Potty Training - Polk City,FL

C.,
I tried everything with my 3 1/2 year old and I finally came up with a solution. I used balloon animals, you know, the kind clowns use. You can purchase the sets at most party stores. They come with balloons, air pump and directions. I would sit in the bathroom and "stretch" the balloon while he peed and would make the animal or hat or flower when he was done. I had to make one or two before he actually went, but it worked. Good luck!
G.

When bowel movements are a problem, children are usually withholding on purpose. I don't think that's what's going on here. This reminds me of people who can't use a public restroom. I'm thinking that since she can do bowel movements on the potty, that perhaps she is too "keyed up" and anxious to actually pee. She needs to relax to a certian degree to have success. Try to find a way to help her relax more, such as giving her a favorite book to read.

That is a tough one,especially because she is older. Has she ever gone pee on the potty even once? The reason I ask is because maybe when she went the first time she got splashed or didn't like the sound of the pee going into the potty. If it isn't a "don't know when it's coming" issue or a medical issue it may just be a "doesn't like it" issue which can be quickly overcome if you can figure out what it is that she doesn't like about it. Just a thought.
Good luck.

I would totally make sure that there isn't something medical going on 1st (more than just a brief visit in the ped's office). My sister couldn't make it to the potty to pee but could do bm in there without issue. Everyone was frustrated and she was ashamed. At I think age 5 or so she finally had a scan of some sort and found out she had a tumor the size of a grapefruit very internally that was pressing on her bladder making her be unable to recognize when she needed to go.

If this has been ruled out, then I would keep her in panties and use the plastic training covers (to save the house and car!) and have her help to wash them everytime in the sink. I wouldn't be angry, disappointed or anything else negative...nor say a word to her about what she has done, other than the fact that the panties (and her) now need to be cleaned. This will be a pain, but it will be so to her as well and she will have to stop and clean up at very inconvenient times such as during a great tv show, while playing, etc.

I also think she has become too stressed now about peeing in the potty (for whatever reason...) and needs to settle and relax. If everyone is tense and uptight about her accidents, she will be slow to progress since she associates pee with tension/anxiety (no matter where it is). Read, tell stories or jokes, get a new coloring book(s) or reading books that are just for potty time (sitting on the potty) so she wil want to sit there just to use the cool new items! Keep positive, positive, positive!!!!

Best wishes to your friend!

If you can notice approximately what times she pees, you can have her sit on her potty before it happens, maybe with a book or a snack. Could try a little scent of spirit of peppermint to induce urination. Good luck!

HI! I work at a preschool and have been pottying training children for awhile. Some take awhile, but eventually get it as they get older. One thing that you could do is get rid of the pullups altogether and go on a shopping trip with your daughter explaining that she can pick out her SPECIAL panties, but if she does pick any out remind her that she can not go in them and has to go on the potty or she will ruin her special panties. I hope this works or something else works for you. Good Luck with everything!

i had to have my daughter sit on the potty for HOURS to get her to pee. i still couldn't tell you what her issue was, but it worked, and all is well now. we would read books, play games, even eat snacks, while sitting on the toilet, knowing eventually, she would have to go. it worked. i wouldn't force her to do it every time. but at least once a day, she would be peeing on the potty. and eventually, it didnt take as long, and then she just sort of shifted into a regular routine. Its frustrating, i know.

Best of luck to you.