Potty training advice

Laurie - posted on 12/05/2008

I am in complete agreement with Shaun S. Although I'm a novice and right smack dab in the middle of it, I'm convicned it's pretty much up to them. You can guide and lead - but that's about it. They call he shots on this one. As frustrating as it is, it may take a weekend it may take a year. I have hear different stories from many different moms. Kids are truly individual in this category - and want to have full control over it. I'm still learning.

Shanna - posted on 12/05/2008

Just wait until she is ready. trying before will only bring you and her a lot of frustration! I have 4 children 5 and under and they have trained all at different ages 20months, 2 yrs, 4 yrs. there is no pattern to. just try every few months and if she is not ready wait a little more. treats always help too!

Amy - posted on 12/05/2008

I have a boy and this worked like crazy. He was potty trained when he was two. Every kid is different though. We bought the potty chair and put it in the living room so he could play with it and sit on it for fun. After a couple weeks I put it in the bathroom and started sitting him on it. I printed an Elmo Potty Chart he got stickers on when he used the potty. He wore big boy underwear (pull-ups) instead of diapers and constantly reminded him how cool they were. It took about a month before he figured it all out and was fully trained before his 3rd bday.

Tracie - posted on 12/05/2008

i let my daughter watch as i went, she follwed my lead

Kia - posted on 12/05/2008

hay my son is still toilet training n he is three in january he also has problem with speech. wot i do is ask him every 5 mins n most of the tym he screams no but every ten mins to 15 i say ryt toilet n to excite him more he goes on the adult toilet with a smaller seat and he loves it if his in a bad mood hell scream but 9 tyms out of ten he will do sumthing on the toilet he also likes his own privacy u put him on the toilet n u have to leave the room or he throws a wobbler lol. maybe u shud give the adult toilet the chance n just be patient n ask evry 5 mins n every 10 mins take er to the toilet its working 4 me

Christiana - posted on 12/05/2008

I tried everything-- and they best thing that I can tell you-- is read the books and watch the videos--- but most importantly-- take the diapers off--make a big deal out of picking out under wear and invest in vinyle (spelling?) underwear that goes on top of the normal under wear-- they supposidly carry them at walmart--- and dont forget to ask them if they need to go on a regular basis-- using this technique will help them realize how yucky it is to wet themselves--another thing is use a sticker or star on a calender to show them what a good job they are doing-- another thing is make sure you have 1 of those seats that fit on top of the regular potty-- it releases the anxiety of falling in-- good luck!

Casey - posted on 12/05/2008

If it makes you feel any better, my son is going to be four in March and he started to show interest but then lost it. I've tried EVERYTHING. Even rewarding with really good toys hasn't worked. He is extremely hard headed. I know he can do it because he has for a few days here and there. All I can hope is one day he will decide he doesn't like to wear a diaper anymore. For now I have backed off.

Cecilia - posted on 12/05/2008

Hello! I am Cecilia and my daughter just turned 2 1/2 2 weeks ago. I am exactly on the same situation and a truly understand!! I can only tell you to make sure your daughter is ready. I tried 2 weekends ago with mine, did the whole thing...the doll, the stickers, stamps, claps and happy songs...I tried it all and nothing worked that day. I thought she was ready because she will constantly run to the bathroom and will tell me she wanted to pee and everytime she'll see one her (already trained) friends would want to do it; but when it was really her time to go....just never happened. She ended up crying and telling me to put on her diapers again. So, what I decided to do is wait for a couple of months and try again and see what happens.

Don't you get stress out over this, she will eventually go and you won't even notice it. Don't push her if you notice she doesn't want to do it, the more we push them the more further away they will be from the goal. That's what I think.

Have a potty chair close to her or in a place where she can go without telling you (but keep an eye on her) and wait I am pretty sure she become very interested by the day.

Good Luck!

Nicola - posted on 12/05/2008

the thing that it wil happen as soon as their ready is so true my son was nearly 3 n was stil wetting him self alot rather than go to the toilet and he never used a potty i bought cheap ones n expensiove ones n ones that played tunes ones that were cusioned all sorts and he wudnt hav any of it id actualy givin up n started using nappies again then one day he sed mam i need the toilet n he used it! ever since that same day i took his nappy of at night n hes never wet the bed either. id say dont judge ur child by anyone elses they all start at different ages my friends daughter walked at 9mths n was toilet trained b4 she was 2 but her son stil isnt and hes 3 in january, each to their own! n dont worry it wil just click wen u least expect it or wen uv just about givin it up as a bad job!

User - posted on 12/05/2008

I saw this on Dr. Phil. Buy a dolly that pees. Then, make her drink water and put her on teh toilet or potty. When the doll pees, have a "party". Gather relatives, or siblings, father, etc.. take out party hats, blowers, and celebrate the dolly peeing. It seems to work instantly.

SOmething that worked for my kid was a playful reverse psychology. Jokingly, I would tell her "Dont go pee in the potty, dont! dont do it!!" and then she would run and do it. Because at her age she wants to assert her individuality, which many times means not doing what you want her to do. But just to let you know, I use the reverse psychology very jokingly and playfully, and my daughter knows it, but still goes along with it. good luck!

Amy - posted on 12/05/2008

Hi Amy - I'm an older mom. I'm 45 and have twins that just turned 18 yesterday and a 14 year old girl. All 3 of my girls trained right at 2 years and 9 months! My pediatrician always told me that when a child's ready, they'll train in just a few days. I thought he was crazy, but he was 100% right! I introduced the potty chair to my girls regularly and encouraged them to use it, but finally, one day, they just decided it was time and in 3 days, they were trained. I used a chart and gave them a sticker every day that they kept dry for a month. I also kept a dish of smarties on the back of the toilet so that everytime they went potty in the "big girl" potty, they could have a smartie! In my day of having children, we didn't have pull-ups. Sometimes I think that they feel too much like a diaper to children, so I used the thicker training panties. I think they are much less comfortable when wet, so that's another tip I'd give. Good luck! Give yourself a break - if she's not ready, don't worry! She'll be ready when you least expect it! My youngest daughter just literally woke up one day and told me she was going to wear her big girl panties. I was pretty stressed over it because we had a baptism that day, but she went all day on the potty, and from that day on, she was potty trained! Enjoy this time because it FLIES!