How do I get my stubborn daughter to potty train?

Jessica - posted on 10/14/2009

Let her initiate it, and let her see you use the potty (be private of course unless it doesn't bother you). I just let my daughter follow me in and she started on her own. A fun potty doesn't hurt either. I got her one that played music and "fake" flushed.

Janelle - posted on 10/14/2009

I hear you there! Thank you!

Martina - posted on 10/14/2009

Yeah, that is true, that is what I was wondering about my grandson. I was thinking maybe he just wasn't recognizing the urge to poop. I'm telling you these girls are stubborn and just like with my daughter, I knew she could do it too, she was so smart and so ahead of everything. She just wouldn't do it!! She is 20 now and trust me she is still the same way. If I say go left she will go right and then later tell me "mom you were right, I should have gone left." She just has to do it her way and then realize mom was right. Good luck with your little girl in the future, they can be a challenge.

Janelle - posted on 10/14/2009

Thank you, Martina. I have two older boys, who potty trained at 3 and the other on at 4. I know each child is different, and I know how much easier it is to wait until they are ready. I just know she can do it and that's what is frustrating me. Interestingly, with all three of mine, they got the pooping down first. Even my daughter is going to her potty to do that. Which leads me to wonder if just maybe she doesn't recognize the urge to pee.

Martina - posted on 10/14/2009

Have no fear, you are not doing anything wrong. Potty training can be very frustrating. I have five kids of my own who are all practically grown now and have long been potty trained. But I can tell you with my first daughter it was very frustrating. She did everything early and so at about 18 months I decided to start trying with her. She was so stubborn and refused to cooperate. Finally when she was about two and a half, she just up and one day said "I need to go potty" and from that point on, she was potty trained. My baby, my 14 year old son, didn't potty train until he was 3 1/2 and then would go peepee but not poop in the potty. He would lay on the floor and scream to have a pull up back on so he could poop. Now, I have a grandson who is almost 4 and has just finally within the last 6 weeks gotten potty trained. Every once in a while he would go peepee on the potty, but never would poop. He finally started going peepee all of the time and now is the peepee champ, but the poop part has been going slow. He finally went all on his own the other day. Potty Training is one of the hardest things to do with kids. Right now you think how will I get through this and will she ever get it done!! I would just go back to putting a pull up on her for now, she is only two and still continue trying to take her to the potty throughout the day, but just let her lead and don't stress out. You will drive yourself nuts if you keep pushing!! If she is like my daughter, she will defy you till the end and do it in her own time. So, you are not doing anything wrong, these are just normal frustrations that all us moms go through.

Janelle - posted on 10/14/2009

I did try the potty dance, and she likes it. But apparently not enough to use her potty to pee. Perhaps I will try the piece of candy idea. :)

Stephanie - posted on 10/14/2009

My daughter just turned 2 and her intrest has been wavering with the potty. I started rewarding her for going on the potty. She gets an M&M or Gummy bear. I also do a "potty dance" pretty much spinning / dancing in a circle singing "Lexi went potty!" over and over again. She thinks it's funny - probably because it is. But between the two, she seems to be more excited about going. How about trying rewards?

Stacy - posted on 10/14/2009

I had my daughter change her own, she hated it. It depends on what you mean for awhile. it took my daughter almost a month before she relized that if she peed in the potty more, she wouldn't be wet. It just take time and parients on the parents end. Let who ever watchs her when you have areens to run know her rutine, it helps if everybody is on bored. Good luck!

Janelle - posted on 10/14/2009

Mine doesn't like wet panties either. Am I changing her too quickly? Shoud I let her sit in them wet for a while?

Stacy - posted on 10/14/2009

My daughter was the worst. Boys seem easier. My daughter just didn't like the feeling of her underware being wet, and after awhile relized that if she peed on the potty her pantties stayed dried the way she liked it. But my mom made me a sticker chart for potty time. every time I went pee on the potty I got to put a sticker on my chart. If I had no accidents all day she would reward me with my favorite treat or a game. I am big on rewarding and apraising children when they do good.