22 month old daughter and potty training

Robin - posted on 04/12/2012

My second daughter has no problem being wet, wet panties that is. she can walk around in them all day, doesn't bother her just drives me crazy. She doesn't wear pull ups at all, even at night. she poops then touches it with her fingers and comes to show me. she screams about sitting on potty, when I ask if she needs to go she says no everytime. I'm so frustrated I could cry. so so much laundry. hugs to all the moms out there, i hear ya.

Melissa - posted on 04/01/2012

Im with you on this one! We took my daughter (at the time was 19 months old) to the store and she picked out BIG girl panties and gave her diapers to her baby bother and sister ( twins 4 months old).After a week of peeing on herself she stopped and been dry since..

Samantha - posted on 10/24/2009

I am in the same boat. My son is 3 1/2 years old and still refuses to use the potty. I was told to leave him in underware make him realize that them being wet is not comforitable and not to go to diapers or pull ups unlkess we are out. This works most the time at home we are still working on using it at school and friends/family. Good Luck!

Megan - posted on 10/24/2009

Two words: "Potty Train." Great DVD, with a book and a song and a whistle. Seriously, we got it and a few weeks later, Noah was trained. We also spent a full weekend with him 100% pantless and the potty in the family room. We popped in Potty Train and other shows he liked and made him sit on the potty all day. It took him both days, but he got it to the point that he barely needed Pull-Ups for naptimes and overnights. 3 weeks later, he was Pull-Up free. Oh, and we 100% ditched Pull-Ups EXCEPT for sleeping times. He peed himself a few times, but the discomfort taught him quickly. (Bear in mind we'd been trying very unsuccessfully for 6 months or so before going this route.)

Marion - posted on 10/11/2009

I have four children and my youngest is about to turn two (next week). She has been the earliest and the quickest of my four children to be potty trained. In fact she's doing better than my four-year-old who still has toileting problems. My point is that she told me she was ready because every time she did a wee in her nappy she touched her nappy and said weewee. Two months later and she is fully trained (with only the occasional accident). I agree that perhaps your daughter is not ready to be trained and you should leave it, get rid of the potty she seems to have developed an objection to and try again in a few months with a new potty. You may find she lets you know she's ready before you even think about trying again. Good luck!

Cory - posted on 10/11/2009

Don't worry about the speech! My 21 month old is really just starting to say things spontaneously right now. Our pediatrician wanted us to look into speech therapy at 18 months. I refused, knowing that it looked like his speech was just getting going. PS, I'm a speech therapist!!

Kaelyn - posted on 10/11/2009

Make a fun game out of it. My 25 month old is off and on when it comes to using the potty but i've discovered she loves to flush. She knows she has to potty to get to flush so it makes it mean something to her. She will go when she gets ready. Don't rush her. GOOD LUCK!!!

Amy - posted on 10/10/2009

My son is 3 and we're having the same problem. We've ended up with a rather more expensive option, if he goes on the potty once every day for a week he got a chocolate lolly at the end of the week then we increased it n he got something else (i think it was a small toy) Well we're now on the final stage which is if he doesn't use a nappy (except at night) for a whole month he gets a knex rocket ship thing

Michelle - posted on 10/10/2009

My daughter is almost 27 months. On the day she turned two I put her in pull-ups and put her on the potty everytime I went. She loved setting on the potty but with no results. After a week of this, we went back to diapers. Im getting ready to try again and really enjoyed some of the ideas posted. Thanks. Wish me luck!

Aimee - posted on 10/09/2009

i do that he doesnt mind wetting them, he actually makes himself pee when i put them on him

Tyelinda - posted on 10/09/2009

I agree with the [utting real undies on instead of diaper.

Belinda - posted on 10/09/2009

I've heard girls can be ready prior to boys, but neither of my boys were ready until shortly after turning 3. At that point, we simply took the diapers away and although there were messes for a day or two, they eventually got tired of the 'mess' and started asking for the potty. Sometimes I think it's best to try, see their not ready, and forget it a while before trying again.

Emma - posted on 10/09/2009

ive had the same trouble wif my boy and hes 3 have u tried getting her little knickers and stickers and when u in all day wid her put the potty in the living room and put her knickers on her keep reminding her when she needs toilet sitt on the potty and tell her she big girl now and when she does do it praze her give her a sticker and buy her a pressie keep at it dont give in xxxxxmy boy just started doing it today xxxx

Aimee - posted on 10/09/2009

my son just stirs me he pee's all around the potty but not in it. He is 20 months old and i wouldnt be to concerned but it is becoming extremly hot and i hate the thought of putting nappies on the poor boy. And because of a gluten free lactose free sugar free diet to control behaviour his poo's have become mushy and at least 5 a day and i am sick of running around after him with a bucket of hot disinfectant water and scrubbing brush as we have carpet

Amanda - posted on 10/08/2009

My oldest was potty trained at 22 months and i just had a baby. I got a lil potty and a potty seat, she freaked out when i put her on the potty and she would freak out and when i got the seat she loved it. Also my daughter loved stickers so i got a poster board and put it on the wall in her room but you could do it where ever and i would give ally one sticker for pee and 2 for poo. Also I took all diapers and threw them in the trash and only used pull up at night! Its a bit messy but she wont like the feel of the pee going down her leg. Also I put a portable potty with the lid on it. And thats what i have in my car for when we are out and about. I hope this has helped you out.. If you have any questions just let me know. I think she is ready you just have to find out what she likes to use and into

Tara - posted on 10/08/2009

I'd back off for awhile, then show her a different potty (e.g. insert into regular toilet) since now she has a negative association to the potty you're using. Instead of asking her to use it, just keep letting her watch you use toilet while talking about it and have a bunch of books near the toilet. Good luck

Shannon - posted on 10/08/2009

After a year and a half of fighting, my 4 year old daughter wasn't ready until last Christmas time, and trained herself in a day because she decided she was ready and has never had an accident since. Sometimes my 24 month old son wants to use the potty but it isn't a big issue in his mind, playing is. The big thing I found was you can either fight it because you are ready and they are not, or you can wait until they are ready and forget what anyone else says. "Treat the child, not the book." as a very wise woman said to me once when I said but the book says she should be...

Karen - posted on 10/08/2009

We are trying to train our 22month old as well, which is very hard but we have used the toilet with the babyseat in it, because he wasn't interested when we used the potty. He wee's fine only having 1 or two accidents a day, but he doesn't like to poo. we just let him go with ourselves and my nieces and he seems to get whats going on.

Erin - posted on 10/08/2009

It sounds like she's not ready.My son't doctor gave me some information about it. Most kids are between 2 and 4 years old before they're ready, and your daughter isn't quite there yet. The recommendation is to wait between 1 and 3 months if the child refuses to use the potty. My son is 31 months old and shows NO interest in the potty. Like you, I'd LOVE for him to use the potty. But when he cries at the suggestion of the potty, and NOTHING happens when I put him on the potty (when I know there SHOULD be something happening), it's just not worth the battle. At this point, it sounds like you're all stressed out. Take a break, try again after Christmas.

Marisa - posted on 10/08/2009

Thanks, just one question, what do you do during the night? I have twins, and suggestions?

Nesreen - posted on 10/08/2009

Oh.. it´s so nice to see that I´m not the only one having problems!!! My daughter is 26 months old, and although she finally sits on the toilet now without yelling and screaming, I´m still having trouble getting rid of those last diapers! I still can´t quite bring myself to go diaper-free!!! I did learn however that forcing them doesn´t really work. It just freaks them out and prolongs the whole process... I think that´s where I went wrong on the beginning. I think we should just relax and hope and pray that someday they will be ready for it on their own.. I mean, they´re not gonna be running around with diapers on their wedding day right?

Marie - posted on 10/07/2009

I have a 19 month old and she started the same way. You have to make it really fun for them. She love music so we brought her a potty that plays songs after the do is done. To make her stay we play her favorite DVD. After she's done we dance and play music for her like it's a party. It's been 3 weeks now, she really can tell when she has to peepee. I decided to take off the diaper now and let her stay bare bottom. She's been doing great...ever few minutes i ask her if she has to peepee and i pay attention to the peepee dance and crossing the legs....The only time she stays with diaper is at night. That would be the next phase.

Julia - posted on 10/07/2009

i'm guessing i was lucky, i have 3 boys, ages 3, 8 and 9 and all three have been out of nappies by two years, 2 months, (26 mths! had to work that out!) i fell for my 2nd quicker than planned and could not face the idea of having to buy 2 lots of nappies etc so my first son, james was sat on a potty from 16mths, am proud to say by the time his brother was born he was almost ready to be out of nappies, no longer wore one during the day. at 24mths we missed putting a nappy on him at bed time and he stayed dry, so it was pointless putting one on him again! i felt that as he had got it so early there was no reason why my other boys wouldn't get it! all we did was put them on a potty early with NO expectations. read a story, played games etc to get them comfortable sitting there, then extended it till they " wee'd" or "poo'd" then obviously they had massive praise. Big boy pants( normal underwear) works cos kids really don't like wetting themselves so when they realise their underwear doesn't hold it in they catch on quick. The biggest thing is not to lose your temper, even when they do it deliberately( cos they will!) just say oops! it was an accident and try again! trial and error i'm afraid, there's no quick answer. hope this helps, let me know how u get on!

good luck!

Anna - posted on 10/07/2009

I understand and know what you are going through. You may have to wait until she is ready. Make sure she is able to talk about the potty problems. If she is not able to express her fears she is not ready yet Sometimes kids are afraid of taking that next development step because they do not understand why they have to. This is okay. My son did not get the potty down until he was three and a half. I know they say girls are easier, but I do believe it has to do with the child and where they are in their emotionally development. I bought my son some pull ups with his favorite character, Disney Cars, Lighting McQueen, and told him that Lighting McQueen does not like to be wet and would be happy when he put the pee in the potty then he would have more of them to wear every day. He liked this ideal. But when he had a slip up, my husband and I would just say, it was okay, and that he could try again with a clean pair. This worked. At first there was lots of accidents and then they stopped and he got it. He would tell me when he had to go potty for peeing. Then we worked on number 2. He finally got that too. What I have found is that kids this age wants to please you and want you to be proud of them. Right now you are the world to her. I said all of this to say give her more time, don’t push the potting issue, play potty games, and try to involve her interest with favorite characters. And always tell her how good she is doing even when she does not quite get it. Then explain the way it should be. I know you know this part. You will have to find out what works for your daughter when she is ready.....Good Luck...I have been where you are now and is about to go through it again. Don’t get frustrated, she’ll get it ..Again good luck.

Alice - posted on 10/07/2009

Around 20 months old, Aaron can poo at the same time each day, so we let he wears an underwear with his favorous Thomas picture. Then ask him to stay dry so he can wear it for a long time. Of course, he couldn't, but we help him by talking him to the potty every 2 hours, even at night time, and change the pull ups whenever it is wet. If he doesn't like to sit on the potty, we will just hold him facing up the toilet. Then whenever he can pee, even just a few drop, we will give him his favour treats. But make sure you don't give him treat when he does nothing, just when he pee or poo, if not, he will just ask for it.
If after a few week to try, it doesn't work out, then you may try to make her remember by pouring a little cold water to wash her private when she gets wet. And still give her a treat when she can go. But you and eveyone have to commited that you have to take her to the bathroom regularly, even at night or outside. You may be stress out for a few weeks, but then you can see the result.
If your place is cover by carpet, then you may consider to put the pullups inside the underwear. But still, it is better to let her know the different feeling by wearing an underwear and a pull ups. another helpful tips is made up a story by her favour character going to toilet training, she will love to copy that.
My little boy just need 8 weeks for complete training, and at 30 months, he just ask for wearing an underwear, and refuse to wear any pull ups, even when we going on a long trip, just make sure you can find him a place to pee when he asks for it. Anyway, that is my boy's story, good luck with your training.

Angela - posted on 10/07/2009

Katie, My Mother in law suggested (for boys), to put a couple of Cherrios in the potty and get the boys to "target practice" for aim and making it more fun to pee.

Angela - posted on 10/07/2009

If you put big girl underwear on her she will get the idea that she should have gone if she has an accident (and she will). Most kids if you pay attention will wake a noise, grab themselves or have a look on their face when they need to go, so you can rush her in to the "big" potty. I never ask my daughter if she needs to go, I just take her. She is at the age that she will disagree just to test those boundries. There is not a choice there. If they say They don't have to go you just tell them you want them to try.

Also, Try taking them when they first get up and before bed. They will feel sucessful, especially if they have a dry night!!

Katie - posted on 10/07/2009

I tried at 2 yrs but he wasn't ready.I'm potty training my 27 month old son now, He wanted nothing to do with the potty when we had it in the bathroom. Someone suggested that we put it in the family room where we spend most of our time. It worked like a charm. Once he mastered that he moved on to the toilet basically on his own...I guess b/c he watched Daddy in the bathroom. We're not 100% potty trained yet but we're getting there.

Stacey - posted on 10/07/2009

I agree with Kathy. She will do it when she's ready. Maybe let her be in the bathroom with you when you go, then you get an M&M or sticker when you go. Same if she has any siblings that don't mind an audience! Good luck to you!

Ashley - posted on 10/07/2009

Like another poster said, I didn't even use a potty. I didn't want to have to be dumping and cleaning out the plastic bowl...so we just bought one of those seats that go on top of the big toilet.

The #1 part of potty training: your child has to be able to talk & comprehend what he/she is doing! If your child understands the words "pee" or "poop" - not just says them but really knows what they mean - then they're ready to potty train. If not, just wait a little while longer.

Secondly, the only thing that worked for me: Get rid of diapers/pull-ups (which are just glorified diapers) all together. When we got serious about potty training, we put my daughter in panties and that's all she wore. We have hardwood floors, so that made it easier to clean up pee accidents, and the poop was pretty well contained...but she made the connection VERY quickly between using the bathroom and going to the potty. She was trained in about a week and a half. So, I recommend when you both are ready and serious about the potty, get rid of diapers and stock up on toddler panties!

Good luck, and don't get frustrated! She will go to the potty when she's ready, and I've always heard that the older they are, the shorter time it takes to potty-train. Again, good luck!

Heather - posted on 10/07/2009

We have the potty in the bathroom. She'll sit on it with the lid down and is ok. She has a stuffed animal that she will put on the potty so she definitely gets the idea. We are definitely not forcing the issue.

@cory, that makes sense about the speech. Her speech is a little delayed so she's just starting to be able to communicate verbally and hopefully with speech therapy this will get better.

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Cory - posted on 10/07/2009

I work in an elementary school....we had a very wise preschool teacher there, and I'll always remember what she said about potty training. She said that it goes much smoother once a child is able to talk about the experience to some small degree. She wasn't sure why this seemed to be so, but it was something she noticed in her own children as well as her classroom kids. For myself and our 20 month old, we've put the potty chair in the bathroom and left it there. My son will lift the lid and sit down on it when we are in the room, but he hasn't shown any other interest in it. His language skills are just now emerging, but are no where near being able to say basic things about the potty, so for now we are waiting with the training : ) Hope this helps....

Kelli - posted on 10/07/2009

Just leave the potty in the bathroom so she knows where it is. She is probably not ready yet, so just ask her if she has to use the potty and if she says no just leave it alone. Don't take her to the bathroom or make her sit on it. By little reminders she will eventually be ready and be willing but only when she is ready. Good luck.

Emma - posted on 10/07/2009

I have two boys. I never did use a potty. I just took them straight to the toilet. They went with myself and my hubby, Everytime we went. When you have been just put her on for a try and tell her " She is a big girl like Mummy!". I also used the listening trick. get her to listen for it, if she does a wee then go mental with the praise. Hope this helps..xGood Luck..xx

Kathy - posted on 10/06/2009

Sounds like she's not ready...maybe wait a month or two.