The Adventures of Potty Training Girls

Potty training is like running the last leg of a marathon. You are prepared, you've trained, you can almost see the end of the road but it still takes every ounce of strength and mental endurance to cross the finish line. There were many days I wanted to give up and put diapers back on my twin girls but we stuck it out.

I can officially say that we have two potty trained little girls. Potty training twin girls was tough, crazy and sometimes hilarious. I'm more than happy to share our potty training stories of threats, bribes, public restrooms, and potty training strikes.

I have never potty trained a singleton but I can tell you that potty training twins has been an adventure.

Where's the Poop?

I am not one of those parents that refuse to bribe their children. I negotiate with my girls all of the time, potty training was no exception. Unfortunately, my girls usually had the upper hand.

Almost every parent tries poopoo prizes when they start potty training, they offer cute little rewards for using the potty chair. I had to result to more extreme measures.

We tried the stickers, gummy candies and little dollar store prizes. Nothing seemed to work with our little girls. I put my best negotiating skills to the test and occasionally put on my former Drill Sergeant hat but nothing would convince my two little girls to use the bathroom. What could possibly appeal to these two strong willed creatures?

You remember the woot from Arsenio Hall? They would use the bathroom; in exchange I would pump my fist in the air and woot like a monkey. They loved it! I'm sure it had to do with the strange looks the women exchanged when mommy walked out of the stall.

Public restrooms are the best! I try to restrain one daughter while helping the other hover over a nasty toilet. They both squeal in delight and beg me to do the monkey. What is a mother to do? I can't disappoint. They held up their end of the bargain. "Woot! Woot! Woot!"

1. A cute potty chair that your twins will find interesting
2. A potty seat that sits on top of the toilet
3. flushable Wipes
4. Pull-Ups.
5. Cute underwear that appeals to your children
6. Foam handsoap
7. Paper towels, Clorox wipes, spray bottles, and bleach
8. Plastic bags for dirty clothes
9. Prizes! Use whatever works for your children stickers, treats or maybe small toys
10. Patience it's not something you can buy at the store but you will definitely need a lot of it

I threatened my girls while I was potty training them. Stop! Read what I have to say before you click the back button. I have two very stubborn little girls. There were many days that they simply refused to sit on the potty chairs. I had no other choice but to result to threatening them.

"I will turn off the TV."

"You won't get to watch one more episode of Dora."

"I'm going to call daddy and tell him you are being very naughty."

"I'm going to give your pretty pink potty chairs to the neighbor; I bet she will use it."

Did I mention the neighbor little girl is eleven?

"Mommy will cry if you don't sit on the potty."

Right about now you're probably wondering what type of mother threatens to shed a tear to get her children to do something. Crying wasn't so much a threat as a promise. You would understand if you had only slept four hours, a screaming baby and two toddlers that were taking care of business in the other room. Threats seemed perfectly reasonable for two little girls that seemed to be disgusted with using the potty chair.

The best way to overcome your fear is to face it head on. I feared taking two little girls into a public restroom for the first time.

It wasn't long before my daughters discovered that Wal-Mart had a bathroom. They marveled at the loud automatic flushing toilet, pink foam soap and powerful hand dryer. It was a child's paradise and my worst nightmare.

I am not sure how many times I could say "Don't touch anything! It's gross in here."

We had a terrible potty training strike that lasted nearly a month. The girls would refuse to use the potty before we left for the store. Their eyes would immediately dart around the store looking for the nearest public restroom. I was mortified. How could I stop this repulsive habit?

I didn't have to, mother nature has a funny way of taking care of things.

Thanks to the women that used the restroom before us. My daughters are now just as disgusted with public restrooms as I am.

"What's that smell?" "That my dears is the smell of defeat. You will now use the potty before we leave home."

photo courtesy of the Amazon Affiliate program

Final Words of Advice For Potty Training Girls

Your twins should show signs of wanting to go to the potty before you start potty training. They are probably not ready if they don’t mind being wet or soiled. Remember they are individuals. One twin may be ready to potty train before the other.

Give your twins Independence Let them flush the toilet, wipe themselves and take off their own clothes even if it means a bigger mess to clean up.

Find what motivates your twins. We initially tried chocolate raisins but we found mommy’s silly faces to be much more appealing. Our daughters will tinkle in the potty if it means getting to watch momma act a little silly!!

Prioritize!! When our daughters would say they have to go PEE PEE!! It was an emergency. We would drop everything else, sometimes it meant the baby was crying, dinner was late, or missing the good part of a movie but we usually made it to the bathroom.

Try to get your twins to go one at a time, both girls want to flush the toilet, close the door and wash their hands it makes it a lot easier on everyone if they go one at a time.

Keep supplies in every room. We have potty chairs in the living room, potty seats in every bathroom and wipes in every room to include the kitchen and living room.

PATIENCE!! It will get easier!

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