Twice the fun, twice the excitement, twice the trouble – and, you guessed it, twice the doo-doo. Raising twins brings plenty of challenges, none of which are insurmountable. You may even find that some tasks, like potty training, are actually easier when you have twins. Why? Because sibling rivalry starts early, especially with a dynamic duo. Each toddler will be eager to please mom and dad first – and do it better than their sibling. So, let the competition begin! Here are some helpful tips for potty training twins.
The first piece of advice is to gauge your twins’ readiness separately. In many situations, one twin may be ready to use the toilet before the other. This isn’t a bad thing, nor does it indicate that the twin who is still content with piddling in a diaper is somehow developmentally delayed. The truth is, they are just different individuals.
Readiness for potty training is gauged by several factors. The first sign that you can begin potty training your twins is when they wake up dry, or at least much drier than usual. Normally, this occurs anywhere from the 14 to 24-month mark. If your child doesn’t take a sippy cup or bottle to bed, it may even happen sooner. This indicates that their bladder is maturing and able to hold more urine for longer periods. Another key sign of readiness is when they start verbalizing the desire to go. Many children will sit holding themselves or doing the “potty dance” when they need to go. By asking your child if they need to use the bathroom, you’re helping them make the connection between urgency and action. If they start telling you when they need to pee or poo, it’s a clear signal they’re ready for potty training. And with twins, this will happen at different times.
Potty Training Twins: Tips and Strategies
Same-sex twins are more likely to be ready for potty training at the same time. However, if you have a boy and a girl, your little princess will likely be ready first. Call it what you will, but girls tend to be easier to train than boys. If both seem ready, you’ll have to prepare for the task ahead. You’ll need two of some essentials, with the most important being two portable potties or potty seats. If you have multiple bathrooms, you could assign each child their own potty training bathroom. However, in the beginning, it’s easier to use potty seats and keep them in an open area, so they’re readily available when needed. Having two seats – whether in the living room, playroom, or bathroom – is essential. Chances are, as soon as one has to go, the other will want to try as well. But hey, this works in your favor!
You should also expect twice the mess when potty training twins. One of the best ways to potty train any toddler is to let them run around naked or in big kid underwear during the day. Modern diapers are highly absorbent, so there’s a good chance they won’t even notice when they’ve wet themselves. Of course, accidents will happen, and you should be prepared for them. A great idea is to use disposable bed pads or bedwetting blankets, placing them wherever your children are playing. Make sure to cover furniture and carpet to make cleanup as easy as possible.
The easiest approach is to train both children at the same time. Set up a reward system based on their individual needs and interests. You can even put a gumball or jellybean machine in the bathroom and give them a penny each time they use the toilet like a big kid. The downside, of course, is that one child might end up with a handful of jellybeans, while the other doesn’t. Don’t feel bad, and don’t give in to the twin who is progressing slower. If you do, you’ll send the wrong message. Yes, the guilt can be hard when you’re praising one twin for staying dry all day, while the other is still in pull-ups, but this is just part of the twin dynamic. Similarly, when one twin needs to go, use it as a reminder for the other. This way, they can both prompt each other to use the bathroom and outplay their sibling. As long as you don’t play into this game, you can rest assured the competition won’t harm your twins – in fact, it’s a natural part of life as a twin.
However, be aware that the twin who struggles with potty training might be resisting in order to demand attention away from their sibling. Stay calm, focused, and continue with your approach. If the other twin just doesn’t seem interested or isn’t having success, continue working with the willing twin. The other will come along eventually.
Potty training twins isn’t necessarily more difficult. As long as you are committed to the task and wait for signs of individual readiness, it will be a breeze. Sure, there will be both good days and bad days, but the only real difference between potty training twins and singletons is that there’s one more child involved – and quite a bit more money to be saved when you finally say goodbye to diapers. If that isn’t motivation enough, I’m not sure what is!
