Potty Training - Hollis, NH

Hi S.,
My son took to the potty at 18 months. He liked the big deal! I put him in *big boy pants* they don't feel so great when you have an accident. We still sometime use pull ups overnight and on long day trips. We don't use the D word (diapers) they are big kid pants. He will be 3 in may and is completely potty trained. However my daughter is now 18 months and will sit on the potty for a second but does not want to use the potty. I am trying to use a new potty that is just her size instead of the one you put on the toilet. My mom said I had one and she would sit me there with a book while she got ready for work. I think sometimes being up on the toilet might be a little more then some kids can handle and their own little potty might do better. That way when you go she can go, even if she really doesn't have to. Some say pushing too hard is wasted energy but I think that as long as you are persistent and consistent you are not wasting time. When you wake up you go potty and get dressed. Shortly after eating or drinking try. This lets them know that using the potty is part of everyday. They learn to feed themselves and dress them selves by practise I believe it is the same.

Hi S.! As an early childhood development specalist and educator the one piece of advice I would give would be to table the issue. Until your daughter is truly interested it is energy wasted. She will send you clues when she is ready to explore that milestone and at that time you can seize the opportunity to try to train her... good luck!

I don't know what you've tried putting her in "big girl undies", but I did that with my son (except they were "big boy undies") and he was able to feel the accidents and learned pretty quickly to communicate his need to go potty. He was pretty much trained by the time he was 22 mos. This was, however, our 3rd attempt, so it takes time & they have to be willing. Good luck!

I started both my kids at 2-1/2. I put them in real underpants during the day and pull-ups at nap and bedtime. There will be accidents but they don't like the feeling of wet underpants. If you wait until the warm weather most of the accidents will happen outside instead of on your carpet! You can make it fun for your daughter by having her pick out her own special underwear.

It sounds like she's just not ready yet! Keep up the positive talk and see if she shows some interest, but don't push too hard or you will scare her off.

When I was training my daughter I used to have a few books in the bathroom with us I would read to her as she was sitting on it. It worked for me. My daughter was fully potty trained before 2.

I would try having a small prize box and every time she uses the potty, she gets a prize out of the box. Make it something that she can't have any other time of the day so it is extremely rewarding.

Abort for six months. Put everything away and don't mention it. Six months from now bring it all out and try again. SHe's not ready and there is no sense driving yourself crazy about it. 2 IS young for either boy or girl.

I've always heard you can't rush it. They'll do it when they're ready. I would leave a little potty seat out & let her know it's there & that when she wants to she can try it. My son will be 3 in August & he's not ready yet. I think girls learn more quickly than boys though.

Hi S.. Try this. It worked for me. I read this in parents magazine back in 1998. Take coffee filters and use markers to make all sorts of designs. Let your child pick out which ever one she likes. Place the filter in the potty training seat. When the child pees it will turn different colors. Its fun for her and ease minding for you. Still use it when the child poops as well. I gave my daughter ice cream when she pooped. i have told my friends and they have tried and succeeded.(don't flush filters, I did and oops!) Good luck!

I agree - 2 sounds quite young to me. My son was 3 and a half... I know girls are usually faster, but 2 is still young. Hold off for a little while but leave the option available to her like someone else mentioned.

my advice - give up for now.. if she's pressured and you push, it's just going to make it harder to do.. get some pt books, videos and get her info on it.. leave the potty out where it's in plain sight. you can try to put her in regular undies and let her feel the pee when she goes - she'll hate that. but it's kind of cold still to let her run around like that. when she's ready, she'll be ready.. let her see you go, ask if she'd like to try before bath time. you can do the "teddy has to go potty " thing and when teddy goes, he gets a party.. and go thru with the party!!! she'll want theparty for herself. sticker charts, promises to go someplace (follow thru is very important).. try giving her a lollipop or m&m's or some treat just for sitting.. then move on to the treat when she pees... but if she's not ready, she won't do it. good luck