Potty Training Help!!!!! - Grain Valley,MO

All 8 of my kids were potty trained before 3 years old and most did best at about about 2 1/2. I would not put a diaper or pull up on her at all and take her often, like every 15-30 minutes whether she asks to go or not and insist that she sit there even if she didn't ask to go. I don't mean to make it a battle but don't wait until she asks to go. It is an all day process so you have to do it all day. Very time consuming. I've written on here before about this and about a potty chair we got for our grandson who I was keeping and it's a Fisher Price potty that plays music. Our grandson loved that and hearing the music was almost all the reward he wanted. With my kids I did a sticker chart, a small gift at the end with one, marshmallow each time ( miniature one ) each time he went and other things with each child. Nothing that was major or cost much in any case. There may be accidents so be prepared and don't make her feel bad but let her know it's not the idea kindly. Most of the work is on your end. Don't quit if you start and don't go to diapers or pull ups if you want it to really work.

My daughter turns 3 in July. She was 21 months old when she started taking off her diaper to go to the bathroom. I took that as a sign she was ready. From then on we put nothing but underwear on her, except when she slept (still do that and we call them "night-night pants"). It was messy for a few weeks but we made the decision to stick with it because she wasn't frustrated at all. We didn't do anything but sing silly songs, jump up and down and dance, no candy, no stickers. It took a few weeks before she wasn't a ticking time bomb in public anymore. She still had accidents, especially pooping, but I can't remember the last one.

Whenever and whatever you decide to do, be consistent. Your daughter will know what to expect and won't be confused. I think putting pull-ups on one day and underwear the next really confuses little ones... one day it's ok to pee in their pants and the next it's not.

Another tip for when you do decided to tackle potty training head-on. Buy one of those three part potty seats that has a base, a seat and reservoir and take it with you in the car whenever you go out. Keep toilet paper and wipes in the base. (We even took it on our long walks or to the park)When you get out of the car, have your daughter use the potty, then just pour it in the grass. Sounds kind of gross but it will save you from hunting down a bathroom, then worrying if the bathroom is clean. We also had one of those folding seats for when you absolutely have to use a public bathroom.

Every child is different, except when it comes to praise... they all need that. Cover her with praise, praise, praise, and try not to make her feel bad for having accidents.

Good luck! She'll have it down before you know it!

Quite often kids will show an interest in potty training at a younger age like your daughter did , and then it will pass because they were not actually ready. The most common age for them to train is around 3 , she is part way there already in that she knows when she needs to go , so that's half the battle , she just needs to get some confidence to actually "go" on the toilet. Try not to use candy as a bribe , use some like a sticker chart instead , with a reward when she has x amount of stickers (a pack of crayons or color book for example). Don't let her see that you are frustrated and eager for her to train , she will pick up on this and it will be even harder. Give it a little more time , say a month or so & then suggest using the big girl potty again and see how she is , also don't be worried about letting her see you use the toilet , it's how they learn what to do.

Good luck

Sorry to say, but your daughter is manipulating you and she is a pro at it. Anytime she can come to you and tell you that she needs a diaper change or wears big girl underwear and then bring you a diaper and tell you she wants to put it on when she knows that she has to go poop, she is manipulating you. She is used to being the baby and now you have another baby that is getting most of the attention, so she found your weak spot and she is working on it because that way, she has your attention. Let her keep the poop on her for a while after she is done. The discomfort will wake up. Another suggestion and I know this is/can be gross, but put the big girl underwear on her and do not change them when she comes to you saying that she needs a diaper. She will either get on the pot or go in her underwear, which will be so uncomfortable that she will stop. This is what I did and the feeling of being wet and cold and the underwear sticking to them will make her tell you before she goes and she WILL go on the pot. I potty trained my daughter in 1 week and was 1 1/2. Hope this helps.

Hello, I have trained a lot of kids working in day care for 10 years. One thing that seems to work with kids is a sticker chart placed on the bathroom door. It sounds corny but kids love to put the sticker next to there name. But the most important thing is consistency. Is she in daycare? if so make sure they are working with her too. A lot of times the only way to potty train is to not put a diaper on at all, except for bedtime. Of corse this means pee pee on rugs, couches and in the car so be prepared for a mess. She will not like the feeling of a wet/dirty undies, and may motivate her to use the potty. Also maybe take her to the store without the baby to pick out "Big Girl underware" MAke a big deal about it. Have her call family members and tell them about it. And never under estimate the power of the "pee pee on the potty" dance. I potty trained 16 kids a year for almost 10 years and thats pretty much what i did. All the best to you mama! I hope this helps you out.

I do have to 3-day potty training download if you would like it. send me your email and I will send it, I don't know how to put it on here.
But Suzanne L. did what the 3-day potty training says to do and it works every time if you do just what it says. You have to be consistant and ready to spend the next 2-3 day working on this, and then its done. maybe an accident now and then, but diapers and pull-ups are your worst enemy when trying to potty train, that is because they are use to having that bulky cloth next to them to potty, think about you trying to go in your pants, it feels foreign, so going without pants on will take some getting use to. hang in there it shouldn't take until august. With her good comunication skills she is ready.

I agree with the 3 day Potty Training by Lora Jensen (www.3daypottytraining.com). It worked wonders with my 24 month old! She was potty trained in 2 days!! NO pullups or diapers... not even at night!! I did not use it for my first born and it took longer. I am pregnant with our 3rd and will definitely go this route! Good luck!

I agree with Kate. Every child trains at their own pace and not until they are ready. I have 2 boys, one 20 years old and one 6, and it was like night and day! Give her every opportunity and tell her that she's a big girl now when she does use the potty. I used the "pee-pee" dance every time my 6-year-old used the big boy potty as a toddler. He loved it and celebrating that he was growing up to be a big boy like his dad and brother. It doesn't hurt to try!