Toilet Training Twins

When we returned home from our Easter trip away, darling husband and I decided that it was a perfect time as any , to start toilet training our twins, Max and Lacey. We knew we had to get in before the cold weather did , and Lacey was beginning to take her nappy off all the time, probably didn't like the feel, just like Stella's didn't which prompted us that it was time!
Now I know most people with think its very early to TT, but I am a firm believer in "the sooner, the better" and seeing as though we had great results with Stella TT early, we were confident in doing the same. Well as confident as you can be , going into toilet training twins, and one boy and one girl!!
We feel that the longer you leave it, the more of a 'habit' toileting in nappies becomes, rather than the fact they don't know any different!! I think we should give our children a bit more credit and realise that they are actually alot smarter than we can ever imagine!!
We used a sticker system again, rewarding each 'success' with a "ticka" (their pronunciation of course)  and it seemed to be the motivating factor. A simple little sticker. The joys of a child's innocent mind!!
However, we did change a few things this time, the main being the use of potty's.
I have never liked the idea of potty's, I used to think , why teach them to go on something , that you then have to empty and clean each time, and then have to wean and reteach them to go on the actual toilet?!

A tired little girl, complete with a dummy , on the toilet!! ( and yes, they broke the paper holder!! Too enthusiastic with the rolling!!)

But we knew that Toilet training twins was going to be different and certain obstacles would be in our way that were perhaps not there before, like the fact there are 2 of them! ha
And if they both wanted to or needed to go at the same time, and it was during the day when it was just me, what would I do? Have one in our ensuite and one in the main toilet?
When they are that little and learning, when they want to do it, the opportunity has to be there!!
So we bought potty's and put them in the laundry, which is right next to our toilet and bathroom area. I am pleased we did now, as they seem to be sympathetic toileters!! Like as in, if one wants to go, the other follows and go's too!! Which is good for us too, you get them both out of the way at the same time, and it limits the amount of trips I had to make to the potty's and the amount of time I spent sitting on the floor , singing and reading books!!
Now that they are confident enough to take themselves off to the toilet, the pottys mean they can do it all themselves, especially if I am busy feeding Angus or something.
We also chose to teach Max to go sitting down. Its not the 'done' thing though, but he is too small to reach a toilet standing up, his aim would be ridiculous, and we were worried that Lacey would want to copy and vice versa. Keep it simple and teach them the same way. There is plenty of time for me to be cleaning up wee dribbles all over the loo!!

Toilet training Stella really only took a week, but I also had a week at home to focus on teaching her , and that only. Max and Lacey have really taken a bit over 3 weeks, but we have to leave the house everyday, and when I did so, I put a nappy on. I simply did not have the energy, time, etc to be cleaning up messes on the school run, at playgroup etc. It was nice to know that when we did get home, they needed to go straight away and more often than not, their nappies were dry. Yesterday marked their first trip out for about 40 mins, and they did it with total success!

As I mentioned, Lacey was the first to indicate that she was ready for learning, and she took to it so well. The first day she went a number of times and Max didn't want a bar of it! However a day at daycare, a few trips out and  some lengthy time at the park in nappies and she didn't go for another week.
It was then that big brother Max stepped up and cruised through, being so so proud of himself!
Then..... she came around. And now they encourage each other, talk to each other when going and clap for each other. So sweet.

So... here we are, with 2 little cherub, 2 weeks after their second birthday , and they are in little undies! We are so very proud of them and it was definitely alot easier than we expected.
The next task is to master the day sleeps, then eventually the nights. And it seems that everyday they are edging closer to waking up completely dry, actually they have done the past few days, so we might tackle that soon too, why wait if we are on a good thing?

Everyones experiences with Toilet Training is different. Everyone has different beliefs as to when they think is "the right" time. Everyone is ready (as a parent) a different times, and when you start, you just can't stop. And these are my opinions and my experiences, I'm not telling you they are the right way, just what worked for us! I am just a proud Mumma, bragging that her little babies have reached a milestone that seemed so distant, so difficult. And they did it with gusto, and all for a pack of $2 stickers!!
They no longer ask for stickers every time they go, and they don't get them, but even if you do have to give  your child stickers or little rewards for their successes, even for a few months, a few packs of stickers are alot cheaper than packs of nappies, and a small price to pay for a great outcome!!
If you are thinking of toilet training your child, I say go for it!!
You can do it, and more importantly, your little one can too! Take this inspiration and use it as your fuel!
To read other posts of mine about Toilet training , try HERE.
Good luck xo

Training

Now I know this is going to be a controversial subject, but believe it or not, the question I get asked the most (second to "how do you find the time?" is always about toilet training.
Just today I had another discussion with my MG, and it has  brough to my attention an anniversary!! Its the 12 month anniversary of our precious girl Stella toilet training!! Yay!! I can't believe it has been 12 months and when I look back on photos now of her at 20-21 months, I can't believe how small she was. Its only now dawning on me that she was a very young toilet trainer and we were very lucky that it all went according to plan!

Stella January this year, at 21 months!! How young and super cute is she?!

I am going to share with you a few things that I have learnt through me experience with Stella, and a few opinions and please remember they are just that. MY opinions, MY experiences and every person has a right to them. So if you don't want to hear them, stop reading now, if you do, please remember that every child is different, and I am more than certain everything will be different when training the twins!! I am NOT an expert and do NOT claim to be, just a mother, like any other, but I know I like to hear some different stories and hopefully pick up some tips!

First up, I believe that when you make the decision to start training your child , you have to just do it. Start and don't stop. Keep going regardless, or it could end up detremental to their progress and severly confuse them as to what to actually do. It gets hard, and its not pleasant, but neither is changing a 2 year olds nappy , who eats everything that you do!! Ick

Secondly, I believe that your child will give you a "sign" or indication, as slight as it may be, that they are ready and when you get that, run with it!! Regardless of situation and convenience, if you miss it, it may just not come around again! We had just returned from Europe, Stella had been watching us go to the toilet alot,as we were all confined to a small hotel room for 3 1/2 weeks and she was definately observing. When we came home, she went straight into a big girls bed, even though she slept in a cot on trip (purely for monetry reasons , cheaper for a cot than pay for another bed) and we knew we would be in for a struggle getting her back into routine after her sleeping next to us for the time we were away. I figured if I was going to retrain her to sleep independently, I may as well go the extra step and do it in a bed!!

Do it over summer- We started early to mid November and by Christmas, she was mostly in knickers , only a nappy for when we went out (our of laziness and pure convenience as I was very ill being pregnant with the twins) We had a few weeks after Christmas where I was home and that just cemented it all for us!
We also did not use any training knickers , as they are designed to keep the wees in. Great for your house, not so great for a wetness indicator for them. Again monetry and laziness behind it, as I did not want to fork out for training pants , then for knickers as well. So straight into knickers she went, and she was able to feel it running down her leg, and it grossed her out and made her feel uncomfortable, which is what compelled her to try harder.

Number 2's is harder. Wee came easy, number 2's not so much, she started to wait until her nappy went on for a day sleep to do it, so just urging her to go before hand helped.

Don't try and master the nights and days all at once, Stella still wore a nappy at night til April, again, laziness (gee I am Lazy aren't I?!) but that was because I was pregnant with the twins and just couldn't face changing sheets and everything through the night, I didn't sleep much as it was!! Once the nappy started being dry when she woke, and literally the week we came out of hospital with the babies, she wore knickers at night and only had about a handful or so, accidents.

Don't think that by limiting their fluid intake in the arvo helps, I don't believe it does, and Stella is a BIG drinker, she sleeps with a waterbottle on her beside table and its empty in the morning.

We didn't use a potty. Purely cos I couldn't face the fact that I would have to empty and clean it all the time. Stella just had a step thing up to the toilet and a little toilet seat on top so she didn't fall in as she was young. Now she has nothing , just an adult toilet we all use,no step , not seat. I just thought that you have to teach them a potty, then teach them a toilet. No thanks, too much teaching for my liking!!

I hope these have helped, if not, you only wasted 5 mins of your life, if so, great! Remember they are my personal views, goodluck. Nothing is easy in parenting,especially toilet training, but I have to say, it was such a relieft to not have 3 kids in nappies at the same time. Too expensive, and Stella is a big girl, she would look silly with a nappy on.

If you have any other hints or tips, please share!!