Hi Mamas!
My daughter is 2 and 1/2 and we are trying to potty train her. She likes the idea of going to the bathroom, sitting on the toilet, flushing the toilet and even washing her hands. But, she is not physically using the potty. When she does use it, she says that she's sorry. I always tell her that "Pee pee/poo poo wants to go in the potty," but it seems she's got the process backwards, I really want her to start Head Start in the fall...what's a Mama to do?
Thanks in advance!
lots of books out there....which makes it fun for the kiddies!
Also is she self-aware of the need to go potty? Does she tell you before she goes in her diaper? Does she grab her diaper before she releases?
That is the first (& critical) step in productively potty training. Until you reach that milestone......it is simply a case of the adults in her life - training themselves to take her at regular intervals. Peace!
I like what Sara said...take her with you when you go to the bathroom and then make a 'big deal' about how you just went potty or poopy. reward yourself with a couple m&m's and then tell your daughter that she can get some if she goes too. when she goes, be sure to make a BIG DEAL about it. my 2.5 year old is potty trained during the day. its a slow roll. We started when she was aboug 20 months. Dont get discouraged if she has accidents. Mine still does about once a month.
what I did for mine is I took a friday off work and so I had 3 days of potty training. We talked about it and I told her "no more diapers" and for 3 days she wore just panties. I kept asking her if she had to go potty every 30 mins. our reward system was M&Ms
1 for sitting on the potty
2 for going pee pee
5 for poopie
I kept her outside for those 3 days or in the kitchen area(non carpeted). we had alot of accidents but she definatley didnt like peeing on herself and the connection was made alot faster...plus the candy was a good incentive. After those 3 days we had a great start.. I still keep/kept her in diapers at naptime and bedtime. Mine has been potty trained without accidents(most of the time) now since about New Years (24 monthsISH.:) Its nice not having to change diapers. I wish you luck PM me if you have any more questions
I had issues with my 2yo in the beginning. I started using the bathroom with her in there with me but I think it helped more when she saw the older two year at her daycare (home daycare) using the potty too! Not that I'm say go find another child to have your child watch use the bathroom lol but as a teacher I do know that children learn through their peers as well. So it may be beneficial to point out some of her friends or peers who are already using the potty!
Have you gone to the bathroom in front of her, to show her how it's done? My daughter got all excited about doing it like mommy after I did that a couple of times. I hated it, because I'm a really private bathroom person, but she didnt really get the connection until she saw me do it.
Fall is still a very large portion of your daughter's life away. Huge changes will be happening between now and then, and "getting" the point of pottying could well be one of them. Meanwhile, if you are feeling tense about her seeming lack of progress, she could pick up on that and become tense herself.
My grandson did fabulously well with role-playing parties with his stuffed animals. They'd line up by the toilet, eagerly jostle each other to get their turn, happily sit and "void" (I'd sometimes simulate this by pouring a small amount of water in the potty), and give each other high 5's when done.
Another trick that can sometimes stimulate the bladder to release is to let the child splash fingers in a small bowl of water or let the child hear running water (because I'm conservation-conscious, I'd do this by repeatedly pouring a cup of water into a bowl rather than let the tap run).
Keep all your potty messages upbeat and encouraging, and I'll bet she'll get there pretty soon. You might also allow her to watch/listen to you using the potty if you don't already do that.
I'd also like to warn against making TOO big a deal out of a successful event. An over-the-top parental reaction can distract a child from connecting thoughtfully and personally with what just happened. A quieter comment and perhaps a small reward is all that is needed for many kids. You want to be sure she knows this is HER success, not yours.
Here's one more informative website you might find helpful. It gives a few variations on"readiness" checklists, plus tips on various training strategies, the best ages to start them, and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach: http://www.parentingscience.com/toilet-training-readiness...
Back in the day when mine were training, the first sign of readiness was "dry at night" consistently. Then straight to underwear...pull ups were not invented yet which I think can be confusing to your trainee. She needs to understand what actually happens when she doesn't get to the potty...wet legs, wet carpet/clothes or a puddle on the floor. In a pull up or switching back and forth from underwear to pull-ups to diapers doesn't send the right message. Plan a few days to concentrate on potty training only, get rid of the diapers/pull ups...go cold turkey. If she is truely ready it should only take a few days. If she isn't truely ready...give it up entirely for a couple of weeks and try again. If she excited about going to school and she understands the concept, you could mention to her she needs to use the potty in order to go to school. Yes...bribery does work for some! M & Ms, ( 1 for pee pee/2 for poo poo) sticker charts etc. Get some fun panties..."don't pee on Tinkerbell" My first two both trained at 2 1/2...cold turkey/no pants...done in a day or two. #3 was a different story. She was 3 1/2 and stubborn as can be. Come to find out she was actually afraid of falling in the toilet and the noise it made when flushed. There are so many different ways to go about this. BUT if she is not ready it will only turn into a power struggle and take forever. Find HER niche and she will be successful!
I'd advise you to take about a month off from potty training (if you REALLY want it done by the fall) and try this method! Its intensive and a lot of work for mom and dad, but it WORKS!!! http://www.3daypottytraining.com/pages/help.htm?official Its totally worth the $25 for the ebook, plus there is an online forum if you have questions or need help. I highly recommend this method, it worked very well with my very stubborn and frightened 2 year old.
Best wishes!
If she likes the routine then she is trying and wants to succeed. Just take her is regular intervals (maybe every hour) and have her sit on the chair. Eventually she will find the connection between mind and body. The sensation takes a while for then to get but she should take right off once she has it.
