Potty Training - Baltimore,MD

Pull ups don't get kids ready to train. They are a more expensive kind of diaper and extrend the training process by having kids pee in their "training pants." They don't feel the wetness. If anything, switch to cloth diapers. They teach kids what happens when they pee - they get really wet! This is probably what took your daughter by surprise when she wore the underwear. Then, they start to understand what it feels like just before they pee. When it's training time, use multilayer cloth training pants with the waterproof outer layer, or with plastic pants over them. Take her to the toilet every hour, hour and a half. Don't ask if she has to or wants to go, and don't expect her to tell you that she has to - a lot of parents think this is the first step in the training process, but it is often the LAST. Set using the toilet as a routine and an expected behavior, not something she can do if she feels like it or to get a reward.

My son is 31 months old and still is training. There are days that he will go to the potty and there are days that he just refuses. Each child is different. My older son, who is almost nine, was 4 y/o when he became totally potty trained. My 31 m/o does wear those training pants that fade when wet but I do have cloth training pants that I put on him. I hope this helps you feel better.

First of all, I totally disagree with Tania. We have to take readiness cues from our little ones to determine if they are ready or not before we start to train them. Anything else, and you will get regression issues and lots of accidents, which is more trouble than it's worth!

Each child is very different- my oldest daughter potty trained at 2, and my youngest, very recently successful at her training, waited until after her 3rd birthday. As many times as I tried to force the issue and take the lead, she just wasn't ready.

If you wait until she is ready, you will have a MUCH MUCH easier time of it, I promise you. When she is ready, she will have far less accidents.

Both my girls potty trained around 2 years old -- now even my not-yet-two-year-old doesn't even need diapers at night, and only a very very rare accident from either of them! I think if a kid potty-trains around 2, they are probably a little MORE pliable (more of a push-over) than kids who are just a little bit older.

So now you are at the point with your daughter than the potty is no longer interesting to her (it's not new anymore, so now it's getting boring). So, you need to pull out all your tricks to make it interesting for her. If you have a little potty that's just hers, allow her to decorate it with stickers. Or, if you haven't already tried, allow her to try to climb on the bigger potty for a change of pace. Or if there is another bathroom, try a different potty. If you have glow-in-the-dark stickers and you are able to make the bathroom dark, that's even better. You can allow her to put them on her clothes if you don't want her to put them on the potty (but I think on the potty works better).

Another trick is to put a big pot of water and special bath toys (especially new toys or even kitchen measuring cups and spoons -- something new and different) in front of the potty when she goes. Playing in the water helps stimulate the peeing instinct anyway.

But my youngest daughter's BEST motivation is actually brushing her teeth on the potty -- she loves her non-flouridated toothpaste and I allow her to brush with it as much as she wants when she is on the potty (well, ALMOST as much as she wants). This only works when she is sitting on the small potty, of course.

Some other tricks I've tried (when she is being especially stubborn -- too focused on play to be interested in potty time): 1) Hide the potty. Then try to look for it all around. Is it in the kitchen? Finally, let your toddler find it almost where it was supposed to be in the first place. 2) Make a potty chart. Put the days of the week and allow her to put coded stickers on it for urine or stool in the potty. 3) Play "I'm going to be a potty winner! Are you going to be a potty winner too?" and run so fast to the potty. 4) Play "I can't find a good story to read for potty time. Can you help?" Then read her the story that she chose. Remember, if she is not using the potty, it is because it still isn't INTERESTING enough. So use all you've got!

Every accident your daughter has is a USEFUL learning experience. Almost count it in your head on a different potty chart -- after so many accidents in her underwear, she will learn to keep her clothes dry. When she has an accident, don't get upset. That is her job right now -- to have accidents so that she can learn the right way. Although, do show empathy for the clothes that are wet. "Oh, too bad. These clothes got wet. Oh, well, let's try to keep some other clothes dry."

Use diapers still for going out if that makes it easier for you. And at bedtime for a little while. But at home, no diapers, no pull-ups. Happy potty-training!

That is great that she wants to go. I put my son in diapers when he goes to bed. when we are at home i let him run around without underware because unless i ask him if he needs to pee with them on he will pee them. My son has peed and is pooping on the potty when we are at home. You are right about not focing the issue. If she does not have a training potty buy one. My son did not want one for the longest time and then wanted it once he made pee on the potty for about four days. We got and elmo one and he really likes it. So if she wants to pee on the potty let her and have her run around without underware if you can at home. When she has to go she will without wetting all of her underware. Give her lots of praise and rewards when she goes. Stickers or whatever she likes will help. Good luck and do not get fustrated.

I fought my son on it, just like everyone said I should. It was horrible. My daughter is doing things more on her own schedule and it's great. See if you can get your daughter to try just a couple times a week, but don't push too hard. Promise that she doesn't always have to do it, just sometimes you want her to try. That can go a long way. The fighting with my son hasn't helped him any. He had to just do it on his own time, when he was ready. I swore I'd never fight for it like that again, no matter what my family was telling me. I think you should ask her about pullups. Buy some, have her try one and see what she thinks about it. Take all the cues from her, just encourage going on the potty but be supportive if she's not ready.

Hi J.,
In my short experience (lol), I've found toddlers want and need their parents to lead when it comes to learning any new skill - especially something as potentially frustrating as potty training.

I think when you say you don't want to, "force the issue" you are concerned about starting a big struggle with your sweetie. Instead, look at it as you, the Mama, being your little girl's "leader."

She has NO idea how to potty-train herself. Right now you're thinking: well-duh, she's 2 years old. But you let *her* decide she would start, and then stop, a day of potty-training. You (probably not meaning to) assumed she knew something you don't.

When you are ready to start your daughter potty training (you are "ready," not her), call a friend or find a method you like online, then YOU be the Mama, and you lead her and tell her when, how, why, and how often she will use the potty.

You'll be surprised what an awesome teacher you can be for your little girl.
good luck!
t