Potty Training a 2 Year Old

Both of my girls were very easy. My oldest one trained herself. My younger one was a little harder. My Mom told me to put her back into diapers or pull ups. Then my Mom bought her some pretty panties and gave them to me in front of her and told her she couldn't wear them until she learned to use the potty. After that we never had a problem. She started using the potty that very same day. And to stop the bed wetting my Dad told her she couldn't go camping until she quit peeing to bed. That was all it took. But one thing I did with both of them was let them go in and go potty when I was going potty. Makes training go a lot quicker.

Girls are supposed to be easier, "they say"!!! I used to be in a daycare as a teacher for the toddler room so here is what I would have to say about it. Before you started potty training her did she exhibit any signs of wanting to?? Did she crouch in a corner or watch you, wondering what you were doing? If not she probably isn't ready. There are signs that let you know and then it seems to be a process. Obviously all those things are great that you were doing and I would keep them up. Make sure when she does go on the potty it's a party as well. Otherwise wait, don't rush it, she just isn't as ready as you would like her to be.

My son is 8 months old, so I don't have to worry about that yet - but I am a preschool teacher - for 18 months to 3 years old for 4 years now, so I have LOTS of experience with potty training. (in my opinion): The fact that she wants to wear big girl panties is GREAT! For me, that is one of the signs that I look for in the kids. I have stories about potty training that could go on forever! I think that bribery sometimes doesn't work, like candy or tv time, stuff like that. once again - in my opinion: I think that you should take your little girl to the store and let her pick out her own "big girl panties". I have reccoended that to some of my parents at school, and that surprisingly motivates some of the kids. Another thing that I have found useful is that if she is still in diapers or pullups, EVERYTIME you change her, ask her if she would like to try to go p in the potty (or whatever you call it). A lot of times they will say no, but that's OK. I had a lot of kids who did the "hot potato" sit, where they would sit and pop right back up. But encouragement is a huge thing. Make it fun - what I found helped (granted there was always a few kids hanging around the bathroom) was that when one of the kids were starting to sit for longer times, but nothing would happen, we would have 'listening contests'. There would be 2 or three other kids (all 2 years old) in the bathroom and we would cup our hands around our ears and listen to see who could hear so-n-so's p. Then the next kid would want to go so everyone could hear him/her. That I think helped alot. I also had a potty dance that I would do for them - they thought it was hilarious - I just made up words for going pottty to itsy bitsy spider or twinkle twinkle little star and do dances from the 70s and 80s. the kids just eat it up. I would try having your daughtor "listen for yours" and then see if you both can hear hers. if nothing happens - I always say that they did a very good job just sitting on the potty, that something doesn't happen everytime and thats OK. i always say thank you for sitting on the potty. At work we have a working toilet that is the perfect size for 2 year olds (its the only one in the classroom - so us adults get to do deep knee bends if we have to go - but oh well). I think that if you can do that - that'd be awesome - but I am also realistic, and know that not everyone can do that in their bathrooms - so using the 'plastic potty' is good - but i think it needs to be kept in the bathroom.

with my kids at school, whenever they 'go' either #1 or 2, one of the things I always do is give them a thumbs up sign, i cheer for them, and i make sure I tell them something along the lines of "doesn't your body feel better now that you've gone potty" I try really hard not to say "go pottty for me, or mommy (to those who it applies)" and tell her to listen to her body. you have to repeat these things but after a while I believe your daughtor will get it if you keep it consistent. I also would say evey 60 min or so (depending on how much they drank - i'd say between 45 min and 90 min) say "Its time for you to try to go potty." Don't ask her because if you say "would you like to go potty" she'll be that wonderful two yearold that they all are and say NO!

one quick story about my kids at school (my son is starting to wakeup) - i just cant' help but sharing - when we kept with the 'thumbs up' and 'cheering' the kids would do it at home, and then if one of us teachers went to the bathroom, when we came out one or two of them would shout across the room - "ms P. did you go potty" and i'll say yes, and then they say "good job ms P.!" and give me a thumbs up. its so cute!

Anyways - i think I've talked long enough - hope some of this helps

don't go by when "girls" are ready, go by when she is ready and she isn't. Stop pushing for a couple months and she if she starts again on her own. I know a few girls that didn't even start training until after 3, so ease up a little. Good luck!

Hey Brandi,
I just potty trained my granddaughter who is 22 months. I bought her a potty that sings when she tinkles in it. She loves it. When she also tinkles or you know, #2, we do the Potty Dance. We hold hands and sing "Kelsie went potty in the toilet, woo, hoo!" and we jump up and down, we make a huge fun commotion out of it and she just loves it. When I first started out, we spent alot of time on the toilet, me sitting on the floor in the bathroom, talking, reading and singing. I gave her a big cup of juice/water while sitting on the toilet so that she really would have no choice but to go pee because her bladder would get full. She is one who downs her drinks, so within 10 minutes of drinking on her toilet, she would pee! The first day, she went potty 8 times, the second day she went #2. She is doing great and mommy is pretty happy with the results. Just remember to be patient and very supportive of her. Hope all goes well.
L. Jacobs

Hi B.,
As a mom of 6, 5 of which are girls!! (yes, #6 was our big surprise of a boy), girls are not necessarily easier. From what you've stated it sounds like you might need to relax things some and give her a little more time. I would take my girls with me when I went to the bathroom. Even if she didn't have to go, we went together. Also, I found that using a potty chair is much more accessible and comfortable for little ones. The big potty can sometimes make your little one feel insecure, like she's going to fall. Believe me when I tell you, she'll be potty trained soon. She won't be starting kindergarten in pull-ups. Hang in there!! It all seems to work out in the end.
C. M

Hi B.. I have a little girl as well, she just turned 4 years old. I started her with all the things you listed you have tried and I did this when my daughter was 2. I found that a lot of those tricks are more for preping her and getting her used to the whole potty time. Sometimes 2 can be early. It takes a little while for kids to get used to it. I placed the training potty in front of my toilet and I would sit on the toilet while she sat in hers. We would sing, talk etc. Sometimes we were sitting in there for 15-20 mins but then she started going. From that point on she would tell me when she was ready and I used the pull ups. It made potty time fun and special instead of something she had to do. Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Kimberly

Im in the same way my boys where a bet easyer my 2 old little girl the same she want keep any thing on but when she need to go she'll cry and when i put the dipers back she go then ... i need help to with my little girl ill pray for you that you get her potty train .... good luck !

M. S

Well, this might sound a bit strange, but it worked for me! This started because my youngest son (1 1/2) was SO active that I couldn't get ready in the mornings, so it was more of a way to keep him in sight. And accidently turned into potty training! I didn't tell him what the potty was for(but I am sure he had an idea with 2 older brothers).

I got one of those seats that you set on top of your own toilet. Everyday after my shower, I would put him on it while I fixed my hair at the sink (about 2 inches from him). I would keep a small basket next to the seat filled with books and a couple small toys that he could play with while sitting. I told him he had to sit there while mommy fixed her hair. After the 3rd day he pooped in the toilet! We were both very surprised, but i told him that was good, and thats what big boys did on the potty. I didn't say anything else, and by the next week every time I sat him there he pooped! By the end of the month he was in pull-ups and never pooped in them again. i just sat him down in the morning and evenings. With in two months he was potty trained without me even trying. (if I didn't have something to do in the bathroom I would sit on the tub and read with him or on my own.) I think the best part was that we didn't focus on it, he was distracted and didn't even realize he was on the potty until he did something...no pressure.
good luck!

If she's peeing in her panties all or most of the time, then she is just not ready. My own daughter was interested in wearing big girl panties when she was 2, but did not potty train until she was 3. I could have saved myself a lot of laundry and frustration by just waiting, LOL.

Put them away for 3 or 6 months and try again... they grow so quickly at this age that even a few months might make a big difference.

And all kids are different... my son potty trained much easier than my daughter. :)

I have 4 children and they are all potty trained now. 8 year old girl, 7 year old girl, 5 year old boy and a 3 year old girl. My oldest potty trained at 18 mos (easy), 7 year old at 2 years (difficult - she was afraid of her poop coming out), 5 year old at 3 years (easy) and my 3 year old at 2 1/2 years (easy). All that to say that each child is different and will potty train at different ages and you will have a different experience with each one.

If your 2 year old isn't showing signs of potty training readiness, it would not do well to force the issue. Potty training will become something she resents and will become a battle between the two of you. Signs of readiness are dry diapers at some points during the day, she complains about her diaper being wet or dirty and she wants it changed, or she's curious about the potty. Things you can do to peak interest is getting potty story books to read to her. But not all the candy or pretty panties in the world will get a child to want to potty train if they aren't developmentally ready to do it. Once she shows these signs make a point to be home so that you can be consistent with the training. I made sure I didn't schedule play dates for a week just so I could focus on her "I need to potty" cues.

Peace and strength to you during this season. She will be potty trained, I promise!
Another mom,
M.

B.,
I,too, have a 2 year old ( 3 at end of April) She was very reluctant to try the potty for the past 4 months; including sitting with no action. It wasn't until after I got her one of the toilet seat inserts that she began to get interested. Now she goes on a potty just like Mommy. Of course we are no where near trained. Just this week, we have gone about 4 hours without an "oops". Small steps but in the right direction. I reward her with an outrageous "potty dance", tons of cheer, and occasionally 1 M&M. Good luck! Sorry it's not much more than you are already doing but thought a comfort that others are in yours shoes might help.
D. R.