First Time Mom Who Needs Potty Training Advice & Encouragement

Hi, I have a daughter and when I started training her it was realy hard. It wasn't till i got this advise that she realy decided to go. Make a chart for her for everytime she goes. Then when she goes you or she can put a mark or sticker on it. If she goes on herself and doesnt want to use the potty she loses one of her marks. At the end of the week for everytime she went thats not marked out she gets a prize. It could be something from the dollar store. If she has a week that there's nothing because they are all marked out she gets nothing. If theres a week that all she has are good marks , that's cause for a small celebration. It could be something you two do together. Worked for me. :)

I agree with Chelsea - you are way ahead of the curve. My 3 year old was potty trained by the time she turned 2 - and it all happened two weeks before her birthday. We had a potty in the bathroom at 16 months, and she was interested. But we never pushed her. When she was closer to 20 months, she went through a couple of cycles of using the potty, and hiding in the corner. My advice to you would be the same that my PT nanny gave me: take a month off from even using the 'p' word unless she brings it up - she is still very young. Her resistance to your encouragement might be a control thing. Bottom line is that she may not be ready quite yet. In a month, try again. She may be ready at that time. We all know that one day soon she will be completely potty trained. Give her a little breathing room and she'll get there on her own! Best wishes!

First off, do not feel like YOU are failing. You aren't. Every kid is different in this area. My daughter was about 18 mos the first time she used the potty - I too was pregnant. All of her friends including a boy a little older pottied trained at the same time, they all seemed to copy one another. Anyway, she only went a few times then we had a baby and we moved - two big setbacks. Honestly for me, having her in diapers was easier with a newborn so I never pressured her. I also read Toilet Learning by Alison Mack, an easy read that helped me out, since I too felt like a failure. My dauther did not end up being potty trained until a few months shy of 4 years old. That may seem like forever but honestly it wasn't a problem at all and now her bathroom habits are great because she did it when she was ready. My son on the other hand started using the potty at 20mos., I didn't even ask him to try, he was just copying sis. Good luck to you and congrats on the new baby! - in the end, it will all work out.

Hello There,
I have been there and some what still am. I'm a stay at home mommy of 3 girls. My oldest was fully using the potty before she was 2. My middle girl is now 2 1/2 and started using the potty around 14 months. I thought this is great I am going to have her out of diapers before I give birth to my 3rd. Well, she completely reverted and started going all over the house like a little puppy. I stuck her back in diapers and never mentioned it again and let her use it when she wanted too. Now my 3rd little girl is now 7-months old (today) and my 2-year old now is realizing that diapers are for babies...although this has been a long process. I really think it is harder while you are pregnant..your daughter may sense that she is no longer going to be the baby and want to hold on to that, I know mine did. I keep mine in pull ups and she still has an accident every now and then...but honestly maybe let it be and work on it AFTER the baby. Kids normally do revert after a baby is born so you may not want to go through the process and have her revert back to diapers once the little one arrives. Believe me, I wish I didn't have o buy diapers for two..but she'll be ready when she is ready. And remember ALLLLL kids are different, so don't be too h*** o* yourself. It will happen when she is ready.
Good luck!

I am going through the same exact thing. My daughter is 2 1/2 and first used the potty just before age 2. I was so excited when she first started, thinking to myself, WOW what an easy thing. Now, over 6 months later, she still isn't completely potty trained. One day she will go potty with no wet pullups, and the next day, she refuses to get on the potty. To top it off, I am also pregnant (7 months pregnant) and was told to be rid of all her old habits before the new baby came(potty training and pacifier) because once the new baby came she would revert to her old behaviors. So I went through about a month of fighting with my daughter, stressing us both out to the point of tears, "because she should have caught on by now" and that I was a failure of a mother. All of this going on, even though I have a background in child development! You would think that I would know better and would figure it out that she will catch on when she is ready and to just let her be, for both of our sakes. And so, I constantly have to remind myself, as I change another pull up, or she tells me "no" if I ask her if she needs to go potty, that she will do it when she is ready, she won't go to kindergarten in diapers, and I am not a bad mom or a failure of a mom, and it will work out the way that it is supposed to.

hang in there - it will get better -

What a loving momma you are. Potty stuff can be tough, I have a 20 month old who likes to sit on the pot, and my 4 year old was fully commited to the toliet by the time he was 2. You are way ahead of the crowd, so persever! No pressure is the best for these little ones. They are her bowels, tell her that. Let her know that you support her, and you want the best for her, and you also really like it when she goes on the potty. Maybe she won't understand all your words, but she'll catch your drift. love to you Mooma and good luck.

HI K.,
First of all stop filling like you are failing. This does at times happen not unusual. Might be all the attention being focused on the arrival of the new baby. I also went through this with my youngest who is know 25yrs.
Good Luck.
A. Aldrich

I have three children, a 5 year old, a 3 year old and a 1 year old. Your child will do what she wants and what she feels comfertable with. She may feel the pressure of the new baby and may regress. A wise day care mom once told me as I was going through the same process, that they will be potty trained on thier schedule and not to get overly worried or stressed about it. They will not go to high school not potty trained. Be relaxed with her and going to the potty. You may want to go back to what she is comfertable with and as she is adjusted with the new baby you can try something new.