Potty Training Dramas

Olga - posted on 03/24/2011

Thanks to everyone for your comments - it have been VERY helpful and has made me feel ALOT better!

Alexandra - posted on 03/21/2011

I have a 6 year old and a 20 month old. I also run a daycare and have helped potty train many little ones. All of them have showed some signs of understanding being wet or dirty at about a year and a half to two years but non were really ready until between 24 and 30 months. Even then it can take until 3 years to be completely dry especially at night/nap times.

Gemma - posted on 03/21/2011

To be honest it wouldnt enter my head to potty train a 20month old my twins are 20 months and can only say a few words so dont know hoe they could tell me they are ready??? i am a mum or 4 and a nanny for 10 years and the youngest i have ever seen a child potty trained was 23months and this was a complete 1 off most are between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 as were mine....whats the rush???

Mine spend most of the time with the potty on there head or toys in it

Theresa - posted on 03/20/2011

My granddaughter is 20 months old. She know how to wipe with the toilet paper and where to put it. I put her on the potttie everytime I go and I put a little stool in front of her potty and pull out things to put on stool and have her tell me what the things are ie... lotion,hairspray,deodorant and such, so I am in essence teaching while potty training. Her potty sings when she pees in it, so we know when she pees. We then do the happy dance and she does the same. Some days are good and some days are... well you know!!!!!! Good luck!

Claire - posted on 03/20/2011

Our son is the same - shows interest but it's not working! In the excellent book "Touchpoints", the pediatrician says he always suggests waiting until they're at least 2 years old, so they are physically capable of holding it in. Otherwise just frustration for them and us. I regret having pushed it now.

Amanda - posted on 03/18/2011

I know that feeling all too well. My son is just over 20mths old and a few weeks ago, he decided that he wanted to go potty like a big boy. Well I started potty training him and he went for a few days, then he stopped. So it is basically a hit or miss type situation. Don't give up thought.

Amy - posted on 03/17/2011

I have three older boys and I learned while potty training them that there is nothing you can do lol. The first one was a dream, at two I took off his diaper and when he weed he ran to the toilet. Day and night fully trained at 2. Second one, well he was almost 4, and wet every single night until he was 8, the third was off and on until 3 and will still off and on at night. I have learned there is nothing we can do but give the oppertunity and hope for the best. They will do it when their ready, mentally and physically (the sphynter muscle developes at different time for different kids). When I worked at preschool we learned you don't even start until age 2, their muscles arent developed and they learn everything, put it away and learn more. When you start too early they put it away and move on.

Rachael - posted on 03/16/2011

My daughter who is 6 wasnt potty trained until 3 years old. We tried at about 2 or a little after and she didnt want anything to do with it, but once she did it she was a pro, she never had a accident after she got it. I personally think that 20 months is extremely early. I wouldnt try until they turn 2 and if they dont show any interest, even if they are showing signs I would wait 3 months and try again...

Robin - posted on 03/16/2011

at only 21 months, I wouldn't worry. Some doctors will tell you not to even try until 2 1/2 years old. It's very normal for children to do good and then regress or stop. It just means they aren't ready yet. Having a 2 1/2 year old myself, I understand how hard it can be. I work in a daycare and when our parents want to potty train, we tell them to put their child in underwear over the weekend. (Make sure it is underwear and not pull-ups). You will have lots of accidents at first, but if by Sunday, they are doing good, then we will continue working on potty training with them at school. If they still have tons of accidents by Sunday night, they are not ready. We do encourage parents to continue to use a diaper during sleeping times (bed time and nap time). Just because a child can use the potty well while they are awake doesn't mean they are ready to wake up and use it in the middle of sleeping! I hope this helps. Good Luck!

Sally - posted on 03/16/2011

I wouldn't worry, my son is 32 months and clueless on potty training. He knows what he should be doing and refuses to go on the potty, or the step to the toilet, even though he used to (about 6 months ago) a little (but wouldn't say he ever came close to being toilet trained). As per other answers above our contact at our local Early Childhood Centre advised to leave it until he's ready again, and even then feel free not to try it again until next Summer (Dec 11), when he'll be 3 1/2 - a very normal age to potty train, esp boys who tend to be a little later.

Elizabeth - posted on 03/15/2011

The first thing you should know is that it is VERY normal for a child to hover on the point of ready and when you push even just a little ..they revert back to not being interested. As a mother of 2 and soon to be 3 I have learned that potty training doesn't happen when we want it to. These little souls are very much their own person and they do decided when they will comply with our customs.

Be patient. Your pediatrician will tell you that the average age of a potty trained child is now 4 1/2. It will happen.

Sheri - posted on 03/15/2011

do what I did...start a chart if she she pees she gets one sticker and if she poops give her two stickers when she gets to 5 stickers give her a small prize...also iot helps if she sees you use the potty as well so she knows it's not something bad...that everyone does it.

Louann - posted on 03/14/2011

Try sitting on the big pot and sitting her on the little pot at the same time, i do it with my daughter and when she sees me useing the bathroom she does it to, and try putting her on it in the morning when she wakes up,before and after nap and before bed time to start her getting used to it

Louann - posted on 03/14/2011

Try sitting on the big pot and sitting her on the little pot at the same time, i do it with my daughter and when she sees me useing the bathroom she does it to, and try putting her on it in the morning when she wakes up,before and after nap and before bed time to start her getting used to it

Beth - posted on 03/13/2011

My son is also 20 months and was doing same thing he had used the potty and when we asked him where u go pipi he would show us then he wouldnt go near the thing, but today i took the top part of the potty off and put it on the toilet, it clips on and he loved it he actually sat there (bring toys) and peed 2x today on the toilet/potty.....I was very happy!! they just want to go like a big person :)

Melissa - posted on 03/13/2011

My 20moth old is similiar i thought he was ready bought a potty seat and he immediatly sat down and done a plop and for the next few days loved going and was beginning to tell me when he was wanting to get on..now he has completly changed directions doesnt want a bar of it! I've been told not to worry about it untill he is at least two and can communicate more easily so I'm going to bas i have no idea what else to do either! i think so long as she knows what it is for and it is readily available to her and shes encouraged when she uses it it'll all come together in its own time :) good luck

Elizabeth - posted on 03/12/2011

My 20 month old daughter is not showing any signs she is ready to start potty training. I have the potty chair just in case she wants to start but the doctor we see says that she will go when she is ready. For your problem you might have started to early but at least she knows what it is for. I would wait till she starts showing signs again and then make a big deal out of it and let her know that this is the behavior you want to see.

Jennifer - posted on 03/11/2011

im having a similar problem with my little boy who is 20 months, he was showing signs he was ready but he then wont have anything to do with it. the childcare nurse that he see regularly says to just let him be until he is showing more signs he is ready