Am I Hurting My Chances at Potty Training?

My son was 20 months when we finally gave in and let him start suing the big potty. So, no it's not too early. Just work on being consistent. Sit her on the potty in the am, and after she eats, right before bed. We started using pullups, so it was easier than putting a diaper on and off, and easier to be consistent. Other than that you're doing great. Definitely continue not to make a big deal when she doesn't go. Trust me she will fight back if you do! Keep at it!

I don't think you are hurting things, but the only thing that worked for my daughter, once she was really ready was for her to do naked time. Both of my cousins did this too. That being said, she is young enough that you could wait until summer to really get consistent (since she doesn't seem to "want" to train right now) and then it will be warmer. But I did some research for you too, and you should talk to your landlord about changing the heat. In warm weather climates it is recommended that the thermostat be set to between 65-70 degrees (I found this on numerous sites that are about heating and cooling) and when you are away they go down to 62-65 degrees, so it is a bit cold for you guys (unless you find it comfy). I would talk to him about it. Good luck and keep warm!

I think everything you're doing is great! There is no harm in letting her casually use the potty.

One way you can get around the clothes issue is a product called "Baby Legs". They are leg warmers that go from the ankles all the way up to the crotch. Put those on your daughter, along with some training underwear, a top, and some socks, and she will still be covered like she has pants on.

My son is just turning 1, and sometimes we put him in a diaper and his Baby Legs just because we are too lazy to keep taking his pants off and on. We know the BLs will be invaluable when he potty trains.

Good luck!

I would fix one problem first and that is your landlord!!! Who the heck leaves the heat set at 62 degrees when there is a family living there??? What the heck, I would call and report him to someone that is interferance with just plain daily living!! IT is way too cold!!
Ok back to your main question, I think, this is based on my own personal experience b/c I did use diapers while PT with one and no daipers with the next and it went much smoother with no daipers. I think they tend to get confused as to why they are not supposed to peeing in the diaper but yet they are wearing one!! Being consistant is the key to trying to PT any child I think if you cant be consistant then you should not be PT your child right now b/c they are only getting confused!!

I think what you are doing is great. We did something similar with my son. We got a sesame street potty video and started to watch that a lot. Once he started to get the hang of what was going on we took him out of diapers. I bought plain white underwear and we tie died them to be the colors he wanted. He thought that was so much fun and could not wait to wear them. I thought for sure that was going to do it! LOL Once he put them on he wet them right away and did not really care at all. I had to really watch for when he was wet and we went through tons of pants and underwear. I thought it was never going to happen! But then, out of nowhere it just happened. I think some kids are easy and some are not. It sounds like you are on the right path. I would start this summer with just the underwear and see where you get. Hope this help and good luck!

My first daughter hated to be wet/dirty - she was trained at 18 months in about a week (really, no clue what I did - she basically did it herself - haha). My second daughter, didn't care about being wet/dirty - so she was a bit more of a challenge - started at 18 months and would say she was 2 before completely trained. We used potty elmo - which was awesome for her!! Did the books in the bathroom, toys, etc - I think you are doing the right things!! D.

I'd say you're doing exactly perfectly the right thing! (At least, it was also the right thing for my oldest son.) When he was about 18 mos old we started talking about the potty, he helped us pick out a potty chair for him, which he sat in (sometimes for just a few moments) before bath every night. He was surprised (as were we!) the couple of times he pooped in it - but from what I've been told, that's just timing and the fact that sitting gets you in the best possible position for pooping, it relaxes all the right muscles. He also watched both me and my husband use the toilet. We just took it very easy with all this, letting him do more as he was interested and able (like dumping the pee into the big toilet.) Then, just about 1 month after his second birthday, I was brushing my teeth one morning, he was running around naked, I saw him come into the bathroom behind me, and the next thing I knew he was dumping the potty chair bucket with his pee into the toilet!! He had done it all by himself, known that he needed to go and known what to do (and since he was naked didn't have any problem with clothing.) This said to me that he was ready to really start, and indeed within a few weeks he was dry (but still in pullups, of course) all day. You're doing a great job of providing your daughter with opportunity and language and learning how it all works in a totally non-pressured way - when she's ready, she'll let you know. When she gives you the sign (whatever that will be for her) here's a great book: "You Can Go to The Potty!" by the Drs. Sears. Good luck!

62 degrees?!?! Jeez, I would tell the landlord to warm it up in there or get kid pee everywhere! In the least bit I would move somewhere with a landlord who's ever had kids or lets you control the heat yourself...

Anyways, no I don't think you're ruining your chances at getting her trained. I just wouldn't push for regular potty training until next summer and hope she gets it down in time.

Then again, I don't know, my boys are a little over 2 and don't care about peeing in the chair or not at all! They like to sit on it, but I can never get them to pee or sit long enough to generate some pee.

Hi J., I had trouble potty training my son and found a great online book called The Potty Trainer. The lady who wrote it ran a daycare and has potty trained many children over the years. She recommends starting on your child's 2nd birthday. I had all but given up with my 4 year-old son but her ideas helped me get him potty trained quite quickly. I don't remember the website name, but if you Google "The Potty Trainer" it should come up. Good luck! ~R.

We felt stuck for quite a while, too, with our twins.

At age 2, they weren't talking well yet, and I wanted to have a good solid line of comminication with them while potty training, so we put it off.

At age 3, they still showed no signs of interest, so we put it off. Winter came and we were awfully tired of diapers, but we waited until spring so we could do the outdoor naked play time. That helped, but we had to do a sticker chart with prizes to actually get them to use the toilet consistently.

Are you hurting your chances? Probably not, as long as you don't put any time pressure on her.

As for temperature--our twins were never ones to tell us when their diaper was wet, and we keep our house at 62 in winter also. However, our kids just always "ran hot", so we didn't worry about them getting cold. Maybe use extra blankets if your daughter is sensitive to cold.

I wouldn't think your approach is going to hurt you chances later. Right now you are setting the ground work for when she decides that she wants to figure this whole potty thing out completely.

I started both my sons about that age and am going to start with my daughter over xmas break (she is 17 months) I would set them on the potty at certain times during the day and try to pay attention to when they might need to poop but other than that they were in diapers. My oldest took a long while but i was also working full time, my other son was in big boy pants two months before he turned two and only had a few accidents mostly if we were out and about. For the most part you just have to follow her lead, if she is getting it then keep pushing her forward but if she resist then step back for a day or so. So that she feels that she has control over this whole thing.
Good Luck

I think you are going about it well. We do/did the same thing with our son. (He is 2 1/2) He has been sitting on the potty on and off for over a year, but he hasn't gone in it consitently until the past month. Now we are just trying to transition from diapers (we use cloth too!) to "big-boy underwear." I really like the no-stress way of doing it, and it seems to be working for us. I'll let you know for sure in a few months! I certainly don't think it needs to be all or nothing.

No you are not. You are doing it exactly right. Getting her used to potty training in a non-pressure environment. It is better to take a laid back approach. But when you do start potty training for good, don't do any diapers, not even pull ups. Just go straight to panties and use a lot of positive reinforcement, stickers, treats, praise. As far as books go, you don't need any, there are some fun videos (for your child) to watch about going potty that are useful, check some out at your library. Let your daughter do it in her own time, the less pressure you put on her the better. Ease her into it, she will have a much better experience and so will you.