he has been making much of a connection yet between what’s in his diaper and going on the potty. But we try to include him in the process without forcing him to participate. We read them the same potty books, have them both try to go before the bath when they already are pant-less, ask them at the same time if they need new pull-ups, and encourage them both at the same time while not forcing either of them to sit on the potty longer than they want to. I hope that just by being comfortable with the process, by the time my son is ready, it will be an easier transition, since he knows what his sister does and what positive reinforcement she gets. I also sit him down to pee, just as I do her, because I think that will be easier for him as opposed to learning standing up. They do the same thing at preschool. With two older kids and a full-time job, I’m not as pushing potty training as I might be if I stayed home, because we are rarely at home for them to run to the bathroom (mostly they are riding around in the car picking up their older siblings!). At preschool, they follow the preschool potty times, which we try to copy at home, but since I still have a few months until they are required to be potty trained, I am still willing to be a little more lax about it in the hopes that they will pick it up on their own. While I’d love for both of them to be potty trained and out of diapers, right now I’m just thrilled we have one less child to buy as many pull-ups for. Not having them potty training at the same time has not been an issue as it sometimes can be with twins. While my son hasn’t caught on yet, just recently for the first time told me he was wet and needed a new pull-up. And my hope is he’ll pick this up as quickly as he did crawling and walking. I hope! Related Articles – Potty Training Twins

The post Potty Training Twins When Only One Child is Interested appeared first on Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site.

Potty Train Twins: A Series Of Stops and Starts

Twiniversity — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 04:00:47 +0000

Are you struggling to potty train twins? See what one twin mom says about her potty training experience with her twins here. Prior to the potty training stage, you would have heard me rhapsodizing at length about how amazing it was that my twins were two completely different, individual little people. While trying to potty train twins, all I wanted was for them to do the same thing at the same time, the same way. My three-year-old twins could not be more different in looks, interests, and temperaments. Despite all of that I still thought that potty training would be fairly smooth sailing, with them both happily sitting on the potties while we sang songs. Be on the lookout for these signs of readiness from the Mayo Clinic before you begin to potty train twins. If you start too soon it may take a long time to potty train twins. Our Journey to Potty Train Twins Begins The first day I was excited and overly optimistic. It had been really easy to potty train their older brother. With him there to cheer them on, I thought things would progress pretty quickly. I thought, how hard could it be to potty train twins? This is what actually happened. The whole first week R happily sat on the potty (with no result) if I offered an M&M. D wouldn’t even cross the bathroom threshold. When we tried to coax him in he went completely limp and hung like a rag doll. So I focused on R instead; still to no result. Looking to connect with other twin parents online? Check out our Twiniversity memberships now! After that first week R started refusing to go into the bathroom as well. So I moved on and decided to not press it. Three weeks after that, D randomly came out of the bathroom with no bottoms on and loudly proclaimed that he had peed. I ran to the bathroom expecting there to be an epic mess to be cleaned up. But he had done it. I was elated. We danced around and applauded him for his good deed. Maybe it would be easier than I thought to potty train twins. Attempting to Potty Train Twins is Fraught With Ups and Downs Things seemed to be going really well until school started. D suddenly proclaimed that you only use the potty at home, never at school. Paradoxically, R started (only) using the potty at school. I was baffled but decided to just roll with it. Then, of course, D stopped using the potty at all, anywhere, and no coaxing, treats, bribes or promises could change his mind. I asked for advice in one of my mom groups. Advice started coming out of the woodwork; each person swearing that such and such method had worked for them. I figured that I had nothing to lose so I decided to try the least time consuming one first. Are you looking for humorous, relatable twin parenting stories? Check out one of our FREE podcasts here today! The Cold Turkey Method to Potty Train Twins A mom told me that this method was so easy that it should be the gold standard. She claimed that she was able to potty train her daughter in 48 hours. I figured it couldn’t be too hard to potty train twins this way, right? I let my twins pick out an egg timer (so they were excited about using it) and set it for every 30 minutes. When it went off, I raced my twins to the bathroom to sit on the potty. The theory behind this is that with sitting on the potty so often they are bound to go on it, rather than in their pants. The thought being that it would somehow flip a switch in their heads and BAM they would be potty trained. By the second day, I was literally dragging D and R into the bathroom. No one was going (they were holding it and going in their diapers in-between the timer going off) and I was so tired of singing, clapping and cheering them on that I was losing my voice. This method to potty train twins is absolutely great if you have 5 days where you are able to spend 24/7 with your kids. Also if you won’t lose your mind spending the majority of that time in the bathroom singing, dancing, and cheering your twins on. Or your bathroom has a wine fridge. The Naked Method to Potty Train Twins I tried this one next. For this method to potty train twins, parents just let their kids run around without clothes the entire day and have a potty chair handy at all times. I was told that it usually takes 3+ days and is relatively easy. That is not at all what transpired. I realized early on that you can’t let your kids out of your peripheral vision. It was just the cold turkey method without clothes; except that with no clothes there was no safeguard in place. The moment I turned my back I ended up having to clean up piles of poo behind the couch. I definitely wouldn’t recommend this method to potty train twins unless you are a glutton for punishment, have wood floors covering every inch of your house, plastic covers on your furniture, a housekeeper and/or you happen to be going on vacation; leaving your partner behind to hold the line. Did you know that Twiniversity offers an expecting twins class? Click here to sign up for our live or on-demand online classes today! The Bribery Method to Potty Train Twins Before having children I used to down my nose at people who used bribery to keep their kids in line or get them to do what they wanted them to do. Then I had kids…enough said. This method was my last resort and appealed to me because I could implement it anywhere. It also didn’t require a carpet… Continue Reading Potty Train Twins: A Series Of Stops and Starts

The post Potty Train Twins: A Series Of Stops and Starts appeared first on Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site.

Potty Training Boy/Girl Twins

Twiniversity — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 04:00:52 +0000

There are things you will face as a parent that nothing can prepare you for. You may think you are ready to answer whatever questions about life your little ones will ask, and then potty training begins and you find yourself speechless, unsure how to explain to your two-year-old twins why one has certain body parts and the other doesn’t. You may find your twins trying to help each other use the bathroom, including clean each other’s bottoms. Or you may walk into the bathroom to find your girl twin trying to imitate her twin brother by standing up in front of the toilet. Potty training twins is an interesting experience, to say the least, especially if they are boy/girl twins. No two children develop exactly the same, and boys and girls have different needs and challenges in the bathroom. If you have boy/girl twins who are ready to potty train, you may wonder how to go about the process. Should you train them at the same time? Should you let them go to the bathroom together or should you separate them? A lot of these decisions will be a matter of preference or trial and error, but here are a few things that helped me get through that lovely time of teaching two little ones how to use a toilet. First, Be Prepared Potty training twins is not the same as potty training singletons. The twin factor definitely plays a part in the process. My twins have always pooped at the same time, and several of my friends with twins have marveled that their twins are also on the same pooping schedule. This can be a good thing (we get it over with at the same time) and a bad thing (just finished cleaning up that diaper, whew! NOT! There’s still another one to clean up!) The synchronized pooping has extended into potty training. Another way the twin factor has shown itself in potty training is that when my twins do have a success in the bathroom, they feel the need to see one another’s success and very emphatically congratulate the other. In fact, the other day, when my boy twin had pooped in the potty and I was about to flush it down, my girl came running and said, “NOOOO! I need to SEE IT!” This is a phenomenon I, as a singleton, cannot comprehend. There has never been anyone in this world I have been so bonded to that I came running, demanding to see their bathroom successes. However, twins are fascinating in every way. So be prepared to witness your twins’ bond even in the bathroom. Along with pooping at the same time and needing to be very much involved in each other’s bathroom endeavors, I have noticed that the twin factor lends itself to some competition in potty training. This can be advantageous when it encourages one twin to copy the other and also use the potty. This is why I initially put my twins’ potty seats side by side. I found that they were motivated by each other and learned from one another. However, having them involved in each other’s potty training has had its difficulties. As mentioned previously, sometimes they will try to copy each other in the bathroom, which does not work so well when the girl is trying to stand up like her brother. A lot of questions surrounding potty training revolve around the readiness factor. Parents wonder if their kids are ready, and how they will know when the time is right. Let me take a minute to assure you that the real question is often not only: Are they ready? But also: Are you ready? One of the most important things you as a parent can give your twins during potty training is consistency. And a parent that is not ready, or that is constantly second-guessing whether or not their child is ready, is often inconsistent. They will often jump back and forth between diapers and underwear, which can be confusing to the child and can lengthen the potty training process. Wait until your child is ready and when you yourself are ready to embark on the journey, committed to consistency. As far as a specific age when they are ready, all children develop differently. However, it is interesting to note that the average potty training age in the 1950s, before the convenience of disposable diapers was widespread, was 18 months. Now, I’m not at all suggesting you try to train your 18-month-old to use the potty unless you’re both ready…obviously, it is possible, and some kids do potty train at this age. But my point is that if your twins are over the age of 2 and you are all ready, they should be physically and mentally capable of learning to potty train. Of course, there is no harm in waiting, either. Should you potty train boy/girl twins at the same time? I say sure! Why not? If they are both healthy and developmentally on track, they should be able to potty train together. I personally preferred training mine at the same time, as the thought of getting one trained and then having to turn around and start all over with another was not appealing to me. Now, I know there are rampant rumors that girls are easier to potty train than boys, but I do not believe that is always the case. In fact, my girl was noticeably more difficult to train than my boy. She was more resistant to the process and had more accidents. So try not to make any advanced judgments based on the child’s gender. You never know which one is going to get it immediately and which one is going to need a little more time. Respect their individuality and never make one feel bad for taking longer. Once you decide you are ready and committed to consistency, go for it. Go out and let your twins pick out some exciting… Continue Reading Potty Training Boy/Girl Twins

The post Potty Training Boy/Girl Twins appeared first on Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site.

The Best Potty Training Books for Kids and Parents

Twiniversity — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 05:00:47 +0000

Well, I have talked about Potty Gear and teased about books to help both parents and their kids to get them through this necessary and scary (for some) task. So without further ado here are the best potty training Books for kids and parents! Keep in mind there are totally more options out there and they are not one size fits all so if you are like me you will probably buy them all but try your best to just get a few at a time to see if one sticks! Potty Training Books for Kids Potty by Leslie Patricelli Toddlers ask many questions of themselves and like to know their options. This board book follows the toddlers “inner dialogue” about using diapers or a potty. It is funny and quick leading up to all being proud to yell “I did it!” P is for Potty! by Naomi Kleinberg Is it just me or do you find yourself trying to find out the letter of the day each day with our favorite Sesame Street characters? Ok if your kiddos are Sesame Street Kids then this will be a perfect addition to your potty training adventures. Once Upon a Potty by Alona Frankel This book comes in both a boy and a girl version. In the story, the character’s mother tells the readers the process of potty training. Joshua (or Prudence) opens a box with a strange object in it and tries to figure out what it is. Simple illustrations and a simple storyline make these books classics. Everybody Potties (I Can Do It) by Cheri Vogel Learning to use the potty is something to celebrate! This board book is perfect for twinnies who are ready to give potty training a go! The story is encouraging and reassuring with potty time buddies to lead you through and make you cheer! What to Expect When You Use the Potty by Heidi Murkoff For those children who have more questions than one person can answer, What to Expect When You Use the Potty by Heidi Murkoff is an excellent resource. Murkoff answers all sorts of questions children may ask when potty training, like: where do pee-pee and poop come from?; why do I have to wash my hands?; and where do pee-pee and poop go when you flush? Angus the Answer Dog answers these, and plenty of other questions, too. Where’s the Poop? by Julie Markes Peeing on the potty is one thing, but pooping is a whole other task! A task that some take a long time to figure out and want to use the potty for. My nephew while potty training would literally steal his younger brothers diaper’s go in another room and poop in the diaper to hand it to his mother. He so did not want to use the potty for that! With the aid of this book, your children will see that everyone has a place to poop, be it in the jungle, in the desert or of course in the toilet. Potty Animals: What to Know When You’ve Gotta Go! by Hope Vestergaard All children need reminders on proper toilet etiquette, which is where Potty Animals: What to Know When You’ve Gotta Go! by Hope Vestergaard comes in handy. This rollicking, rhyming and rhythmic book is fun to read and gives great instruction on using the bathroom (a reminder to wash hands, close the door, and knock first, among others). It also includes a helpful list of reminders at the end. Big Boy Underpants and Big Girl Panties both by Fran Manushkin Both versions of this book feature a light, positive approach to motivate toddlers to become toilet trained. What is more exciting to toddlers than to wear undies and panties like mom and dad? All will love the snappy, rhyming text and colorful, hip illustrations. The Princess and the Potty by Wendy Cheyette Lewison I’m not sure if Wendy Cheyette Lewison wrote The Princess and the Potty for children, or their parents. The princess refuses to use her potty, which upsets the king and queen. They try all sorts of tricks to entice the princess to use a potty, none of which work. Potty Training Books for Parents Oh Crap! Potty Training: Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right by Jamie Glowacki OhCrapPottyTraining.com, show you her 6-step, process to get your toddler out of diapers and onto the toilet. This is a real-world training guide without using bribery or gimmicks. This will answer all of your questions of how to get your twinnies out of diapers for good. Potty Training Boot Camp for Twins: Potty Train Your Twins in Four Days Before the Age of Two by Dianne Delongchamps Yup, Dianne Delongchamps is saying with her method you will have your twins trained and done in 4 days and possibly before age 2. She states that the key ingredients for successful potty training are humor, patience, and an “I won’t give up” attitude! With the use of American Sign Language to help guide your twins you can make this happen and fast! Potty Training Multiples? Relax!: Tips to Guide You Through A Three-Day Potty Training Process, Sanity Intact by Victoria Adams This is a quick to read and an easy reference book that speaks to us twin and multiples parents. The author guides us through her 3-day method to make this all happen and also has a gear guide to make this an easier task. Read this book to help you relax during the whole process and get it done. Potty Training in 3 Days: The Step-by-Step Plan for a Clean Break from Dirty Diapers by Brandi Brucks Brandi Brucks is a nanny turned Potty Training consultant. Providing an intensive 3-day plan with clear step-by-step guides that cover everything you need to know and do, Potty Training in 3 Days is your key to ditching diapers without losing your mind! Potty Training: 3 Days to Potty Train Any Child Without Driving Everyone Crazy by Jennifer Nicole Many children are able to learn toilet training in less than a day.… Continue Reading The Best Potty Training Books for Kids and Parents

The post The Best Potty Training Books for Kids and Parents appeared first on Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site.

Must-Have Potty Training Gear for Twins

Twiniversity — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 05:00:19 +0000

Potty training can be a daunting task. One that many of us avoid for as long as we can and some of us cannot wait to do. I have friends that have trained their 18-month-olds and friends that are still struggling with their 5-year-olds. It is hard. I teach driving for my “real” job and people think that is just a skill that people know how to do. I imagine many of us think that going to the potty on the potty is the same way, something they should be able to know. The problem is, we are not born to go on the potty. Obviously, we have twins so we know all too well that bodies have more substances come out of them that we could have EVER imagined, but to get it in the right place is a whole other task. Since my twinnies are a bit young I have polled the MoM Squad, my friends, and family and here the must-have list of potty training gear to assist you with potty training! Look out for our list of books about potty training, coming soon. Yup, there are that many books! 1. Cottonelle Flushable Toddler Wipes for Kids We all know this can become a messy situation. Make sure you stock up on some of these amazing flushable wipes for those not so fresh moments. 2. Softsoap Foaming Kids Hand Soap Making sure your twinnies wash their hands after using the bathroom and creating a healthy bathroom routine can be made easier with this fun foaming hand soap. 3. Potty Training Chart Kids love rewards. Using a chart to show them how much they have done may help to motivate them to keep up the good work. You’ll definitely want to get 2 separate charts! Each comes with a dry erase marker so you can use it over and over again every day. 4. Mayfair Nextstep Slow Close Toilet Seat with Built-In Removable Potty Training Insert Recently we found ourselves in need of a new toilet seat. Maybe we had a twinnie who tore off the seat, maybe we just needed a new seat, I don’t know. Though we are at least a year away from training the boys we bought this seat with a built-in potty training seat. It is great, the little potty seat is magnetized into the big seat and the seat has a soft close in case your twinnies like mine like to open and close the toilet seat. There are 2 brands (Mayfair and Bemis) that make it, they are the same seat. 5. Summer Infant My Size Potty I already have this one ready to go. It looks like a real potty and flushes too so your toddler can feel like a big kid! It has a place for wipes to go in the “tank”, as well, so its an all in one personal potty! 6. Baby Björn Smart Potty Some of our favorite Swedes have potty training accessories, who knew? I love the Baby Björn Smart Potty because it is meant for small spaces. It is easy to clean with a pull-out bowl and a splash guard, which is a must for this task. Take it along with you or keep it in the bathroom. If you have more room definitely check out the full sized Baby Björn Potty Chair. 7. Contours Bravo 3-in-1 Potty Contours and its innovative multi-functional products! This is a potty seat, then a step stool and toilet trainer. Featuring a removable waste cup and an adjustable seat to fit most round or elongated toilets. This potty comes in a few great colors for both of your twinnies to know which is theirs! 8. Foryee Cute Frog Potty Training Urinal for Boys with Funny Aiming Target People swear by this urinal for tots! If you have ever been to a young boys house you know that aim can be a bit of an issue. You can mount this cute frog on the wall with super strong suction cups or even portable hook hardware for a more sturdy hold. I fear the day that my twinnies are learning to pee standing up so I am pretty excited to use this to help them not make me have to clean the bathroom as much as I have cleaned their diapers! 9. Mommy’s Helper Contoured Cushie Step Up Give your child the comfort and confidence they need to start their potty training experience on the big kid toilet with Cushie Step Up toilet trainer! Your kiddos can step up on the ribbed steps and gripper handles to the soft toilet seat that fits most types of toilet bowls. There is also a built-in deflector for those out of control potty moments. 10. Squat N Go 7″ Folding Squatting Stool Our twinnies are going to need something to help them get to the big kid toilet. Many of us do not have a lot of extra room to spare, so this folding stool fits around the toilet and easily folds to either move it or you can keep it there with its small footprint. 11. Ilove Step Stool for Kids (2 Pack) Another stool option this has 2 steps if your twinnies need a little extra help getting to the big seat. And it comes in a 2 pack which is perfect for a 2 bathroom home! No need to limit the kiddos to one space. 12. Pack ‘n Potty Travel Potty Seat So in all of my research, they say to have options while traveling. This is an all in one seat that folds up nicely, has wet bag pockets for wipes or even a book. The seat is sturdy and you will feel good about letting your littles go in the public restroom. It’s like a diaper changing station but for potty training tykes. 13. Kalencom Potette Plus 2-in-1 Travel Potty Trainer Seat This potty seat can fit nicely on your toilet at home or has disposable liners that act like… Continue Reading Must-Have Potty Training Gear for Twins

The post Must-Have Potty Training Gear for Twins appeared first on Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site.

It’s A Miracle! My Twins Potty Trained Themselves

Twiniversity — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 05:00:32 +0000

The story of how my twins potty trained themselves started when I was folding the heap of laundry that had been crumpled up in the basket all morning. I divided the clothes into three different stacks, one for each of my daughters. I started to fold the pink and purple princess underwear that belonged to my 4-year-old singleton daughter Abby and it peaked my two-year old’s interest. “Are these my pink undies, Mommy?” My daughter Lauren, one of the twins, asked reaching for the underwear. “No, honey.” I shook my head. “These are Abby’s undies. You will get your own princess undies when you start potty training.” I said smiling back at her, returning the underwear to the clothes pile. “Okay Mommy.” Lauren responded. Her sad expression reminded me of when we had to tell her she couldn’t go to her cousin’s birthday party because she had strep throat. She was disappointed but had a look of fierce determination. When my twin girls, Katie and Lauren, came home after their 38-day stay in the NICU, my older daughter Abby was two years old. I had been away from her for two months while I was on bed rest in the hospital and then a few weeks after the birth as well. I had a monumental task in front of me: I needed to take care of my preemie infant twins and potty train Abby at the same time. I thought if I could have at least one kid potty trained, that would leave only two in diapers and make things easier for me. But I was constantly getting pulled into different directions of whichever child had the most pressing issue. I felt like I was failing all of my children. In the middle of reading Abby her princess potty book, one of the babies would wake up screaming from her nap. I would run over to get her and she would have spit up all over her onesie. After changing her into new clothes, I would run back to check on Abby and find that she would have peed all over the bathroom floor. At mealtimes when I would be feeding the twins their pureed fruit and hear Abby’s soft spoken whispers in the background. “Mommy, poo-poo,” she would say pointing to her shorts. I would drop the spoon in the puree mixture and run to put her on the toilet only to discover she had already pooped in her pants. After Katie and Lauren’s second birthday, I had no interest in potty-training whatsoever. I didn’t mind the double diaper duty and the memories from Abby still lingered in my mind. Though my toddlers were clearly ready and willing to start potty training, I was the one flashing the red light in their moving lane path. I Was the One Who Wasn’t Ready I hoped that maybe their interest in potty training would dissipate and be replaced by something else, but it didn’t. If I was in my bathroom, Lauren would barge in, take a seat on the floor and watch in observation. “Mommy’s going potty?” she asked me pointing to the toilet. “Yes sweetie.” I replied. About 20 seconds later, her sister Katie would come in and join. “Mommy using the potty, Lauren?” She asked her sister. “Yes Katie, Mommy is going pee pee.” Every time Abby or I used the restroom we would have two sets of eyes watching closely, examine our every move. Asking questions and repeating my answers in agreement. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise when I walked into the bathroom one Spring morning and saw that Lauren had ripped off her diaper, placed it in the trash, had pulled a stool over to the toilet and climbed onto it. Her sister Katie sitting on the floor gazing at her. She trickled urine into the toilet as I stood at the doorway. “I went potty, just like Mommy and Abby!” she squealed in excitement. Raising her arms in self praise. “Oh my goodness, yes you did!” I exclaimed. I stood and stared for a moment. Then helped her get off the toilet. When I went to grab the toilet paper to wipe her she stopped me. “No Mommy, I do it. I wipe my butt.” She said reaching for the toilet paper. And she did. “Mommy, is so proud of you, Lauren.” I hugged her tightly and kissed her forehead. I looked down at Katie who was still sitting quietly on the floor. “My turn.” Katie said right on cue. And just like her sister, she took care of business too. These sisters had taught each other how to use the restroom. Abby and I had modeled the task and they absorbed it like little sponges. Then it hit me: their experiences would always be different than that of my singleton daughter. Different didn’t always have to equate being more difficult. I had dreaded potty training them for over a year. I had even felt envious as I thought of my friends that just had “one” toddler to potty train. And in a few weeks both girls had successfully potty trained themselves with fewer accidents than their sister had. Yes, parenting twins is exhausting and challenging but incredibly special and unique. I know my experience of how my twins potty trained themselves is very unique and I am lucky. I will remember this wonderful experience and reflect on it right before we reach the next milestone and hope that their bond continues to bring them shared success. Related Articles

The post It’s A Miracle! My Twins Potty Trained Themselves appeared first on Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site.

10 Must Have Supplies for Potty Training Twins

Twiniversity — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 04:00:35 +0000

Are you thinking about potty training your twins? We at Twiniversity would like to help make this transition as easy as possible. So we created a list of 10 must have supplies for potty training twins. With the right supplies you and your twinnies are sure to say goodbye to those diapers soon! 1. Potty Seat This potty seat is sleek and has a simple design. It’s easy to clean and doesn’t have any annoying sounds or other bells/whistles. It’s the perfect potty seat for your twinnies. 2. Pampers Easy Ups These Easy Ups are really soft and fit like underwear. Their elastic waste band makes it easy for your twinnies to pull them up and down when they are learning to go to the potty by themselves. 3. Kandoo Flushable Wipes When you need something a little stronger than regular toilet paper to wipe your twinnies tushies these are the perfect solution! They are super convenient to keep right next to the potty, as well as in your bag while out and about. 4. Step Stool This step stool is the perfect height for you twinnies to climb on to the toilet seat by themselves or to stand on while washing their hands. It’s sturdy and non-slip makes you confident that your child will be safe when using it. 5. Underwear These Paw Patrol underwear and/or Disney Minnie Mouse underwear will make your twinnies so happy and proud of themselves and their potty training success. Diapers will be a thing of the past once they try these on! 6. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Cleaning up potty accidents around the house can be daunting, but with Clorox Disinfecting wipes is it so easy! These convenient wipes give you the confidence that you have eliminated the bacteria on surfaces. 7. Laundry Detergent With lots of potty training accidents you will definitely need to stock up on laundry detergent. These Free and Gentle Tide pods are fabulous. No measuring needed, so you can throw a load of laundry in the washer super quick and get back to potty training. 8. BabyBjorn Toilet Trainer Perfect for when you want your twinnies to start using your regular toilet, this toilet trainer fits perfectly over your regular toilet. They will feel so much more in control and become excited to go on it all the time! 9. Crafts and Activities for Staying Home Whether it’s finger paints or a new puzzle. You’ll be home a lot so make sure to liven up the routine with some new activities that can be done at home. 10. Potty Chart If your stumped on how to get your twinnies started potty training this is the perfect kit for you. It comes with a book that you can read to your twinnies to get them inspired to use the potty, as well as stickers to put on the chart to help track their progress. Related Articles

The post 10 Must Have Supplies for Potty Training Twins appeared first on Twiniversity #1 Parenting Twins Site.