2 1/2 Year Old Resisting Potty Training

Updated on June 11, 2008
H.B. asks from Richardson, TX
5 answers

My 2 1/2 year old daughter will be 3 in October. We have been working with the potty since she was about 2. At one point she seemed to have it down pat but, when she went to mother's day out, she still had to wear a diaper (they said she was too young). I thought it would be best to just wait until the school year was out and finish what we started. Now that she is with me 24/7 we have completely abandoned the diaper. She will always go poop in the potty but, does not seem to mind pee running down her leg several times a day. She knows she is peeing at the time but, will not go to the bathroom. Also, when I ask her if she needs to go she always says no. She is such a smart girl, I am really surprised that we are having a hard time. Does anyone have any ideas? My first one practically trained herself.

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B.S.

answers from Dallas on

You shouldn't *ask* her if she needs to go potty. A two year old is fighting for control and independence. She will always say *no*. You need to be firm, but loving, and tell her it's time to go potty. You'll have to stop what you are doing and take her each time; until she realizes that you mean business. Daycares and MDOs will take the children at regular intervals and this is exactly what you need to do. No more diapers or pull-ups unless it's at nighttime. Celebrate when she succeeds and especially when she begins to tell you or do it herself. Keep your cool and sense of humor. If you get upset that's all she needs to know she can aggravate you this way. Food issues and potty issues are two things a child can control and they'll do it if they think they can get away with it. Don't let her get the upper hand. The first spring/summer after turning two is when we look to do the potty training in daycare. Some children will do it sooner....some are almost three before they show an interest.

I, also, recommend a DVD call "Potty Power" that my daycare children *love*. Even my tiniest ones will stick their arms in the air and yell "Potty Power"! We watch it at least twice a day.

http://www.missbrenda.com

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M.G.

answers from Dallas on

It's good that she will poo poo in the potty because that's one we can't get down. Why don't you try taking her about every hour to sit on the potty? My son wanted to wear underwear so badly that we went ahead, but very rarely does he tell me he needs to go. We just make sure to take him about every hour because that's what they do at school. We have accidents on occasion, but it doesn't happen often (other than poo poo). See if maybe that will help. Another thing that helps us is letting him know that we will have to go back to pull ups if he keeps having accidents because then we don't feel he's ready. He absolutely doesn't want pull ups, so he does a great job. Just find what works for her since they are all different. The going every hour and knowing he'd have pull ups again did it for us. Now we don't have to go every hour, but we still go regularly. Just don't force it or she'll take even longer.

Good luck with it and hopefully it won't take long.

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

I have a very strong willed daughter who will be three in Sept. We had the opposite problems though she would pee fine in the potty, but not poop. I just left her alone and didn't pressure her at all for 2 1/2 months (about drove me crazy). Finally I went out and bought her Go Diego Go boys underwear. That is her favorite show and she loves baby jaguar. I sat her down showed her all the new underwear and explained to her that Diego and baby jaguar would hate to get poop on them so please make sure to go to the potty. I never asked her if she need to go potty because she would always so no. Every hour I would say don't forget to tell me when you have to go poop. The first day wearing the underwear she started pooping in the potty and we have not had any accidents since (been about 3 months now). Maybe try finding her the panties/underwear that she loves so she will not dirty them. Also give her time she has been in pull-ups so it might take a while for her to get use to wearing panties all day long.

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J.M.

answers from Dallas on

I would put her in pants and when she pees on herself, do not rush to get them off quick, she expects that...mine did the same but she did not like the wet pants. Good Luck! Read my response to another potty training issue, I put my whole story there :) I totally missed the signs when mine was interested in potty training. I got mine potty trained when she was 3 1/2 and night trained exactly when she turned 4. All is well now.

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L.H.

answers from Dallas on

i just had to deal with a simmular problem with my soon to be 3 year old. mine just didnt want to fully use the potty. what i did was put him on the potty every hour to hour and 45 minutes and tell him that he cant get up till he goes pee. he is now out of diapers and i am greatfull

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