What are some truly effective ways to potty train? My step-daughter is 2.5 yrs old, and we've tried pull-ups (which she's currently in) and the daycare she goes to tried to tell her that her panties would turn to ice if she peed in them, which worked for about a week. We constantly take her to the bathroom with us (every 30 minutes), but she still goes in her pants. We don't know exactly what her mom does when she's with her...any ideas?

Michelle - posted on 03/19/2009

I am in the middle of potty training my 3-year old and am finding that sticker rewards coupled with an M&M every time he goes in the potty is a great reinforcement. Also, we all have a little potty party every time he goes...lots of "Yeahs" and lots of clapping and praising. I have NOT used the pull-ups...tried those and only confused him and he just felt like he was in a diaper. I found some "Training Underwear" at Wal-Mart that are cloth underwear but with a thicker cloth part in the crotch area...this prevents total puddles coming out but doesn't act like a diaper either. We're still working on it and we are trying to get him used to pooping in the potty which is difficult but we're getting there. It's been four days now and we've had no accidents today at all so something must be working. Good luck to you!!

Tracy - posted on 03/15/2009

my daughter will be 3 next month and just finally got it.  Repeat Repeat Repeat. same routine untill they know what the are suppose to be doing sitting on the potty.  Frequent trips to the potty praise for trying and reward with their favorite thing sticker, choclate,or activity.  we have been working on it for a good three weeks with everyone dad, GM,GP all following the pattern and now she puts her self on the potty both pee and poop.  Keep at it withoout stressing and it will come.

Tracy - posted on 03/15/2009

my daughter will be 3 next month and just finally got it.  Repeat Repeat Repeat. same routine untill they know what the are suppose to be doing sitting on the potty.  Frequent trips to the potty praise for trying and reward with their favorite thing sticker, choclate,or activity.  we have been working on it for a good three weeks with everyone dad, GM,GP all following the pattern and now she puts her self on the potty both pee and poop.  Keep at it withoout stressing and it will come.

Amber - posted on 03/15/2009

Sorry and to praise them when they do in the potty!! Like make a big fuss!! I made a song with my son's name in it! It was Louis pooped in the potty yay and same for pee! I would say what a big boy you are. How proud I was of him and so on and so on. Also take him in ever 30 to 45 minutes.

Amber - posted on 03/15/2009

I found with my son who is 3 but has been pottied trained for a year with no accidents was "NO PULL UPS". It still feels like a diaper! I found just wearing undies and letting them pee and poop himself worked! After about a month or 2 of this he was done! He was completly pottied trained! The feel it running down there leg and they don't like that feeling. With poop he couldn't stand it cause it would fall out of his underwear and into his pants. I work at a daycare from the time I was 16 up until I was pregnat with my 2nd child at 23! This is the method we used and it worked!

Caroline - posted on 03/12/2009

I would definitely have a talk with her mom and see if she is trying or having any success with potty training...and make sure you both are on the same page about it, or it will not work...make sure the daycare does whatever you decide as well....the other suggestions are great as well....definitely make sure that you have an "only when they are on the potty toy"

Megan - posted on 03/11/2009

i suggest finding out what the birth-mom does when she has her, because the most important thing is definately consistency

Catherine - posted on 03/11/2009

We did rewards with our kids.  BUT the main thing that worked was not to stress over it, and wait until they are ready,  One of my kids was almost 4 when he was finally potty trained, my 3 year old (just turned 3) just got potty trained, and one of my just turned 2 year olds is just as close.  Every child is different and if they are not ready, it will not work no matter what you do.  Good luck!

Katie - posted on 03/11/2009

Here is what has always worked for me...with my own and with others I have watched. Repetition and Reward. I take my potty trainers potty every 30-45 minutes. We use a toddler seat on the regular toliet with a stool below the feet for comfort. I give my kids a book to read while they so thier thing, it takes their mind off of what they're really doing. (I know it sounds weird but it works!) Let him/her sit there for 10 min at a time, if there is nothing produced, get them down and re-visit in 10 min. If they go #1 or # 2 reward them with a sticker on the potty chart. Once your child has a certain number of stickers on the chart, we do 5 in the beginning and 10 when they are going potty regularly, reward them with a prize. A sucker, or a small toy...something they will remember. It is a long process to potty train, and it takes the utmost of patients, but my son just turned 2 and he does his #2's on the potty already...and that's a start! Good Luck, hope I helped!

Monica - posted on 03/11/2009

I have a 3-year old son who just finished his potty-training course. here are a couple of ideas that worked like a charm!:

- stickers of her favorite animal, cartoon or movie as a reward for going (always praise the effort... never a negative attitude)

- gummy bears, skittles or m&m (or her favorite SMALL treat) for when she actually goes

- something extra special for when she "tells" like a little toy (for me were little hot wheel cars...)

have books or kids magazines... so she can read, while going.

My son refused to poop, so what work was telling him that the poop went to the ocean, fish live in the ocean, fish eat poop, Nemo is a fish... we need to feed Nemo (and all of the other characters from the movie) and now the pipi is the juice (i know it sounds discusting, but worked like nothing else!!! and now he says "mommy the fish are hungry or thirsty"



hope this helps... and, in my opinion, pull-ups only confuse them... better go to wall-mart and buy like 12 "snow white" underpants... let her choose which one she likes and tell her it is not nice to pee on princeses!!!!



good luck