Talk Up the Process with Your Twins Let them know a mile marker is coming. Soon, they won’t need diapers anymore. For weeks before we began training, we would ask our twosome, “What are you going to say when you have to go wee-wee or poo-poo?” They’d parrot back, “M--o--m--m-y, D--a--d--d--y, I have to go p--o--t--t--y!” Of course, it didn’t work as effectively as we had hoped, but it was darned precious. I do believe that verbalization of concepts helps toddlers get their mindset....now for yours...

Mindset You and your partner need to decide some key factors before you jump into potty training with both feet. As always with raising twins (or a single child), Mommy & Daddy absolutely must be a united front. Here are some good things to determine before the diapers go bye-bye:

**The First "Method" to Try** For us, we felt pretty good about the “Naked From the Waist Down” theory. Basically, the theory postulates that it is disconcerting for your waste to go out into your living space unhampered. By keeping the babies “free” on the bottom, they are highly inspired to “put things where they go.” Some of our success early on was due to that method. We also used “potty beeper” to dictate potty-time on occasion, typically when parent instigated potty-times were met with confrontation. We read books, offered stickers, and the like. Be ready with your ample supply of theories. With twins, what works for one, doesn’t necessarily work for the other. And then, it’ll flip flop. Don’t get bogged down sticking to one method. Roll with the flow. There will be plenty of flow, believe me.

**Your Commitment** We made a declaration that as of a certain date, we were wearing only big boy underpants and big girl panties. (Note: We did make a wise adjustment early on when we realized just how challenging it is for the kids to develop a sense of “timing”. We would allow diapers during sleeping times: naps and at night. It became clear we would deprive them of any sense of victory by not giving them adequate time to “learn” their holding skills better before de-diapering during sleep time.) That said, during waking hours, we have stood our pee-soaked and poo-littered ground. Waking hours means waking hours. We selected a date to begin potty training when our out-of-house obligations for the foreseeable future were few, or non-existant. Church, grocery trips, playground forays, all went on hold until some accident-free days occurred. Dangling the out-of-house adventures proved to be quite a motivational tool (call it a bribe if you will) toward potty-appropriate behavior. Your commitment may become more tough than you anticipate. You may need to show some flexibility. If your kids get sick or an out-of-house emergency arises, you may decide to relent, and use a diaper(s) temporarily. If so, be sure to explain to your twins that the situation is temporary and you’ll be back with the program soon. Just because one gets sick doesn’t mean both need diapers. If you can stay the course with one healthy twin, do.

**The Hype. Don't Believe it!** Don’t believe it. “Girls train quicker.” “Boys are slow to poo-poo in the potty.” “You can do it in a weekend.” “You can’t train two at once.” All of the aforementioned proved false for us. As far as training two simultaneously goes, you do need to decide if you want twice the mess for half as long, or half the mess for twice as long. It’s your family’s decision. Give me double the mess, half the time, thank you.

Positive, Yet Realistic Outlook There are going to be accidents. Lots of them. Each one brings you closer to the last one you’ll ever have to clean up.

Eventually, you will have to leave the house with no diapers on. Plan a short trip, pack dry clothes, and as the old Nike slogan says, just do it. Always remember the worst that can happen is just an out-of-house clean up. Okay, maybe the car or a public place isn’t the ideal accident environment, but you cannot raise hermits. If it makes you feel better, here’s some positive outlook fodder: Ours have never had an out-of-house accident. We waited to venture out until we had experienced a few (non-consecutive) accident-free days. Your twins, once they have developed some holding stamina, may surprise you. Of course, always attempt the pre-outing potty visit. You’ll all feel better.

Here’s the ultimate positive reality: Potty training is messy. Potty training is time-consuming. Potty training happens. Despite all my Pollyanna-isms, and the hope springing eternal in my sagging, post-twin nursing breast, I do not believe in a legitimate, universally-applicable “trick” to successful potty training. Just keep trying all the methods you can, and see if something works for your twins.

I think we are all so determined to make potty training happen quickly, that we "find our method" and if it doesn't work as hoped, we quickly back-track, and declare that the child "wasn't ready to be potty trained".

My belief is, it just takes time. Potentially, lots of it.

Two weeks ago, I would have told you the key for training girls was stickers; and for boys, letting them run around naked from the waist down. One week ago, I would have told you the secret for girls is a victory song followed by an animal cracker. For boys, getting to watch a favorite video.

Today? I know the true secret/key is endurance and patience on the part of the parents.

Throughout your potty training process, remember to praise your twosome unfailingly. Always realize, despite occasional twin-parenting missteps, potty training happens.

Wishing you and your family plural poo and pee placement success!

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