Help with potty training

Sara - posted on 02/08/2010

I would not put too much pressure on her. I worked in a daycare for 4 years and saw kids who were in diapers at 5 because of the pressure put on them by parents. My son started showing interest in the potty around 16mo. He went on and off at times wanting NOTHING to do with the potty. On his 3rd birthday we were out to dinner and he told me he had to go potty, which was VERY strange because he never wanted to go anywhere but home. I took him in the bathroom, he peed, and that was it he was potty trained. He only had two accidents at night because my husband gave him a lot to drink. I thought it was fluke and kept him in diapers for about a week, but he just decided that night that he was going to use the toilet from then on. I would ask her if she wants to try to sit on the potty, maybe pick out some big girl underware and see how she does waring them. She might change her mind if she pees in underware.

Fawn - posted on 02/05/2010

Have you taken her to pick out her own potty or let her decorate hers(if it isnt just the seat)? Also, have you tried regular underwear on her? She may not like the feeling when she goes in regular underwear and she might start using it...just dont let her see the diapers or pull ups...also summer is a good time to start potty training because she can be in reg. underwear or just shirts...

Celestina - posted on 02/05/2010

I went all natural with all three of my kids and it worked wonders. Get a timer. Let your child run around the house with a long t-shirt and no diapers, pull-ups etc. Every 10 minutes you will pop your child on to a potty even if they don't have to go. Sit with them read a book or play Ispy or something to keep them occupied. Sit them for 2 minutes. This will take about 2-3 days of consistent timing (a weekend works). On the 2nd day you can extend the time to about 15 minutes to 20 minutes on day three. Of course, pull-ups at night in case of accidents. Be prepared for a few daily accidents during the first day. But, usually days 2-3 there are fewer and fewer accidents. By the end of day three they are done. The reward at the end of all of this is a few pairs of great big kid underwear that they can help pick before you start. This worked wonders will all of my kids. My pediatrician loved the idea. Good Luck.

Ann - posted on 02/04/2010

I started my daughter on her second birthday.This is what I did, it's silly but seemed to work. I bought Bear and the Big Blue House and that seemed to help. I would ask my daughter every 15-20 minutes from the time she got up if she need to to go potty, then I would set her on the toilet. Eventually she got the hang of it and She is no 2 1/2 and is fully potty trained. But I swear it was the Bear and the big blue house DVD who did all the magic.

Rose - posted on 02/04/2010

I knew my child loved to eat at a certain restaurant. I bribed her with a weekly dinner at the restaurant. It was the only thing that motivated her to want to try.

Carrie - posted on 02/03/2010

Both my kids (boy and girl) were not fully trained until they were three and a half. You may want to let her know that she can't go to preschool until she is trained. And preschool is usually only 2-1/2 hours so she might be ok for that time. Rewards, stickers, etc can help. just try and be patient and calm, I know it is frustrating :-)

Kristie - posted on 02/03/2010

I feel better to know that a lot of other mothers are having the same problem that I am. My daughter will be 3 April 25th and she has gone potty in the toilet a couple of times, but really wants nothing to do with it. If she poops in her diaper and I tell her lets go change you she say "no thats ok mommy I alright" so I don't really think that she cares if her diaper is dirty.

Suzanne - posted on 02/02/2010

There is a really cool book called, "No More Diapers for Ducky" We got it for our daughter with an actual stuffed Ducky that we put a pair of panties on and read her the book. She loved it and really got to see just how the potty thing worked. It was a great start to the potty training process. Not long after, she decided that she was done wearing diapers. She made this decision when she was 33 months old. A week later she was dry at night. She has had one accident at night since then and that was last July. Just be patient, it will happen!! Good luck!

Crystal - posted on 02/02/2010

My daughter is 18 months and we are working on potty training right now. My biggest problem is getting her to stay on the potty long enough to go. We have a system. Every hour we take Elmo to the potty and sit him on the potty for a few seconds then cheer for him. Then we say "Mommy and Elissa's turn" and both of us sit on our potties. If I go then we cheer for me. If she hasn't gone, I read her a story from a stack of books I keep in the restroom to keep her on the potty longer. If she still doesn't go, I tell her "that's ok, we'll try again later." If she does go, then we cheer for her, she helps dump the pee into the big potty and flush, we both wash our hands, and then she gets to put on lip gloss as a reward for using the potty. I keep the lip gloss in the restroom and the only time she uses it is when she goes potty.

Jaime - posted on 02/02/2010

I have a boy, so I don't know if it is different than girls, but we were determined to get him out of diapers before his sister arrived. We first tried when he was 2 and a half, but he had no interest.We waited for about 3 or 4 weeks and tried it again. This time we tried it when we could keep him home for a 3 day span. We let him run around the hous without any underwear on. the minute we put underwear on him he would pee. Without the underwear he was afraid he was going to pee on the floor so he would tell us he had to go. We also would sit him down at least once every hour and a half to 2 hours until he did something in the toilet. He did have a couple accidents when he couldn't make it to the bathroom, but we managed to get him trained in just 3 days.

Helen - posted on 02/01/2010

first make sure she knows the difference between wet and dry then up and down. So she is prepared to talk with you about being wet vs dry. Then up to pull pants up, down to pull pants down. Then take her out of diapers so she feels wet. It is uncomfortable and she will not like it especially if she is cold. Won't take her long to decide I need to stay dry.

Ann - posted on 02/01/2010

There are many things that you can do that may help her learn to use the potty. The biggest thing is to be consistent! Have the potty out where she can get to it easily. Put her in clothes that are easy to pull down and back up. She will want to be as independent as possible! Dresses and Skirts also work, but may get sat on accidentally. I agree that pull ups are glorified diapers. They work well for during naps. With all the potty training I've done while working in childcare, I've found that girls do NOT like to be wet. If you want to use undies, but don't really want the big mess. Put the undies on and a pull up over them. She will be able to feel the wetness and get the hint, but shouldn't get everything wet. Unfortunately you'll still have to deal with the messiness of BMs for a while until she is trained, but that is normal. Have her use the potty in the morning when she gets up, before meals, naps, bath time and bedtime! Of course one of the biggest things is to talk to her about being a big girl by using the potty!! Use a quick reward such as stickers when she uses the potty and then a bigger reward for when she fills a sticker chart up. Let her pick out her big girl undies when you go shopping for them! The biggest thing for you is not to stress! Once she figures things out it will just happen!!

Michelle - posted on 02/01/2010

My daughter showed interest before she was 2 and then we moved and she wanted nothing to do with it... Now she is 2 1/2 and we are starting again... Come to find out she didnt want to sit on the little potty, so I bought her one that goes on the toilet... She sits on it all the time... We just sit on it frequently, and when she hears herself go she gasps and then says yay :) I do like the idea of the stickers and little "treasure box" I may have to do that myself... It is a slow process, but stay consistant... Dont switch back and forth from diapers to pull ups as it confuses them... And dont presure them... I just ask her, and she will tell me yes or no... I make it fun for her and she holds my hand and we dance going to the potty :) While she is on there we talk or read a book... Hang in there... Kids will only do it when they are ready... I keep her in panties when we are home and only put her in pull ups at night or when we have to go out... And when we are out I still ask her if she needs to go... But all the advice is great you have gotten... There is no right or wrong way to potty train... It is just what your child gets from it :) GOOD LUCK!!!

Colleen - posted on 02/01/2010

It is true, you should not push her. You can just maybe be an example. they say the more you try to push them to do it, the longer it takes them to train. Maybe when you have to go ,let her know mommy is going to use the toilet, and take her in the bathroom with you, just let her witness you using the toilet, then hopefilly eventually she will want to. I raised 4 children, and I know for a fact that if you push it, it will take longer. it's hard, but you hav to be patient. Also try to offer rewards if she uses the potty. And you can also hold back rewards for not using it. For example, you only get a friut snack when you use the potty, or whatever is her favorite treat. That worked for me when I was a nanny.

KOHIMARAMA - posted on 02/01/2010

SHE SOUNDS LIKE SHE WOULD RATHER BE A STRAIGHT ON THE TOILET TYPE A GIRL LET HER FOLLOW YOU TO THE TOILET & EXPRESS HOW GOOD IT IS SHE MAY JUST CATCH ON TRY IT!!

Jenn - posted on 02/01/2010

Does she like stickers? I used that with my daughter. I showed her a bunch of different ones at the store & the ones that made her eyes as big as her head are the ones I bought. Her favs were the rainbow smileys & the rainbow stars. I also put down towels all over her room & we played in there for the afternoon with her in "big girl" underwear. I would rush her to the potty even if she already started. At least she got the idea. And a big "yay" and an excited dance got her laughing and loving it.

Crystal - posted on 01/31/2010

I went to a craft store and bought a unfinished stool, then decorated it to suit my son....it was his very own so he could be a BIG boy and use the Big boy toilet...it took away the anxiety and he loved it ,I would even transport it to his preschool so it was just like home....also let your daughter go to the bathroom with you and talk about it, my son always went with my husband and that helped, no drinks after a certain time at night to help keep her dry through the night....just no pressure because that will backfire..be consistant....good luck...it will happen!

Stephaine - posted on 01/31/2010

for girls, I would put food coloring in the potty and told her to watch it change colors...after she seen that it changed colors she started wanting to wear big girl panties instead of diapers or pull-ups. For the boys, I would put cheerio's in the commode and told them to try to sink 'em. They had fun doing so and was mesmerized by it, but you can't sink a cheerio.....so they kept trying then it became second nature to them.

Julie - posted on 01/31/2010

I have had two daughters, the first was completely potty phobic and was still in nappies at 3, the second potty trained herself when she was 18months as she really wanted to go to school and I told her she couldn't until she was in big girl pants, and with that she removed her nappy and never had an accident. Kids need their own time to do things. With my eldest I also put her on the potty while I was on the toilet to try and get her to go - she would normally wee but had a problem with number 2. Someone suggested to me that she was scared of losing a part of herself , the flushing was the scary part so you may want to just make sure this is not a real fear. I got through it by not flushing immediately after she finished and rather coming back a minute or so later and flushing. The downside of this is it is difficult to get them to flush later on and your battle starts all over again but it definately gave her the security that she was not being flushed down the toilet.

Donna - posted on 01/30/2010

It sounds like he loves the attention he is getting . Do you know the times he goes potty . My son went when would sit down at the table and it wasnt no time to waiste to get to the chair. but it was always when we sat to eat . i guess the thought of more food kicked the dig. track in gear. but we would sit and say the prayer and then asked to be excussed . here we go. maybe he does not want the potty chair he wants the thrown get a step stool and let him climb. lol good luck you sould like you are a great mom leave it in gods hands it will come in time lord be with you .

Melissa - posted on 01/30/2010

Wow I feel better my 2.5 year old is not interested at all - we have tried but the constant reminding and taking him to the potty every hour - makes me wonder who is training who?? some great ideas here I like the potty box with the stickers and prizes :) I think i'll just wait for awhile, he hates being changed even if he has a poo, he likes sitting in it - very weird, a boy thing?

Donna - posted on 01/30/2010

I did this when i got up in the morning . i would sit my daughter or son on there pot and i would sit on mine . sometimes i would use water . but when i got through i would let out a releif it was . On the days i was home i would take the kids to the bathroom with me everytime i went they went. Do the pull ups that will help on those days . i had the cloth panties back then . do a potty dance when they do the duties. Just shake a leg. give them humor . we need more humor today .

Sah - posted on 01/30/2010

if it's warm enough, pants off all together is best... plus the prompting- regular reminding. (might want to stay in the back yard until he starts getting into the swing of things.)

Dasha' - posted on 01/29/2010

my son turns 3 Feb 15th and I am having the exact same problem, he lets us know after he goes sometimes he'll even pull off the pull-up or underwear... but he only goes to the potty when he feels like it... I've bought books to read to him, movies, a cute potty chair, reward systems stickers smiley faces etc... nothings working

Sherine - posted on 01/29/2010

First u have to be very cosistent wth taking off the diapers and switching to panties,second u have to remember to ask her every half hour than 3 quarters than an hour,sometimes its useful to use a child toilet seat rather than potty,it gives them a sense of grown up....good luck

Marise - posted on 01/29/2010

Firsty check that preschool definately needs her to be potty trained - I have a pal that went through hell to get her boy out of nappies only to find out that the nursery didn't mind. My youngest is 3yrs 3 months and had no interest in toilet training until 6 weeks ago when he suddenly decided to use the toilet and has only had a handful of accidents, even his night time nappy is dry - they do it when they are ready.

Amy - posted on 01/28/2010

my son was over 3yrs old when he finally learned or wanted to go..but it started with him peeing outside on a pile of rocks..he thought it was so fun..then he started going on the potty..my sister told me to just put him in underwear no pull ups..so thats what I did also..I hated the accidents in the beginning. but that was his niche.

Tania - posted on 01/28/2010

My son is 21/2 and I just started him and I have potty trained 7 other kids and 1 girl. My advice is get rid of the pull-ups and put her in underwear and let her wet herself a few times she will eventually catch on and tell you when she needs to go because she won't like the wet feeling. My son goes on his own he might have an accident occasionally but not everday. You will go through alot of clothes but it will work that is how I potty trained all of my daycare kids and they all started going potty within 1 month really well and on their own. Don't get mad and if by chnace in 1-2 weeks she isn't going stop and giver her a break but if she is attempting to go don't stop.

Nikki - posted on 01/28/2010

heres what we did maxemus was very stubbon did not want to do it so we created the potty box system .......1st get stickers and a paper /chart board 2. get a simple tupperwear container fill it with simple things from either a dollar store or target ansd walmart have a dollar section get lots of lil trinkets like crayons, coloring books ,playdough ,lolliepolps , ect..3. eliminate the diapers only use them at bed time day time is pantys take her with you to get new ones let her pick them out involve her in the process

here's what you do ....

now every time she gose potty she gets a sticker, you let her pick the sticker you let her put it on the chart and you mom set a goal start at maybe 3 to start every 3 stickers she gets to pick a prize from potty box and make it a big deal girls love that but here s the thing you have to keep reminding her about the process and dont give up i promise i works