Twins, triplets and more — if you‘re raising multiples, you
already know that every child will develop at their own pace. Potty training is no different. So, if you’re wondering how to potty train twins, the most important thing to know is they’ll probably progress at different paces. Read on for more helpful potty training tips for your family.
Don’t compare your toddlers’ progress
Just as in all aspects of development, each child has different strengths and areas of challenge. And every child is ready for potty training at their own pace. This
quick quiz can help you determine if your child is ready. You can also watch for these signs of readiness:
- Pulling at a wet or dirty diaper.
- Hiding to pee or poop.
- Showing interest or copying the behavior of people who are using the bathroom.
- Staying dry in their diaper for longer than usual.
- Waking up dry from a nap.
- Telling you that they’re about to go or have just gone.
Don’t despair if someone is a late bloomer compared to a sibling. Sometimes, the children who try to learn first actually will take longer to train. The ones who start the process later might learn from watching the crowd in the bathroom and master the skills faster!
Know your toddlers’ potty personalities
Multiples can share a lot of fun, goofy moments together. But even if they laugh at the same things or love the same toys, they don’t necessarily have the same personality — in everyday life or for potty training. As you’re planning how to potty train twins or multiples, be sure to take the
Potty Training Personality quiz for each one. Knowing their personality can help you learn what strategies might work best — from how you introduce the topic of potty training to the words you choose to cheer them on.
Do a quick shopping trip at a store or online
Once you’ve confirmed at least one toddler is ready and you know their potty training personality, it’s time to get the
gear you’ll need for successful potty training. Take your twins to the store to pick out
Pull-Ups® training pants with the characters they love. You can also show them underwear with their favorite characters, so they have something to look forward to — and either buy them while you’re at the store or make a plan to return for them later.
Buy a potty seat for each twin
Parents of multiples say that it’s actually easier to train one child at a time. But if it turns out the children are all showing signs of readiness, have a little potty available for each of them to eliminate potty competition.
Let your twins customize their potty seat with stickers to make it special. You can even personalize each one by writing their names on the base of the potty in waterproof marker. Before bath time, sit your twins on their potties while the tub fills and let them pick a special toy to celebrate when they go.
Keep potties in the playroom
Twins often have so much fun playing together that it can be hard for them to make it to the bathroom when they finally realize they have to go RIGHT NOW. Having the potties nearby makes it easier for them to go quickly. You can also set a timer that plays a song or funny ringtone to remind them to take a potty break.
Make it a game and have them race to the potty to see who can get there first.
Mimic how it’s done
Kids love to copy what their parents do — or what their big brothers or big sisters do. Introduce how the potty works with the
Can You Do What I Do? game. With multiples, you can play the game one at a time or make it a big event for everyone.
Avoid using rewards for multiples
Your child’s success and your praise is enough. If your twins aren’t progressing at the same time, don’t make rewards a big focus of the potty training process. Celebrate the twin who is successfully going to the potty by singing a special potty song, doing a potty dance or giving a big high five. You want to keep encouraging that twin but not make the other twin feel bad. Soon enough the lagging twin will catch up. Be sure to
tailor your praise to your child’s potty personality too. While some kids appreciate cheers and high-energy praise, others prefer more low-key and thoughtful words.
Make potty training fun
Potty training games are a great way to make your toddlers’ potty training adventure more fun. Help your kids learn their way around the bathroom with the
Build-a-Bathroom puzzle or do a fun comparison between wearing diapers and using the toilet with Pull-Ups® training pants by playing the
Which Is Faster? game.
Keep a change of clothes in your diaper bag
As you’re going through the potty training journey, remember that accidents happen, especially when you first venture outside with your twins in underpants. Don’t make a big deal if one or both of them has an accident. Just clean it up and move on. When using a public restroom, try to get the handicap-accessible stall so you can fit both kids in the stall with you and they can take turns on the toilet.
The most important thing to keep in mind when potty training multiples is that it’s not a competition – they will each get there eventually. Let them go at their own paces, and keep sibling rivalry to a minimum. Soon enough, you’ll be on to your next adventure in raising twins.
