My oldest daughter who just turned two on monday decided the next day to have a movement in the potty! We have spent the last couple of months teaching her about the potty, getting her the flush it, ect, all in hopes that when she was ready she would start using it. So she did and has been using it all week, with only a few accidents in her pull-ups (a recent buy since using the potty). Here's my problem, she tells me she needs to use the potty, so we go and sit and wait. Often she gets distracted and makes me think that she just wanted attention. So after two attempts of getting her back on the potty and use it without success, I pull up her pants and we leave the bathroom. I don't know if I should just continue to stay in there, and help her not be distracted, or continue doing what I'm doing to show her it's not play-time? When can I tell she really does need to use it or she just wants a reaction? She did this in walmart yesterday. we went two times because she told me she had to go, when we got there she got distracted and wanted to run around naked! :) Am I doing this right? Ugh, just need advice or stories of similar experiences!!
Its just a phase and will soon pass-she's interested in pottying-so as annoying as it is-humor her but just set a time limit. "one more minute and then we're done" worked for me. once the novelty wears off she wont ask to go so much. my dd did the same and shopping trips got complicated till she got bored with visiting "new" potties. its just part of the learning process. good luck!
my daughter also just turned two. we've had a successful week with underwear!! i got some prizes from the dollar store (a little pricess toy, care bear flashcards, etc) and if it's her idea to go, and she goes in the potty, then she gets a prize. if it's my idea and she goes, she gets lots of praise and a sticker... but the prizes are special for when she feels like she needs to go, holds it till she gets there, and goes in the potty by herself. after two accidents yesterday she had to wear a diaper, and she was extra careful the rest of the day to stay dry!
anyway, she will sometimes get in that playful mood and it doesn't let her relax. i leave "i have to go get something... i'll be right back" then she'll go as soon as i'm out of the bathroom.
we got two movies from our public library that my kids LOVE-- go potty go and potty power. there are cute songs and stories like "the princess and the potty" it's been useful... (although i hate getting the "wipe your bottom" or "what do you like to do when you're sittin on the potty?" song stuck in my head!! they're catchy tunes...)
keep it positive, and good luck!
Hi P.!
Potty time is not play time! When we were training our daughter, if she said she had to go, we would take..EVERY TIME! You have to or she will not tell you when she REALLY has to go...keep that up! The next step is what you need to change.
Once you are there, if she doesn’t go within one minute, get her out of there. Otherwise it will become a game, just like you mentioned; a place to play. Even if you have to go back in there 5 minutes later, don't let her dwell. It is going to be really aggravating for awhile, but you'll get through it. We taught our daughter to “relax” by breathing in and out. We found she was tensing and stopping the flow, so nothing would happen. Once she figured that out, it was easier.
On another note, we tried the potty training thing at age 2 and my daughter wasn’t ready. We stopped for a bit and then re-approached every few months until we got better cooperation. We also experienced her going in the potty early on, but then she did what your little girl is doing (and threw tantrums!), so we cooled it for a bit and re-approached.
If she is going frequently, then keep it up because you are there, but if it is completely hit & miss, maybe a break (which is what my pediatrician recommended) is a good idea. The 3rd time we did that, Emily approached us about the potty and then you KNOW it’s gonna work! :o)
Good luck and hang in there!!!
This is completely normal. My daughter did the same things. Let her take the lead and don't push her too much or you'll end up with a battle on your hands. ALL kids eventually learn to use the potty. Try making it fun, like if she sucessfully used the potty, try stickers, MnM's as a reward. If she doesn't succesfully go on the potty, just say something like "good try, kiddo, we'll try again later", but don't hand out a prize, she'll catch on and maybe she'll start using the potty for real. This was a big hit with my own daughter and she was fully trained at 3 and 1/2.
Keep doing what you are doing.
You want to respect her request since she is learning to use the potty, but it is not necessary to sit there forever.
You might use a 3 min. egg timer in the bathroom for this purpose.
At this stage expect some accidents.
It takes time to establish habits.
You are there to help her along and keep things focused.
You are doing fine.
At this age they really don't understand the feeling of having to go and they don't want to have an accident so any feeling they get they ask to go. Even after she is potty trained you will probably be taking her to every potty everywhere!!!!
When my daughter turned two she did a similar thing and I thought for sure she was ging to potty train and be done!!! A couple weeks later she had no interest in it what so ever!!!
Because she is so young you may go through several stages of her going regular and then not going at all. I guess my only piece of advice is let her lead the way don't ever force her. If she goes into a stage of not wanting to go just drop the whole thing and wait for her to decide when she is ready again.
Good Luck with everything!!!!
A.
Sounds like either a little jealousy about the new baby or she likes to flush the toiler even when she really don't have to go. The only thing I can suggest is to get her more involved, if possible, with the baby. Try to spend more time with her, if you can, to show her that she isn't replaced by the baby. The other thing that's possible is that she just likes to flush the toilet. Try to get her to concentrate on going to the bathroon, so you can do more things with her. Tell her that if she goes when she has to go and don't play around, then you will be able to finish your work sooner and spend more time plaaying with her. That's the best I can do for now. Hope somethings works for you.
Welcome to the "check out every potty we can" phase. My son LOVES to check out pottys...he wants to see if the place has the new pottys that flush themselves or not. Now that we are fully potty trained and five we can discuss if it's a need to check out the bathroom or a need to USE the bathroom. I can't really give you any tips on how to get through it...just wanted to let you knwo you weren't alone!
I think it is great she is asking to go. Yes, it does sound like she wants the extra attention and is using this as a way to get it, or she may have a little gas bubble and thinks she has to go and then gets there, the feeling passes, and she is on to something else.
I would take her when she asks to go, frustrating as it may be, and when she is finished just go on with whatever you doing before. It may be true and you don't want to discourage her from using the toilet.
Appauld her when she does go, give her a special treat if she does, and no treat if she doesn't. My sister-in-law used Skittles, another friend used pennies. I used hugs and kisses.
Hang in there! By taking her when she says she has to go you are doing the right thing!!!
LOL, I think she likes to be naked, too. Another little thing they go through at that age!
