Potty training twins

[Anonymous]

I am a nanny for 20 month old twin girls. The parents let me know today that "santa" was bringing the girls pottys for Christmas and that after the holidays, they would like to start working on potty training them. I think that they are WAY too young for this. They were born early so they are a little bit delayed when it comes to talking and they both just started walking fully in July. I told the parents that I had some hesitations but they are very adamant about starting after the holidays so I guess I have to respect their wishes.

Has anyone potty trained twins before? I have experience potty training, just not with twins. I am kind of cringing inside thinking of what this will be like. Any advice is appreciated!!

[Anonymous]

I refuse to potty train kids under 2.

Parents should start potty training, not the nanny.

[Anonymous]

You can try but you can't make them go.

It's not THAT early for potty training. Preschools that start at age 2.5 often have requirements that the kids be potty trained. Girls train earlier than boys.

I would find out exactly what they want you to do then just do that. As MB, I started potty training but I kept DS in diapers the whole time so there were no accidents and he could go in either potty or diaper, just not on the floor.

Are they buying a set of training pants and underwear too? (which are not cheap) If they are just wearing pullups during the day, for a more gradual transition, it is not that big of a deal since you don't have messes to clean up.

[Anonymous]

There are many, many different potty training approaches. Before you decide that they are "too young for potty training," you need to know what the parents have in mind.

My preferred approach is to be very gradual. I start out with kids as young as 12 months or so by having them sit on the potty fully dressed, then transition to sitting on the potty before bath, or at diaper changes, with a naked bottom. Hopefully before too long they will tinkle a little in there, and you can get really excited about it, heap on praise, etc. in hopes that they will try to pee again. Before too long, they should make the connection: potty=pee.

Once they can void their bladder intentionally, start going an hour or two at home with undies on, but no pants. Take them potty every 30-45 minutes, give them lots of water, and plan for some accidents. Do this as often as possible (between afternoon nap and dinner is a good time, IME). When they can consistently go 1 hour dry, you are ready to try leaving the house. Go somewhere kid friendly, pee before you leave, when you get there, before leaving the activity, and as soon as you get home. As you go along, they will be able to go longer stretches between visits.

There will usually be some one-step-forward-one-step-back, as you go back a phase in response to accidents, but this is the progression I typically use. The "potty-trained in one weekend!" approaches typically only work for older kids, and even then, it can be too much pressure. The benefit of having a nanny is being able to makes these kind of changes gently and gradually.

[Anonymous]

I have twin 21 month old girls. They were born early and both behind a bit. I potty trained my older child right before 2. There is way I will be doing the same with the twins. It is clear that they are just not there developmentally. I think that you can certainly try, but don't force it. I don't expect mine to start to train till closer to 2.5. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

its like your in my life im a nanny for 23 month old twin girls and they were early as well and we just got done with the first week they did alright but im not pushing them theres been about 10 or 11 accidents in the 5 days and there are days they flat out dont want to and want to wear a diaper and ill let them but they LOVE wearing elmo undies so its no biggy DONT FORCE THEM

[Anonymous]

Just make it a part of the daily routine. Sit on the potty before/after naps, etc. Don't force it or do hardcore potty training unless you feel that they're ready for it.

[Anonymous]

I am a mother of twins...they were born term, both big, and not "technically" developmentally delayed at all.

BUT...for whatever reason, I have read that twins tend to potty train later, and develop other skills later...maybe because they are two instead of one.

My kids potty trained at 3 years old. We bought ALL the stuff at 2, right on time...but my kids weren't interested...and instead of stressing us all out...we took it easy and didn't push.

My daughter was ready sooner than my son, and trained in a day or two. My son caught on pretty quickly after he saw my daughter trained...and it didn't take him much longer, after that.

BUT...I have to be honest...my Nanny did the lion's share of the training (I mean, she was there during the daylight potty hours, more). And it might not have been as easy for her, as it SEEMED to me!

BUT...she did things, that I see in hindsight, were so important...and improved the success rate. One of those things was taking a potty with them, in the SUV, wherever they went. So there was always a potty.

And, we finally got a second potty (we initially only had one)...they each chose their potty that they liked (very different styles)...and were 'successful' with. Until we got that different 'style' potty for our son...he was having a difficult time.

The transition to big potty was another huge adjustment...and took some time, as they were quite afraid...just think, they have very little bottoms and it is hard to get on that seat when you are so little.

But that was less and less of a problem as they got bigger.

My son still hasn't adjusted from sitting to standing...but that might be something for Dad to work with him on.

[Anonymous]

Adjusting to using the regular toilet is much easier if you have a smaller seat that you put on top or that attaches to the toilet seat (as in permanently, like a double seat then lid combo). Some families skip the small portable ones and just use these but not all kids can learn with them alone.

[Anonymous]

Also, a lot of boys will slowly start to stand instead of sitting between the ages of 4-6 (depending on when they are ready).