Raising Twins

Potty training Twins is one of the many juggling acts you will perform as a twin mum.

You can start to potty train your twins as soon as they show signs that they may be ready.

Signs that Twins are ready to use the Potty

• Has regular, soft, formed bowel movements
• Recognises when she is about to go and tells you so.
• Squats when she is about to go.
• Can pull her pants up and down
• Likes to watch you or your older children use the bathroom.
• Dislikes having a dirty nappy

In order to get started you will need at least two potty’s, potty chairs or toddler toilet seats depending on the method you choose.  You will not be able to manage with just one potty.

Here’s how I got my Identical Twin Girls to use the Potty

I initially purchased two potty chairs.  I chose the chairs because they look more comfortable than the little potties you can purchase.  I also think it’s a better transition from a potty chair to the toilet.  They are more expensive but in the long run I think they are worth it.

The girls were just 18 months old when we began to potty train.  One of the girls had started to remove her nappy (we were already using pull up pants for ease) and was doing her number two’s on the floor.  They had been emptying my older daughter’s underwear drawer and trying to wear her knickers.  One pair was never enough; they would wear layers of knickers and became frustrated when they fell down.

I felt that it was a little too early for them to be gaining control of their toileting needs but didn’t know what else to do other than introduce them to the potty.

At first they thought it was fun and they would sit on them, put their feet in them, remove the inner pots and wear them as hats. They had no problem familiarising with them.  We were in no rush so we just let them get used to the idea of having potty’s around the house.

To make the transition from playing to using them properly we got our older twins to pee in them to show the younger twins what they were used for.  We then started to sit the girls on them at regular intervals to include before bath time, before bed time and before leaving the house.  It wasn’t too long before their first pee hit the pot!

We then switched to wearing knickers or being naked from the waist down whilst in the house.  Yes, we had accidents but we were definitely getting the hang of it.

Twin A really seemed to grasp the concept so we ditched all nappy wearing including night time to avoid confusion and armed ourselves with another two potty chairs to remain upstairs.  We also put a potty in the car which remains there except for cleaning.  Within days of ditching the nappies completely Twin A became dry both day and night she was just 23 months.

Hooray our nappy bill was now the same as a singleton and we were grateful for the reduction in cost. We practiced the same method with Twin B but for a while she still preferred to keep a nappy on even though she would use the pot.  We removed the nappy completely both day and night when she no longer wished to wear it.

Accidents are inevitable so we always carry spare underwear and trousers with us.  There is a great product on the market called a “Piddle Pad” which is a waterproof seat liner to protect car seats, strollers and pushchairs. Rather than having to clean the car seat covers on your child seats you can just wash the piddle pad!

We always try to use the toilet or potty before we leave the house and we take the opportunities to try whenever they arise even if they think they don’t need to go.  When we park the car or whenever a toilet facility is available.  This definitely helps avoid accidents.

Good luck with the juggling of two pots and two toddlers needing their bottoms wiping at the same time but focus on all the money you will be saving when you no longer have your twin nappy bill!