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Celebrity Potty Training Anecdotes
Filed under: Potty Training
We ran a series of potty training questions past some of ParentDish's celebrity mommy friends, who were generous enough to share their experiences with us. So far, we have heard some of their best advice, as well as some specific tips and strategies. Now we move on to the inevitable silly potty stories!
ParentDish asked...Do you have any funny potty training anecdotes or horror stories you can share?
Chyler Leigh
Once my son (who's now 5), became aware that he had to poop at around 2 years old, he would hide and/or suddenly become very quiet. One day we had put him in his room for his nap and he decided that he no longer wanted to keep his dirty diaper on. Well, since he had been making noise and suddenly got quiet, I figured that he had either fallen asleep very quickly or was up to no good. My husband ran upstairs to check on him and then immediately yelled for me. Assuming the worst, I headed up. And sure enough, my son had taken his dirty diaper (and all that was inside of it) and smeared it all over the wall. Unfortunately for us, we had a short cut shag carpet that the remnants of poo easily burrowed into. That's when we knew that it was time to look into potty training.
*Chyler plays the role of intern Lexie Gray on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage.
Melora Hardin
My first daughter potty trained herself by 18 months (because of the cloth diapers -- I'm convinced). Our second daughter didn't get out of nighttime diapers until she was a little over 4, but as soon as she said to me she wanted to not wear a diaper to bed, we started letting her go and there have been many wet beds to deal with, but we have a great waterproof mattress cover (from Pottery Barn Kids) under the sheets. We still take her to the bathroom in the middle of the night when one of us gets up to go. It's pretty funny because she stays asleep when we put her on the potty -- we can plop her right back on the bed after and she never even notices. Now she rarely has an accident. When she does have an accident, we try to make light of it and tell her it's no big deal, but when there are dry sheets we always try to make sure and tell her how proud we are of her.
*Melora recently directed, starred and co-produced a film called "YOU," which was released via the internet on Mother's Day, May 8, 2009. Melora is also well-known for her role as Jan on NBC's "The Office." Photo: David Livingston, Getty Images.
Brooke Burke
I potty trained my first daughter on an island, she was able to go in nature when she felt the sensation, so there were no accidents trying to make it to a restroom.
*Brooke's website, BabooshBaby.com, features maternity and post-pregnancy products. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images.
Melissa Joan Hart
Too many to count. But I did end up cutting a hole in Mason's diaper to try to get him to go #2 on the potty, and when it fell out of his diaper, he ran around the bathroom, yelling and stepping in it. It was traumatic, but it worked.
*Melissa currently stars in "My Fake Fiance," an ABC Family Original Movie co-starring Joey Lawrence. Check local listings for upcoming air times. Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images.
Nancy O'Dell
Chocolate seems to work wonders! Ashby takes after her father and LOVES anything chocolate....M&Ms, chocolate chip cookies, etc. After she has a successful potty time, I sometimes give her a sweet surprise! Now she can't wait to go the the potty because she loves to get her M&M's after!
*Nancy is the author of "Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant" and is also the host of "Access Hollywood." Photo: Lester Cohen, Getty Images.
Chandra Wilson
I would have my girls spend time sitting (on the potty) until the tinkle showed up. Then we would "pat, pat, pat, pat, put it in the potty" with the tissue.
*Chandra will join the Broadway cast of "Chicago" this summer in the role of Matron "Mama" Morton. She also plays Chief Resident Miranda Bailey on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images.
Joan Lunden
Well with twins, when one has to go, it gives the other the idea that maybe THEY have to go too! In fact, one time I went into my twins' Max and Kate's room and smelled something suspicious. I looked in the toilet, looked around the room, but found nothing. Later that evening, when I still smelled the suspect odor, I asked the kids about it and found out that while one had been using the toilet, the other had to go so badly that he went number 2 in the trash can!!
*Joan is the Host of DIRECTV's "Hometown Heroes," which airs every Sunday at 9am on DIRECTV's 101 Network. Photo: Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images.
ParentDish asked...Do you have any funny potty training anecdotes or horror stories you can share?
Chyler LeighOnce my son (who's now 5), became aware that he had to poop at around 2 years old, he would hide and/or suddenly become very quiet. One day we had put him in his room for his nap and he decided that he no longer wanted to keep his dirty diaper on. Well, since he had been making noise and suddenly got quiet, I figured that he had either fallen asleep very quickly or was up to no good. My husband ran upstairs to check on him and then immediately yelled for me. Assuming the worst, I headed up. And sure enough, my son had taken his dirty diaper (and all that was inside of it) and smeared it all over the wall. Unfortunately for us, we had a short cut shag carpet that the remnants of poo easily burrowed into. That's when we knew that it was time to look into potty training.
*Chyler plays the role of intern Lexie Gray on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage.
Melora Hardin My first daughter potty trained herself by 18 months (because of the cloth diapers -- I'm convinced). Our second daughter didn't get out of nighttime diapers until she was a little over 4, but as soon as she said to me she wanted to not wear a diaper to bed, we started letting her go and there have been many wet beds to deal with, but we have a great waterproof mattress cover (from Pottery Barn Kids) under the sheets. We still take her to the bathroom in the middle of the night when one of us gets up to go. It's pretty funny because she stays asleep when we put her on the potty -- we can plop her right back on the bed after and she never even notices. Now she rarely has an accident. When she does have an accident, we try to make light of it and tell her it's no big deal, but when there are dry sheets we always try to make sure and tell her how proud we are of her.
*Melora recently directed, starred and co-produced a film called "YOU," which was released via the internet on Mother's Day, May 8, 2009. Melora is also well-known for her role as Jan on NBC's "The Office." Photo: David Livingston, Getty Images.
Brooke Burke I potty trained my first daughter on an island, she was able to go in nature when she felt the sensation, so there were no accidents trying to make it to a restroom.
*Brooke's website, BabooshBaby.com, features maternity and post-pregnancy products. Photo: Frazer Harrison, Getty Images.
Melissa Joan HartToo many to count. But I did end up cutting a hole in Mason's diaper to try to get him to go #2 on the potty, and when it fell out of his diaper, he ran around the bathroom, yelling and stepping in it. It was traumatic, but it worked.
*Melissa currently stars in "My Fake Fiance," an ABC Family Original Movie co-starring Joey Lawrence. Check local listings for upcoming air times. Photo: Kevin Winter, Getty Images.
Nancy O'DellChocolate seems to work wonders! Ashby takes after her father and LOVES anything chocolate....M&Ms, chocolate chip cookies, etc. After she has a successful potty time, I sometimes give her a sweet surprise! Now she can't wait to go the the potty because she loves to get her M&M's after!
*Nancy is the author of "Full of Life: Mom-to-Mom Tips I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I Was Pregnant" and is also the host of "Access Hollywood." Photo: Lester Cohen, Getty Images.
Chandra WilsonI would have my girls spend time sitting (on the potty) until the tinkle showed up. Then we would "pat, pat, pat, pat, put it in the potty" with the tissue.
*Chandra will join the Broadway cast of "Chicago" this summer in the role of Matron "Mama" Morton. She also plays Chief Resident Miranda Bailey on ABC's "Gray's Anatomy." Photo: Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images.
Joan LundenWell with twins, when one has to go, it gives the other the idea that maybe THEY have to go too! In fact, one time I went into my twins' Max and Kate's room and smelled something suspicious. I looked in the toilet, looked around the room, but found nothing. Later that evening, when I still smelled the suspect odor, I asked the kids about it and found out that while one had been using the toilet, the other had to go so badly that he went number 2 in the trash can!!
*Joan is the Host of DIRECTV's "Hometown Heroes," which airs every Sunday at 9am on DIRECTV's 101 Network. Photo: Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images.
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ReaderComments (Page 4 of 10)
6-30-2009 @ 9:10AM
Fran said...First of all the sign your child is ready for the potty is a dry diaper in the morning.
Trying to potty train before that is useless and has caused many a psychological issue later in life.
Ask your Pediatrician.
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 10:44AM
cdelahunt said...Fran, you are so wrong, but don't feel bad, I used to buy that same line of baloney too, did conventional potty training with my first four kids, all trained between 2 and 4yo. Then #5 came along, and I started training at 8 weeks old -- look into it, called Elimination Communication, it's positive, gentle, and it works! Babies have great muscle control and awareness as long as we haven't ignored it from birth. My fifth was out of diapers day and night at 12 months, and that's not all that unusual for EC'd babies.
6-30-2009 @ 5:30PM
Rachael said...If the first sign your child is ready to be potty trained is a dry morning diaper, then my 6 YEAR OLD daughter would still not be potty trained!! Come on, get real! She was day-time potty trained by the time she was 2, but unfortunately we have had extreme issues with her at night, pretty much every night. Our 9 yr old son was completely day/night potty trained by 18 months, but the girl is another story. Our dr just says that her bladder needs to catch up to the rest of her growth since she is very tall for her age. We've tried the good-nights, waking her up, and have now resorted to "if you pee, you sleep in it". Part of her problem is that she is lazy. She would put a pullup on and pee in it while she was still awake (she was 5yrs old!) Some kids, depending on personality, just refuse to use the toilet. My daughter is a classic example at 6 yrs old-smart and now heading to 1st grade. She will go during the day, but not at night and doesn't care a bit about sleeping in a wet bed- she has admitted to it. So, mean or not, we won't buy good-nights, get her up in the middle of the night, or make any further effort since she makes no effort. At 6 she can go on her own, and sometimes you just have to do what works. Kudos to all the mothers who have threatened with "monsters" or etc. I'd rather do that then bribe with candy or act like the perfect parent when deep down you are no where near perfect. It's what works for the difficult trainer.
6-30-2009 @ 2:28PM
Carmela said...I'm really shocked by some of things I'm reading. Why would anyone teach their child to be so disrespectful and pee outside? Are they dogs?And scaring your innocent little child into potty training is horrifying. How did so many idiots end up with children. Then people wonder why so many teenagers today have no manners and many issues. What a disgrace. Didn't you ever hear of doing your job as a parent and having a little responsibilty. Potty training isn't supposed to be easy for the parent. Read some books and follow a method that isnt going to scar your child. Sheesh, lot of great ideas of what no to do when my son is ready to be potty trained!
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 11:47PM
regina said...Carmela, you are so right about the whole thing,if some of these mothers spent the time on there children then looking at them selves in the mirrow making shore there hair is perfect and makeup is on perfect ,its a shame they were aloud to have Gods greatest gifts [our children]
6-30-2009 @ 9:47AM
pat said...I was on a farm with my grandmother and grandfather and there were 6 other older kids. All of the children were potty trained in the summer. My grandmother would take off our diaper and say you can go in the toilet or on the floor and you know you are not supposed to go on the floor.....that is all she said and it worked like a charm.....each and every child, did it when my godson needed to be potty trained and it worked like a charm........
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 9:51AM
marlawashburn said...My son was easy....I used underpants and with rubber pants over them, that was the easy part, he hated being wet. He still wanted to poo in his pants. One day, he was in the bath tub and he had to poo. He wanted me to put his pants on him. I told him no, he needed to use the potty for that. He finally gave in. He was 18 months old.
My daughter took a bit longer. I started with the pull-ups....they kept her too dry. when i switched, after 2 months, to regular underpants, she was trained! 20 months. It is not rocket science, people. You have to be trained in the beginning to take them to the potty every hour to start and then gradually add 15 to 20 minutes at a time then when you start to learn their routine it becomes much easier. My son stayed dry through the night at 15 months and that is when i started. I would put him on the potty first thing in the morning....run the water from the faucet, even sprinkle some cool water on his legs to start the sensation...whatever works. the diaper co. make entirely too much money!
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 10:38AM
pixystyx said...I could NOT potty train either of my boys- they are 13 months apart. They would not do it for anything. I put them in public preschool (in the public school system) at just turned 3 and just turned 4 and they came home from All-Day Public Preschool ("Handicap" class is what they called it because they were not potty trained) and after that ONE AFTERNOON THEY WERE BOTH POTTY TRAINED, CAME HOME IN THEIR UNDERWEAR I SENT THEM IN WITH, DRY, HAPPY AND NEVER EVER HAD AN "ACCIDENT" ONCE SINCE! Slept all thru the night WITH NO ACCIDENTS as well! Now they are 22 and 21! I thank Maurice River Twp, NJ School System!
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 10:04AM
Ruthie said...I have a four year old grandson. When he was three, we wanted to go to Disneyland to see Mickey Mouse. I told him he needed to learn to use the potty before we could go. He had it down in a week!! And called me up triumphantly saying I need to go see Mick Mouse!!! Needless to say we had a great time in the magic Kingdom.
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 10:02AM
Christine said...My daughter and I were taking a bath together when she was in the midst of potty-training. She said she had to go, and got out of the tub to sit on the potty. She spread her legs and leaned forward, trying to watch it as she came out. She was so wet and slippery from the tub she did a complete somersault off the potty, landing on the floor on her butt!
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 10:04AM
mama2chris said...My daughter, who is now 6, was not interested in potty training at all. We walked past a ballet studio one day and she said "I want to do that" (she was 2). I told her she would need to not wear a diaper to be able to put on the "big girl" ballet clothes. Within a week or two she was done with diapers! No trauma....a few nightime accidents (no big deal). And yes, she got ballet lessons:)
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6-30-2009 @ 10:11AM
mommiebear said...when my son was ready to train I put regular underware on him the cotton kind but they had super heros on them like spiderman and the incredible hulk and such well I told him that if he poopied or peed on them or there faces they would get mad and not let him watch them on tv or read about them any more I left him weare them every day he was potty traind in one day I kind you not because he didnt want to pee or poop on them I know it sounds nutty but when he thought about getting them dirty it worked he was just over a year old and that was enough to get him to pull down his pants and go. my daughter was the same way she had the princesses like the little mermaid she was traind in about a week but yes there were still accidents with them at night time once in a while I had a little potty and if I put it by her little bed she would get out and go on it she was a little older about 2 and yes I took my kids out of cribs at a younger age thanks for reading!
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 10:17AM
Dawn said...When it was time to potty train my first, it was hard. She liked her diapers. But one day my mom and I were at the store and I forgot to buy diapers. Luckily my Mom bought her some new panties (in hopes she would want to learn to wear them). Her diaper was wet, so I took it off, we put the new panties on her, told her what a big girl she was, then told her to warn us if she had to go. We got home, she warned us, we took her, and she has been going ever since. We did the candy and the potty dance to keep her going for a couple of days. My second wasn't as easy, but we used panties and if she had an accident we just changed her. The potty dance was her favorite and she loved the music on the potty chair. So it was fairly quick.
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6-30-2009 @ 10:16AM
jenr22773 said...So funny that this came up today! My 2 year old (28 months) and I are training TODAY! One pee accident so far and one pee on the potty. She cried really hard when she peed her new undies. It broke my heart! I just brought the potty into the living room so she can try to go while watching Dora. I am setting the kitchen timer for 20 minutes and trying to get her to go then. I have special treats, m&m's for pee and lipstick (yeah, she's all girl!) for poopies! If anyone has any other suggestions, please respond!
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6-30-2009 @ 2:44PM
Nico said...Well if she's all girl then she'll love what I did. My little girl is really young for being potty trained, but so was I. I started putting frilly panties on my daughter at 8 months old, now at 10 months she lets me know in her own way when she has to go and I take her. (She's still a little wobbly with the walk, crawl situation). If your girl is a girlie girl then frilly panties really help because they are ultra girly and because they are so pretty little girls that like pretty things are less likely to want to do anything to mess up there really pretty panties.
6-30-2009 @ 10:23AM
Christina said...Although it sounds very cute that Melora can sit her child on the toilet at night and let the child go to the bathroom it is a very common mistake. Melora is and has been teaching her child how to go to the bathroom in her sleep by doing this. If the child is being taken to the potty in the middle of the night the child needs to be awakened so that they are aware.
Reply
6-30-2009 @ 10:24AM
MFlynn said...I never believed in toilet training despite all the bull and well meaning advice from in-laws and others. If I wanted to train something I would have gotten a seal. The kid began using
the toilet to wee-wee on his own and he used it for both functions when he went to nursery school at 3 & there were child sized
toilet bowls. One day he said, "No nappy mommy." He knew the time was right for him. He NEVER had an "accident".He never hid the stuff, bit his fingernails, picked his nose, stammered, got constipation or suffered from short attention span.
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6-30-2009 @ 3:11PM
Victoria said...What on Earth does biting fingernails, picking a nose, stammering, getting constipation or suffering from a short attention span have to do with potty training???????????
I think you are just LAZY!!!!!!!!
6-30-2009 @ 10:34AM
FLLady said...I love Melissa Joan Hart. From the time I first saw her work & lifestyle, I was just proud to see a young lady who can act like one. It's too bad that such good examples of how to be a good woman & mother aren't highlighted more by the media. I don't have little girls but would of wanted them to aspire to her ideal. Congrats on motherhood & all the special blessings that come with it!
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6-30-2009 @ 10:44AM
Nanajanet1954 said...I tried to train my son, who was exactly two years older than my daughter (almost to the day), when I was pregnant with her. He actually was doing pretty well, until she was born, and then I guess wanted to be the baby again. I just waited another six months until age 2.5 and then tried again. I bought the book, "Potty train in 3 Days" and it worked.
When my daughter was 2, he just wanted to do it and it worked in 3 days, too.
Now we are planning on starting my granddaughter, age 2. Actually, she is going now and then but is not interested in it on her own. We are much more relaxed as grandparents, so when she can pull her own pants up and down, we will worry about it.
BTW, she cannot always say her Ps yet, so she calls it a Hottie instead of a Pottie. LOL
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