Hi all,
My almost 2.5 year old daughter is having some trouble with potty training, or maybe its me! She does beautifully when we are at home and I let her run around completely naked, she doesn't miss a beat, she gets on the potty and then lets me know that she went and I make a big deal about it, and she obviously gets it..but we tried underwear and she treats them just like a diaper, eventhough I remind her all the time- *sigh* I am frustrated. Her vocabulary is outstanding, she talks in complete sentences and is quite a chatterbox. This girl is not telling me when she has to go, has anyone else had a problem with this? We are working on her being able to pull her pants down, I always tell her "Tell me if you need to go and I can help you pull your pants down so you can use the potty!" I have even said, "Tell me when the pee pee is coming" which I thought she would understand better and she seems to, but no changes. She asks for help with other things all the time, so I know she can express that she needs help with something. So in short, if shes naked she uses the potty very well, and in clothes, she has accidents. What would you recommend that I do to get past this? TIA
THe only way to "fix" this is to wait... she is clearly not ready. My son was the same way at that age, but guess what? He's fully potty trained now... and has been since before his third birthday. Just don't stress so much, use diapers when you're out and naked when you're home - she'll get it when it's time, I promise!
H R.,
I am currently potty training my daughter who is 28 months old. This has been a very LONG journey with her. I think it has been about 3 months since I have been on top of her with asking "you have to go pee pee?" The phrase that I used to say to her when she was sitting of the toilet was, "let your pee-pee go honey", she would say "ok mommy". That's how she actually started to pee (or poop). I would say that she is 95% potty trained as of today. She would actually tell me when she had to go by grabbing herself and saying "i going pee-pee!!" Then I would yell "NOOOO...go in your potty!!" She would run to either her little potty or the big toilet. She flip flops back and forth. She's really tall, so she just scoots onto the toilet. I have had her in underwear for 2 days now with no accidents.
Anyway, getting back to you. I have a great on-line potty training book. Just email me at ____@____.com and I will send it to you. (or anyone else that might need it)
I also have a wonderful on-line book about how to get your child to sleep through the night. This book truly changed our family's life! If you need it,(or anyone else) I would be happy to give it to you.
Maybe she just isn't 100% ready. She is still really young. The average age of total potty training (including night time) is 3 1/2 years old for girls, boys are a different story. Just be patient. I wouldn't leave her naked so often, and more in her underware. If she has those accidents, then you just have to deal with them. She will get it eventually. Don't revert back to diapers though, it is just confusing to them.(except for night time of course) If you want to potty train, then just go for it, but allow 2 weeks. Try to stay home as much as possible, with short trips outside in her underwear. I think I was asking my daughter if she had to pee like a million times a day. BUT, my persistence has paid off and now, I really don't have to ask her but a handful of times a day.
So let me know if you want this on-line book and I will get it to you today.
Take care,
M.
A friend of mine just went through the exact same situation where here son would only cooperate when naked, etc. She finally came to the conclusion that her son just isn't quite ready! He is also 2 1/2 and advanced in other ways but she spent months trying and he never stopped peeing in his underwear or shorts. She has decided to try again in a few months.
Most moms have advised me that potty training should be pretty effortless when the child is really ready for it!
IF she is ready, then YOU need to initiate the "time to go" every 30 minutes or so until it's a habit. SHE WILL NOT at this age, say, I need to go pee pee! I need to go poo poo! Yes, some kids do, but most do not. That is why even in preschool -at ages 3 and 4 the schools have a regular bathroom routine, because even 3/4 year olds would rather play than break to potty.
So, yes, it's you but, it sounds like she is ready and you are doing everything else right - just don't let too much time pass in between potty times. With my son, rather than say, Do you need to go potty? Of course he is gonna say, NO! I'd say, "hey, let's go potty, do you want to go in your bathroom or mine?" He NEVER said, I don't have to go -he'd pick which bathroom he wanted and go.
Best wishes!!
M.
My daughter and I went through this several months ago. She even went on underwear strike and would only wear pull-ups. I gave up. We let her do her thing for a couple of months. When we decided to try underwear again she was ready. She turned 3 in June and we are completely potty trained. For the last week she has even gone without pull-ups at night (a miracle). Just be patient. She might not be "ready" for this change yet.
Hi R., you are not alone. My daugter who is about your daughter's age will pee if I put under wears on her but won't pee her pull up. I don't actually understand that.
Have you tried having your little girl wear dresses. I have notice my little one will go to the bathroom on her own if I keep her in dresses. Just a thought.
