How do I get my soon to be two year old to use the potty?

Rachel - posted on 05/11/2010

have you tried letting her go in the bathroom with you and sit on the potty with diaper on and let her get use to it first. I had that problem with my twin boys they had no interest but i tried taking them in with me when i had to use the bathroom and let them see me use it and talk to them while they sat on it. It just takes time. Not every child is ready to be potty trained before 2. My 1st son was almost 4 when he showed interest but i worked with daily. Don't stress that makes it worse take it from me.

Lynde - posted on 05/10/2010

it really depends on your little girl if she's ready or not. i first introduced my almost 20month old daughter the potty at 17months. she wasn't ready at that age, but i just wanted to get her familiar with the potty and the flushing. finally a couple weeks ago, i decided to try to start training her because her diapers were staying dry throughout her naps and sometimes throughout the nights. i didn't buy any pull-ups cause alot of people say that those are just like diapers and they won't know the difference. so i just bought like 20 pairs of undies for her. literally, it only took me 3 1/2 days to get her fully trained. day 1..it was like she was running around marking her territory..haha..but right after she pees on the floor, i would sit her on the pot (i got her the little toilet ring) and tell her that this is where she has to pee from now on. it was frustrating, but i stuck to it!! and i was taking her every 30 minutes. day 2..it was getting better!! right when she wakes up, i take her to the pot and wait til she pees and praise her like crazy. throughout the day, she would have accidents, but not like day 1. she was actually doing a little pee dance and that's when i knew she had to go. i was still asking her, but it was more like 45 minutes instead of every half hour. day 3..a whole lot better!! she was going every hour!! i think only 1 or 2 accidents on this day. then finally the next day..NO ACCIDENTS!! she finally got it in her head to pee on the potty!! i don't have to ask her anymore..she lets me know when she has to go pee or poo!!

i know everyone has different techniques, but really it is just a trial and error thing. you just have to figure out what works for you and your little one. Good Luck!!

Danielle - posted on 05/08/2010

My 19 month old boy is starting to get the hang of when he wets and grabs his diaper and sais "pee pee pee" do you think that i shoud start training? he has been not wanting his diaper on ither and is starting to take it off if we don't have pants on him..... Let me know what you all think! Thanks !

Telida - posted on 05/03/2010

u can start now...but they first have to understand pee pee and doo doo...it takes consistency,u have to be consistant with her learning to go to the bathroom...make it a fun time as well,and praise her when she goes...gurls r so easier than boys...so u shouldnt have a problem.my son cries so hard when i put him on da potty...but i be consitant wit him

Shannon - posted on 05/02/2010

i started taking my daughter to the bathroom with me when i would go and i would let her flush the potty.. then i would tell her when she felt like she had to potty to let me know.. she's getting really good at it.. she'll grab her pants and scream "potty" and this all progressed in a couple months' time

Irina - posted on 05/02/2010

I agree with Rachael that it's never to early to start training your child to do anything, but the parent has to be ready to train as well. That means tons of patience and different ways of teaching them. Like already been stated have them sit on the potty before the nap after a walk from outside or when they wake up in the morning. It creates a routine and they start to understand that you go on the potty to do those things and not in the pants. The older the child grows the harder is it to break the habit and then all you can do is wait until the child decides that it's enough of going in the pants. We teach them other things like eating healthy and taking naps and playing - potty training is just another thing we have to teach them with is not the most pleasant. Be ready yourself, be gentle and understanding with your child and they will do it.

Stacee - posted on 04/26/2010

It really doesn't matter what you try if your child is not ready then they are not ready. Most 18 and 19 month olds are not ready. For me if I am taking the child to the bathroom every 10-15 mintues hoping to get lucky that we catch it "in time" That is not having a potty trained child. That is training the parent. The child needs to be able to tell you and feel for themself that they have the urge to go potty. I have no even begun to think about training my 19 month old because while she does tell me if she poops or is wet, she can't yet tell me BEFORE it happens. So she's not ready.

Jonelle - posted on 04/26/2010

my 20 month old was ready to be trained about 4 months ago but as we were having a new baby and was due in 2 months felt it wasn't right i started off just everytime she went for a bath at night put on the potty to get her used to it i have pull ups for at home and normal for away as she's not quite used to the seat yet she will tell you when she's ready she tells us when she needs to go it takes time but you shouldn't force them as they will think you are doing it to shove them out of the way because of the new arrival. i suggest put them on the potty every half an hour after they have a drink and 9 times out of 10 they will go suggest by health nurse also never tell them off if they don't stay on the potty let them sit on potty for a few minutes praise them even if they don't go and you find within a few days they will know what to do

Pam - posted on 04/25/2010

My daughter is 19 mths old today and we have been randomly sitting her on her potty for a few weeks now. It was her idea. Every time I go pee she must go to! She thinks it is fun. I definatly am not expecting to toss those diapers yet, though. We are just letting her be the boss right now and letting her get used to the whole idea. I didn't even think this would start until she was 2 but once she saw that potty chair she wanted to sit on it right away. I feel lucky and hopefully it works out well in the end! Good luck to you! p.s. I think instead of terrible 2 they should just say terrible toddler cuz it seems to go on until 3 or 4 years old in some children!!

Claudia - posted on 04/24/2010

My daughter is 19 months old and she can not stand being in a wet diaper ( I can't blame her). She will point to her diaper and say icky. I sit her on the potty when she wakes up in the morning and when she wakes up from a nap and periodically durring the day. So of coarse she is ready for potty training,her Pediatrician told me that if she is showing signs of wanting to be potty trained then it is time. Don't force them just because you are tired of changing wet/dirty diapers because they might just reject the whole idea, because they have the control and there is almost nothing you can do. Just "reward" her/him with praises when they go potty in the Big Boy/Girl potty. ( I use mini M&M's and YaY Good Girl). Also I was told that if able let them run around the house in either big boy/girl underware or just nude because they won't like the feel of when they pee down their leg they will start learning what it feels like when they need to go potty. I hope this helps.

Ruthie - posted on 04/23/2010

also trying to get the ball rolling with my 19 month old SON. have heard that boys take longer. lave had the potty sitting out for a few months now, and had him sit on it a few times sometimes when I am going, but I am waiting for warmer weather so he can go barebum. and yes. expecting alot of accidents!

Sarah - posted on 04/23/2010

I may be alone in this but I don't understand the hurry to potty train. It is a lot easier and quicker to do it when they are ready, physically and emotionally. There are less accidents = less washing and less stress for child and parent! 'Potty training in a week' is a good book with good tips to identify when your child is ready, it worked for us! x

Angela - posted on 04/22/2010

don't force her it to it... give her something special 4 her 2 sit on it... special prize, or put on a video for her... i use the doll sitting on it first sometimes, and when she does sit down or pees in it MAKE A BIG DEAL about it... dwell on the positive, kid remember what you put emphasis in (we usually do it the wrong way by getting mad when they have accidents, etc)

Laura - posted on 04/22/2010

How funny, just been out today to buy a potty.... not from this but to build on what we have been telling our little chap... i have been showing funny film clips designed to teach them to, with songs and characters he knows... He has also been in the bthroom when daddy has gone.. peee...pee... show he understands thats what everyone does... But i am no way expecting mircles... and was hope by 2 and a half he might be train... 2 would be a dream, but if its poss then i'm uo for giving it a try...

Zita - posted on 04/21/2010

Ok let me start my saying, all my kids were potty trained at different ages and my youngest is 19 months old and to be honest I had not even thought about potty training her yet as I don't think she is ready. When my other kids were dry through the night and I knew they would need to potty in the morning I took them straight from bed to the bathroom. Sometimes having the water run a little bit helps!!!! During the day when they had some drinks I took them back to the potty again and turned on the water!! I did put them in pullups once I started this. Every child is different, some train very young and some can be nearly four before they are completely trained. Just stay relaxed and once you start don't stop, thats very important. Good luck!

Maria - posted on 04/21/2010

A really great potty training book is called "Diaper Free Before Three" by Dr. Jill Lekovic. I'm also trying to get my 19 month old trained before her 2nd birthday as we will have a new baby by then. She is really not in the mood to sit on that potty sometimes and sometimes refuses even though I know she has to go. I don't know what to do about it either, but I'm just going to be consistent with the approach I read about in the above book and hope for the best. Any suggestions are welcome!

Rachael - posted on 04/21/2010

You can never start too early on anything when it comes to you children. Children are very receptive to things at a young age starting later could be harder since they r so use to useing their diaper. Your the only one who knows your baby. I started off by putting my youngest daughter on a little potty before i acctually started the potty training process. Get her use to it and talk about it alot. That helps to get them prepared and understand that saying pee pee means going on the potty.

Joy - posted on 04/21/2010

Read up on potty training first. Their bodies have to be ready first ie they must have good bladder control and be able to hold in wee otherwise your wasting your time and putting pressure on your baby. The info I read suggested girls start at 2 n a half and boys at 3 BUT all kids are different.My freind had her baby trained at 12 months! Just be careful your not starting your little one too early so you get angry and scare her away from it altogether. Best of luck.

Rachael - posted on 04/19/2010

I began potty training my first daughter at 18 months and plan to do the same with the baby who is 18 months now. anyways I bought my daughter the thick training panites and the rubber panties to go over top of them. This hepls them feel the wet and sqwushy (SP. hope u know what i am sayin lol) on their skin. You do have to buy enough and be commited cause it can be nasty. But if you dont let up and praise her when she goes on the potty then she will get it. Also if your not into the panty idea use the pull ups. I mean u truly have to be committed like taking her every 15 min at first and just keep changing her even when she messes up and putting new panties on. But just keep on it and let her know that this is what she will be doing. I hope that helps ya some.