How Long to Potty-train Without Pull-ups?

Hi M.,
Well the first week or so of my son being potty trained I asked him quite frequently if he needed to go potty. Until he said to me one day "Moooom why do you keep asking me that?". OK so maybe I was asking him a LOT! LOL So if I've noticed that he hasn't gone in a while I will ask, especially if he's really involved in something. That's when an accident will usually happen, for us anyway. If you're at home you might just want to let her tell you. Accidents are a part of them learning how long they can hold it.

Hope this helps!
Take care,
N.

If she is that interested I would definitely go ahead and put panties on her throughout the day, especially if you are going to be home. It should only take a few days to get her used to them and realize that they get wet. I had a doctor tell me once to put pullups on over the panties to prevent messy incidents. Then the child feels the wetness right away. Don't fool with the pullups that are supposed to stay wet and let the child know when she pees. They don't work. Good luck.

My daughter is 3 1/2 and has been potty trained for over a year...I still have to ask her if she needs to go potty if she is playing with her friends, at the playground, at a fun park, etc...anywhere that she might not want to stop all the fun to take a potty break. I had her in pullups at night even after potty trained during the day for 3 weeks until there were no night-time accidents. Unfortunately, she got sick during potty training time and had to be back in pullups until she was better. My advice: always make her sit on the potty before getting into the car or leaving to go someplace where there won't be a potty available (the post office people are nice, but they get a little annoyed when you ask to use their bathroom!) Always know where the bathroom is wherever you are and be prepared to leave your shopping cart and run!
Good luck!

I would keep reminding her every 30 minutes or so,till she gets the hang of it.
To this day I remind my boys to use the potty before we leave the house and right before bedtime,and they are 8 & 5.

Hi M., I have 4 kids, all of which I potty trained before the age of 2. My youngest which is 1yr and 10 months old has been potty trained for five months now. I basically did the same thing you are doing right now, I kept asking, and I never used pull-ups. I would take her immediately after waking up in the morning, and after naps and she developed it as a habit. I would ask her from time to time and especially after she ate. Sounds like you are doing a great job, don't give up. She will soon do it herself.

My note to you is a little off topic.... My daughters are 25 months a part. My oldest was very much like yours, potty trained easily, with reminders. When I went to the hospital to have baby # 2 she would not use the potty for anyone, my husband went out and bought pull ups. She came to visit me at the hospital and told me she had to potty when we went into wash our hands so she could try to hold her sister. She pottied again before she left me, and then peed all over herself the rest of the day. When I came home from the hospital she started peeing on herself whenever I was feeding her sister, or doing something that did not give her quality time. I let her have pull ups back and tried very hard after I was done feeding or changing or bathing the baby to give her 5 or 10 minuts of quality time. We played play-doh, we did puzzles, we went in the pool, just her time. I tried not to give her attention when she went in the pull up, and I praised her when she used the potty, she would not poop in pull ups she still useds the potty for that, THANK GOD! In about 3 weeks she wanted to wear big girl panties to go somewhere and no more pull ups. I just thought I would worn you since I saw you were expecting # 2 in July. Good Luck potty training now. I think reminding is a good thing, they have a very short attention span, it should not take long at all.

My Mom always told me, don't ask, just take them. That prevents lots of accidents. When children are young they get so involved in what they are doing they forget to go to the potty. It won't be long before she starts remembering to stop what she is doing and go potty on her own. But in the mean time she needs Mommys help.

Nothing wrong with asking her, little ones get busy and your asking just makes her stop and think for a minute. If you are concerned that she will develop some kind of need to be told to go that she won't be able to believe me what goes in will come out. You may have some accidents along the way but it's part of the joys of potty training! It sounds like she's adapting very well already! Good for you for not using pull-ups while training her. They send a mixed message that sometimes it's ok to go in their pants as well as the fact all the moisture is wicked away from their skin making them comfortable. You certainly don't want her feeling comfy in her urine! Best of luck. B

Like all the other responses said, it's ok to keep reminding your daughter to use the potty. They really do get so involved in what they are doing and forget to go potty.

One other tip - learn to watch your daughter for signs that she needs to go pee. My daughter will be 3 in June and has been potty trained for about 9 months now, but like most little kids, she gets busy and forgets to go potty. She does however start to show signs she has to go - crossing her legs more and even kind of grabbing herself. I always ask her at that point if she has to go pee and the answer is always yes. She just needed that little reminder that it's ok to stop and go potty.

Hi, I got my daughter potty trained in a few weeks. I did the same thing...underwear only. But, to answer your questions:
1) Yes - you should keep reminding/asking her to go potty. Young ones have the tendency to forget, even if they know better.
2) You keep reminding her until you see her starting to go potty on her own, or she starts telling you she needs to go. The time it takes her to catch on to the new routine & remember depends on the childs age, and just varies between each child. But, she will eventually get to that point. I think it took about 3-6 months until I didn't need to regularly remind my daughter anymore. However, I still need to remind her right before leaving anywhere to go potty.

Be patient, and never scold her for accidents, only praise her for going to the potty.

Good luck :-)
R..

My step-daughter is nearly six and still needs to be reminded to use the potty sometimes, like before we get in the car to go somewhere, when there's a lot of distracting action going on and she might not think of it or before bed. Some kids it takes longer than others but you'll probably be reminding her at least occasionally for several years.

Keep asking her until she tells you without you asking. Potty training is like anything else it is a learning process and accidents will happen

Hi M. - I am also in the process of training my daughter and would love to see the advice you get as I have the same exact questions you do! Thanks!!! Take care!