my 2.5 yo dd has been potty training for about 6-8mos now, and has had whole weeks where she was dry, taking herself to the potty both tt and poopie. she has reverted, as i thought she could, but she just flat refuses to use the potty now. .
i think what we have here is a power struggle. she was doing great, i was very encouraging, m&ms, etc. but she has since gone back to not just not using the restroom but tt'ing on my floor when she was diaperless (trying to 'encourage' using the potty) and also pooping on the carpet and THEN rubbing it in. i have been supremely patient about it (not reprimanding but have used the guilt thing), but i have to admit i was furious when she pooped in the carpet. i yelled and then put her on the potty for the 20 mins it took me to clean it up. this was, however, after 2 weeks of not even trying on her part. and she's pooped in her diaper every single day for the last 2 wks, including today. even when i take her to the potty (under protest - yet she tt's every time, so she obviously needs to go) every 45mins-hr.
i know you, my esteemed listmates, will have wisdom to impart.. PULEEESE. i'm afraid i'll do or say something that will turn her into an anal retentive LOL
Take the anger out and put her back in diapers. Tell her you love her and know she will be a big girl when she is ready. The only other thing I will say is if she was vaccinated or acquired a sickness a few weeks prior to the reversion, you may be seeing digestive discomfort and abdominal confusion. If that is true, you have some work to do. J.
We have a 2.5 y.o. too and we've had ups and downs with potty training too. She has been trained for the past three months with no accidents. We went through power struggles and accidents on the floor too. What finally worked for us was to let her run around naked and have her potty in her toy room, where she is most of the day. We also took her to the toy store and watched to see what toy really caught her eye. We told her that we would come back Friday night when daddy got home from work and buy the toy if she went on the potty every day that week. It worked. We paid a lot of money for a dumb snow white doll, but it has paid off! She still wants her potty in her toy room, but she goes by herself now. Good luck.
One of the things I learned when potty training was to let your child clean their own accidents. Obviously you will have to clean again after them but it helps them comprehend accidents better when they are directly involved in the cleanup and not just watching you do it. Also, don’t use the potty as a place for punishment it associates a negative connotation with it. I would ask throughout the day if she needs to go and put her on the potty every hour (or when you see her cues), sitting with her and saying encouraging words while she sits there. Good luck!
Has there been a major change in your household? New baby, a move, starting preschool, etc? My first had been using the potty well for seven months and then I had a baby. He reverted for two whole months and it was h*ll. He was using it to get attention I think since I had to spend so much time with the baby. The best thing I did was to not react when he had accidents. My husband took all my son's trains away (his favorite toys) and each time he used the potty he got one back. I really was NOT happy with this idea because I thought it was punishing him and everything I read said NOT to do that. But, you know what, it worked. My son thought it was a fun game and was so proud when he used the potty and got a train. It sounds like you've tried M&Ms as rewards, but maybe stickers or a little toy would work better.
Okay here it is. I have four children. I am potty training the FOURTH kid right now. EVERY single one of them has been very different.
Seriously, my first child, A BOY, was a mere 26 months old---looked at the baby who was 2 months--her diaper--his diaper and said, "Diapers are for babies, huh, MOM?" And literally began his potty training right there himself. Had about three accidents EVER, never wet a bed and I was done. Seriously, I wondered why the fuss!
Baby number 2, darling daughter--would NOT go in a potty. Period. Not the big one with a cushey seat on top--not the little one I used for child #1. At 27 months the old potty broke--they stood on it to brush teeth. Went out bought one that was designed to stand on--and it has a pink pot. She would not stop sitting on it. LOVED the pink. Potty trained in a week, one accident in a new bed bought when she was 4. End of story.
Baby number 3---thought was last. Didn't push until I was changing a poey diaper on a 2 1/2 year old three times a day. Hated m&m's (who knew?) other kids suggested skittles. A-HAH skittles to bribe....potty trained in a week and a half...never an accident. Another BOY. Boys are NOT more difficult.
Along comes MR. SURPRISE. Brilliant child. Really--I am the momma--but this boy seemed to outshine the rest. I even told them he would be potty trained first. Spoke almost as early as the only girl. I took him to the doctor for his two year check up in Buzz UNDERPANTS. REAL underpants. Dr is 1/2 and hour each way. He p'ed on que in the cup--nurse swore the youngest EVER to do that. He seemed to catch on VERY VERY QUICKLY. Dr. comments while talking to him--that he is the size and maturity of a FOUR YEAR OLD--mom beams....the last one down.....that was JUNE. Baby number four reverts....it is after CHRISTMAS and we are back to potty training. VERY frustrating. We took for a while to sinking cheerios in the toilet. He liked that for a day. All my other boys sat at first for EVERYTHING....this one, with so many other boys, wants to stand. That has been the key. So he stands on the little potty and goes. MARSHMALLOWS--are his love. Mom is holding out for a #2 in the potty. The marshmallows are torturing him yesterday. Today he might...I hope...have it down...again.....
I have always promised--and delivered--one special toy for them when they accomplish potty training and I stop having to buy diapers. There are three BUZZ lightyears in this house, and I am told one more is coming....when he leaves the diaper behind........for good........
It's not unusual for them to stop cold like that. Don't force her to go potty when she doesn't want to go, she is pretty young still and you don't want her to regress further. Follow her lead, tell her it's time to go potty, if she says ok, then great, if she throws a fit, let it go. Keep her in either diapers or pull ups till she is going again. The only time a punishment should be given is for potting on the floor, not in clothes.
I started with my son when he turned 2yrs old. It was a up and down thing. He would do great for a few weeks and then not want anything to do with it then he would again and do better than the time before. He trained at 2 1/2 on his own the first morning we were at a relatives house for Christmas. He only had two poop/pee accidents and I had to buy him underwear cause I didn't bring any with us!!
Kids will do it when they are most ready and comfortable, we just have to guide them along the way and follow their lead with it.
Good luck!
S.
