I have a 26 month old little girl that is a little confused about the potty. She tells me she's pooped when she hasn't, and will sit on the potty for up to 30 minutes without doing anything! Then, as soon as she gets up she will potty in the diaper or pull up. I am so tired of buying diapers and need help fast! I don't want to confuse her anymore than she already is..please help!
Hi B.,
She's getting there. My son, who is 28 months will tell me he has to poo poo and typically he just has to pee pee. There are times when he says he has to pee pee and he has to do both. She's on the right track. She just has her signaled a little mixed.
I know it doesn't seem like it, but she's making progress. Mine does the same, will sit on the potty and as soon as she gets off she wets her diaper, my oldest dd did the same thing. Also telling you she needs to go potty, then doesn't-she is just trying to figure the whole thing out. Just be consistent sitting her on the potty every hour at least and try to only let her sit for 5 minutes-if you really think she needs to pee and doesn't, try again 10 or 15 minutes later, if she's already wet, remind her pee pee goes in the potty, not your diaper. With poop-empty the contents of her diaper into the toilet (when possible and not too messy) so she understands that poop belongs in the toilet too. Ptty training is confusing for them at first but it sounds like she's trying-she'll get there! God Bless
Hi B.,
I had someone tell me to just put real panties on her, but I was really afraid and dreaded of having to clean up a mess.
Doing this, it worked. She never had a poop accident, but several pee ones. But she learned fast and it wasn't bad at all.
Good Luck, D'Anne
Don't feel bad! Mine did much the same, but something to remember is that most children are not DEVELOPMENTALLY ready to really potty train until closer to 3. Some are ready sooner, or a little later, but most child development experts agree that 3 is the average. Maybe it's a little too soon for her?
I know it's frustrating - we tried with my daughter around the same time and she just couldn't really get it. She was on OUR schedule for potty, not her own. Finally, we decided to wait (on the advice of a pediatrician and after much reading) and when she was closer to 3, she suddenly just got it. We had accidents, sure, but she seemed to be able to recognize when she needed to go. It was much easier and less frustrating for all of us, and really only took a few days before she had it down. She was much less stressed and so was I!
She also started PreK in the mornings and saw other kids going potty. That helped, too. When she did start, we also gave her one or two M&Ms for going. After a short time, we just phased the candy out, no problem. Worked like a charm b/c she was ready and old enough to get it.
I recommend two books that really helped me - Toddler 411 (a fabulous book w/ all kinds of info from a pediatrician we have used and used)and Potty Training Sucks (a funny and practical look at methods of potty training). Also Potty Time with Bear and the Elmo potty movie are great ways to get her interested and learning.
Just remember - she'll be ready eventually. She's not going to go to Kinder in her pull-ups! :)
Take a deep breath and good luck!
It sounds like you've been pushing it for awhile and are clearly frustrated with it - and kids can sense that. I would just back off for a few weeks or months. 26 months is still quite young to potty train. When they are ready there really isn't any "training" needed - they just do it.
My oldest daughter, who is now 17, did this very same thing. Finally after about 4 months of it, I broke down and bought a bag of sugar-free suckers. She got praise for going to the potty, but every time she actually used the potty, she got a sucker. When she was finished, we brushed our teeth. It worked like a charm, and no cavities!
~M.
B.,
I have a 26 month old little girl who is going through the same thing. she is at a day care/pre school and they are the ones who have been pushing her. I feel like maybe she is not ready and when she is it will be easier. so I have not been doing the same thing as the school. but when we put her on the toilet, sometimes she will and other times she wont. then back in the pull up and goes immediately. I feel like this is more stress for me, her and her teacher, whom I adore and so does my daughter. i also bought big girl undies for her and tried for a day to let her have her accidents thinking this would encourage her to mention she has to go, well all she did was have her accidents and keep playing. not in the least bit did it bother her. my son was 2 1/2 when he potty trained and it was not time at all. they are 2 years and 3 months apart. i remembered with him i tried the star system. when he did his business he got a star. when he had an accident or went in his pull up, no big deal just no star. at the end of the week, if he got so many stars he got to go shopping and get a toy!! it worked for him, i am going to try this with my daughter, i just don't think she cares enough about gifts like that. every kid is different.
good luck to you, me and all of the other moms whose hair is falling out over this subject.
A.
Im not sure about girls, but boys are easier. They have a game they can do, Sink the Cheerios. Maybe some reward system may work. Be firm and check, maybe pop ices for completing that task. Be sure to tell her, sorry not yet, you still have to go potty in there. That might break the cycle of waiting and going in pants. Knowing that there is a reward for not doing that. Maybe even a sticker calander. Put a regular calander up at her level and let her add a sticker of choice when shes completed the task, then Just point to the day for her. All Kids love stickers.
I'm having the exact same issues with my 25 month old. I sooo want to have her in big girl panties, but I just don't think she's quite ready for it yet....especially after the past two days. I've been pushing too hard and getting very frustrated. Ugh...so no more pushing from me until I wait a couple of months and she seems a bit more ready! :) Just wanted to let you know I'm right there with you!!
I hate to say this, but she is not ready. She likes the idea of using the potty, but she does not know what to do yet. Wait 2 - 4 months and introduce the idea again. In the mean time, you can read to her about potty training, watch potty videos, talk about potty training every time you change her.
But really - if you don't want to spend 6 months trying to get her potty trained, just take a break and try later.
