My daughter (almost 3 y.o.) is potty training and doing very well. But, she is getting discouraged because every time she goes pee, it shoots sideways and gets all over her legs, her pants or the floor. Sometimes all of the above. This evening it literally shot in an arc and went all over the floor and not in the potty at all. I can't help but react, though not in a mean way - I try my hardest to joke. I don't want her to backslide, but even more I am a little worried that this is not normal. Does anyone else have a daughter that this happened to? If so, any advice? I've tried having her open her legs wider, close them, lean forward. None of that helped.
We've used three different potties;, one with the boy guard and nothing helped.
I can't thank you all enough. I've decided to make a doctor's appointment just to alleviate my concerns that it could be gynecological. Looking at everyone's comments, I have tried everything that was suggested - having her lean ALL the way forward; the boy's potty guards; look at me/the ceiling; distracting her, so she isn't trying to hard; moving back; legs WIDE open; legs completely closed. At first I thought it was just something that had to do with aiming or butt position (@Riley J.), but nothing has helped. I even asked my friends that have girls and none of them have had this issue. I've peed sideways a time or two, but never arc and not every single time I go. I mean, she is totally missing the potty sometimes.
Anyway... calling the doctor, but glad I asked.
I think it's pretty normal , she's prob not sitting right.
If I am not sitting right like if I've got my hips tilted one way or the other or if I'm leaning to one side on the toilet , it will get on my leg.
Now I've never peed on the floor because of that but on the leg yeah.
Hmmm... I don't like the sound of that. This happened to my mom when she had a prolapsed bladder. I've never heard of it happening to a child. I'd ask the ped about this, to be honest...
Dawn
It's totally normal. Girls have to learn to 'point' just like guys.
I DARE you (double dog dare ;) to "try it" next time you have to pee (and already need to wash the floor/ are just about to get it the shower.
"Rock" your hips in different directions (like w sex)
Lift up one cheek
Lift up the other
Slouch, like sitting on a chair.
It will be like a 'pee sprinkler' shooting per in all different directions!!!
Oy.
You'll also see how hard it is to make yourself 'aim wrong', after years of pointing yourself to pee in the water and NOT on the wall!!!
It's just that, as women, we've been aiming correctly for decades, so we automatically "sit right".
BIG HINT
Have her wrap her arms around her knees and "look" through the crack in the seat to watch the water. Her head will be between her knees, and shell be looking upside down. That will point her in the right direction.
So will "tooching" out her bum (how models sit when being photographed, digs your clit into the ground, not comfy, but "pretty") by arching her low back. Won't dig her clit into anything since its empty air below, and works as well as bending over, but that's a harder thing then the 'bend, grab, and look'.
I had a kink in my urethra that caused this but I was having other issues too. (My bladder would not empty). Once the urologist figured out what was wrong it took all of 5 minutes to fix. The procedure was painless too.
I have potty trained 3 girls and have had several friends that had daughters and I have never heard of that (obviously we had accidents, spills, drips, etc. but not on a regular basis like you are suggesting). Are you using a potty chair or an attachment on the toilet seat or is she sitting on the toilet? Is she too big for the potty chair? Try an attachment that snaps on to the toilet (this was the only way I could get my girls trained - they wanted nothing to do with the "little potty chair"). I would call my pediatrician. Did you ever notice anything odd in her diaper changing (i.e. one side always wetter than the other). Definitely try not to get upset with her, but in the same manner, I don't know that I would joke about it either.
How long has it been going on? If its just a few days I wouldn't worry about it, but if you've tried 3 different potties, it sounds like it's been going on for a while - I would definitely call my pediatrician tomorrow morning. Just to reassure yourself, if for no other reason. It may be just a fluke, but better to be safe than sorry, especially when dealing with the female anatomy! Let us know what works . . .
I don't have any idea why this could be happening, sorry to say. To answer your question, though...I do not think it's normal. I would call the pediatrician, just to be sure.
I take her to the doctor and have them take a look, just to be sure. I had to have surgery when I was young to correct a deformity. Good luck.
yep, totally normal.
When she sits tell her to put her legs together and that will solve it. If it doesn't then for now place a piece of toilet paper over her leg to catch the pee for now and make an appointment to make sure there isn't more going on there.
Have you tried the Fisher Price froggy potty?
http://www.walmart.com/ip/19582522?adid=22222222227014725...
I would also have the doctor take a look...
I have never had this issue or been to the bathroom with a girl who had this issue. Try getting her to squat out doors so you can see what is really going on. She might just be pushing too hard. All in all I would have her checked out on her next appointment or make one just to make sure nothing is blocking, infection, too much pressure when going.
I literally JUST went through this with my daughter. I was concerned too and asked the Dr. about it at her yearly exam. My exact question to him was, " Is her private crooked?" I could tell it took all he had not to bust out laughing at me. He did look, but responded with "absolutely not." Within two weeks of asking this embarrassing question the situation remedied itself. I think it has a lot to do with the size of the potty, angle of the child, and how distracted she is. However, with all that said, I would say do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable as far as seeking out the Dr, but while you wait for the appointment rest assured that based on my experience it is more than likely nothing to worry about. Good luck. Oh, the joys of motherhood!
When my daughter was training (then just turned 3) she was making a mess sometimes too. If she tried to look, it would shoot out of the toilet! I know you said you tried to get her to lean forward, but with my daughter, I had to get her to REALLY lean forward, like practically put her chest in her lap for her to pee without a mess. She's 5 now, and is becoming a pro, but the early days were messy too! And actually even now, she sometimes still gets it on the inside of her legs, butt cheeks and the seat (!), when she's not leaning forward. With your daughter, I would try to really have her focus on leaning forward; squat in front of her and hold her hands, pull her toward you so that she is really leaning and directing her pee into the toilet. See if that helps. I hope it does!! Good luck, and try not to worry!!
Sounds completely normal to me. I pee on the underside of my thighs accidently if I sit wrong. While potty training my daughter I have noticed that girls MUST sit straight up with their legs closed. Otherwise, the flow of urine will arc up and land on the toilet seat or even on the floor. And if she's leaning back with her thighs tightly together the urine will pool on the crease of her thighs before dripping into the bowl.
This sounds like a Dr. question to me - so my suggestion is to call the pedi right away.
My daughter had two UTI's by the time she was in kindergarten. The second physician who treated her said all little girls who have a UTI should be seen by a pediatric urologist. So, we took her in. She was fine, but what he said was that we try to teach little girls to "sit nice", "sit with their legs closed", "sit like a lady", etc. So, it often transfers with what they think about the toilet. Doing these things can sometimes lead to it coming out at odd angles and by trapping some urine. They get up, wipe and that's it, until they completely relax again, like playing outside or whatever and that little bit leaks out.
He suggested have her straddle the toilet facing the tank. This forces a position and kind of trains them not to clench, etc. We did that for just a short time and it really helped. Not to mention it helped me understand that she wasn't peeing her pants every day. And finally made sense that there was just a little bit of urine in her underwear.
Anyway, I know this is different, but wanted to metion the posture part in case that may help your daughter too. (Or anyone else reading this!)
Have you tried a different type of potty? Or a seat on the main toilet, with a boy pee guard?
