Potty training

• 07-07-2008 6:40 AM

  Simendinger Joined on 12-27-2004 Cincinnati Posts 3

  Potty training Reply Contact My 3 year old daughter Christina doesn't want to willingly sit on the potty. She'll go if we have her sit there but most of the time she goes in her pull up before we smell it. She doesn't mind a dirty diaper and we have tried rewarding and praising her for going. We have a star chart and give her M&Ms. We have even tried to take away the cartoons until she goes on the potty. Any other ideas????

• 07-07-2008 1:09 PM

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  Jaime2892454 Joined on 07-07-2008 Posts 3

  Re: Potty training Reply Contact Hi there! My advice to you guys is to just leave her be! We have a 3 1/2 year old boy who has been potty trained for about a month 1/2 now. We tried all of the same things you have tried, plus more! We were so frustrated, especially because he would go on the potty faithfully every night before bed, but not during the day...I did notice that the more we pushed the issue, the less interest he had in going; almost taking steps backwards. Nothing is more true than what I heard all along; even from his Dr.~ they will let you know when they are ready. It will also seem like it happens overnight, too! So don't give up! I bet in a couple months (maybe sooner; maybe a little later!) she will all of the sudden decide that she's ready to be a "big girl" and go on the potty willingly by herself...Good luck!

• 07-10-2008 1:33 PM

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  Henry Huy's Mother Joined on 07-07-2008 Posts 7

  Re: Potty training Reply Contact Of course she's ready. But why would she stop what she is doing, to use the toilet, when she can just go right then? Get rid of the pull-ups. Take her to the store to pick out her own undies. This way she will feel guilty for going in them. But once she feels herself sitting in it (especially #2) she will be happy to use the toilet. Girls can do it in about a week; they don't like sitting sticky. Keep reminding her to tell you, so she doesn't ruin her awesome undies. Just pick a week where you can be patient and be prepared to clean up some messes. Just don't revert back, no matter what. And please, don't use food, especially candy, for a reward, that is just setting up a whole new problem. Have her put a star on her chart.

• 07-11-2008 10:54 AM

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  Simendinger Joined on 12-27-2004 Cincinnati Posts 3

  Re: Potty training Reply Contact Thanks that is what my doctor told me too. But it is so frustrating. She is hard headed. I think I am going to take away the little rewards. I am not sure if I will let her wear the big girl panties yet. She wants to, but I am not ready to clean up the mess. I'll be off on a stay at home vacation in about a week, so I'll really try then. Thanks so much for your advice.

• 07-11-2008 9:19 PM

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  Chamelyan Joined on 10-30-2007 Midwest Posts 75

  Re: Potty training Reply Contact  The best advice I've ever received about it is to show no emotion when she has an accident, but praise her big-time if she goes in the potty.  We used a chart with stickers and temporary tattoos, and when our dd reached the end of her chart she earned a tricycle.  We also got rid of the pull-ups, except overnight.  She picked out her big-girl panties and is happy to wear them, and even though it's a bit messy when she has an accident, she's more willing to clean up and try harder the next time.

• 07-12-2008 7:30 AM

  In reply to

  Jaime2892454 Joined on 07-07-2008 Posts 3

  Re: Potty training Reply Contact I know ! It is extremely frustrating! We did the same thing, though~ we scaled down the rewards for him; we kept his sticker chart, though, because for him, that seemed to be what he cared about the most. All kids are very different, but for mine, he wound up looking at me one night and said out of the blue, "Mommy, I feel like I have to go potty!" So we ran and he did it. The next day, he was so excited to go out and pick new, cool undies for himself. He maybe had 2/3 minor accidents (which in the summer is a lot easier to clean up!) and when he did, he started crying; he felt so bad for wetting his new undies. It almost seemed like it scared him; he wasn't used to how it felt w/o a pull up or diaper. That's really all it took was for him to really feel how yucky it is to be dirty in real underwear to make him not have any more accidents! But your right in picking the perfect time for you to start her, too. It is a lot easier when you're home; you're able to be more consistent. Good luck again!

• 07-14-2008 8:33 AM

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  KatieB78 Joined on 07-14-2008 Posts 1

  Re: Potty training Reply Contact Here's what worked with my daughter in about 3 days!!!! We went and got the "cool panties", but we put the pull-ups on OVER them!!! This way, she still never wanted to get those undies messy, but Mommy didn't have a gianormous mess either! It also helps with the embarrassment factor. I have a friend who would TRY to embarrass her child (probably out of pure frustration)and it backfired. About 3 days of that, and we never went back. Not even at night. She's 4 now, and we've only ever had one accident since......and that was my fault. I let her have way too much water right before bed. Good luck!

• 07-25-2008 8:04 PM

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  Simendinger Joined on 12-27-2004 Cincinnati Posts 3

  Re: Potty training Reply Contact Here's an update. My husband got fed up and told her that's it she is wearing big girl panties. It went well---even when he took her shopping. We kept asking her every half hour or more. Then the next day while we were outside she had her first accident-at least we were outside :) Then late that day as she stood in the kitchen she informed her daddy that pee pee was going down her leg. It has been a tough week, but I think we are making progress. It was embarrassing as we were meeting some of our new neighbors and as my d was riding a bike, she peed on it. She goes back to the sitters on Monday, so I hope we are better. A funny story. I kept asking her if she had to go and she didn't go for a long time. Finally she said mommy look at my pull ups. I said what happened to your panties. She threw them away. And when I asked why she said she peed in them so we have to throw them away. Thanks for all of the advice. I have a few more grey hairs. I hope my boy will be easier!

• 07-25-2008 8:33 PM

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  softsnowbunny Joined on 08-30-2005 Due with #3 May 8th 2009! Posts 1,038

  Re: Potty training Reply Contact I saw your update and am glad to hear of progress. I do have a tid bit of info. I have boys, and I did the whole and am doing again, no pull ups, just underwear.  Im amazed at his progress, its been about 4 weeks, I dont mind cleaning and use pull ups at night. My DS is 2 and now is consitantly going pee pee in the potty,  poo poo is another story, I am working on poo poo potty training after he masters the pee pee or when hes ready.  I dont want to sound negative, and understand your frustration, my oldest was not potty trained until 3 1/2 . But taking away something a child likes such as the cartoons can give the child an Idea of potty being a negative thing because she is getting things taken away for not doing it. I dont know if your still doing it but, it just can leave the kid thinking the potty is a bad thing and realate it because her cartoons are gone. I hope I am making sense. I do potty stickers and a dance , as silly as it is. And big brother and daddy are doing a good job showing him the right way to go. Hes more motivated to go when someone else is going. If big brother does it he has to do it. I wish you  luck and hope your progress is quick. Candice

• 08-07-2008 7:42 PM

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  Kristina2958372 Joined on 08-08-2008 seattle Posts 2	Re: Potty training Reply Contact I agree with getting rid of the pulls ups. Start with 2 hours a day and have her go every hour. Praise her even if she doesn't go. Then at the end of 2 hours give her a break. Progress her every couple days another hour or two.

• 08-08-2008 5:30 AM

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  Gretchen2956730 Joined on 07-26-2008 Summerville, SC Posts 3

  Re: Potty training Reply Contact My son is almost 2 &1/2. He started the whole PT thing, not me, at 18 months. He saw daddy going potty and wanted to do it. Well, everything has rolled backwards starting right after he turned 2. He was doing so good telling me he had to poop and pee. Now he doesn't care. I thought he would be super easy b/c of his initial progress and also b/c he hated beong wet or poopy even as an infant. Now I am at a loss. We have done pull-ups big boy pants and still nothing. He will tell me when we are out and about, but I suspect it is only so he can get out of his stroller or the shopping cart, but he goes. I have a potty seat that goes with us so he doesn't feel afraid of falling in. I know we have had a few life changes. We have moved twice in the last year. From Boston to SC and then again 6 months later to our permanent home. I will be trying out the stickers. I didnt do them sooner b/c he was doing sucha great job. Now I am lost. Awwwwwww! Just a little vent to help those out who are just as frustrated. Gretchen

• 08-08-2008 12:06 PM

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  proud mom to 3 Joined on 12-13-2003 Posts 2,654

  Re: Potty training Reply Contact My biggest advice for anyone going through potty training is to wait until the child is ready.  If you feel that he or she is ready, then go ahead and take them to the potty every hour or so to go #1, and have them sit to try #2 about a half hour or so after each meal.  Just make it fun.  That'll get them used to going where they should.  But nothing in the world is going to work if your child is not physically ready to do so. I have no problem using pull ups until that click happens in their brain.  Pullups are easier than diapers to take on and off for going to the potty, and a lot cleaner than underwear accidents.  But that's just what worked for me here (I've trained 3 boys.)  Honestly, it doesn't matter what you do, what the rewards are, etc., until your child is physically ready.  And the "norm" can be anywhere from 15 mos. to 4 years!  Stressing them, taking away privileges, punishing them, etc., will only put stress on them and make the whole process harder.  (jmo from my own experiences and listening to the experiences of others.)  Good luck to everyone who is training, and even if at this point you think your child will be in diapers until college, I promise you that won't happen!  It just takes patience on your part.  :)

• 08-16-2008 8:21 PM

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  mommakimber Joined on 11-12-2003 ft wood Posts 2,531

  Re: Potty training Reply Contact My son turned three in may and is doing well potty training. He wears his big boy underwear during the day and pull ups to bed. He pretty much ALWAYS poops on the potty, when he has poop accidents he trieds to clean them up himself. (so cute) His only problem is peeing accidents. I don't mind cleaning it up, I have him help most times in some way or another. I just need to get more underwear for him cuz some days hell go through every pair! LOL He is very interested in going potty, he only has accidents when he is playing. They just get too into what they are doing and forget. My daughter was harder to train but she was potty trained around her 3rd bday. Right before it I think. I hear girls are easier to train, but I think they just get it quicker. I tried to start her potty training in the summer that she was two and it was just crazy...mostly because I had no washer or dryer(living in an apartment) Now that I do it is SO much easier on us with our son. My son has been potty trainin for quite a while, he did get interested in it early, like before he turned two... but I just kept it open for him, let him wear underwear when he wanted to, and he picked it up pretty quickly. We used to give them a book to look at while on the potty. M&Ms isnt a bad idea...i mean you can give them like one M&M when they try...thats not much. Plus a whole bag would last forever LOL