My two year old was doing well potty training before Thanksgiving but then we had a setback. I found out I was pregnant on December 1st and severe morning sickness quickly set in. I was unable to consistently train her due to my own predicament so I put her back in pull ups until I could resume my potty training duties. Now that I'm in my second trimester and feeling a little more like myself again, we're at it again. Unfortunately, my little girl is now refusing to go. She will only sit on the potty with much coaching and frequent bribing however, will not actually pee. I realize that this is all my fault for causing this hiccup but it is what it is and now that I'm 4 months away from delivering baby girl #3, I'm desperate to get her out of diapers ASAP. We've already tried begging, timers, bribes of candy and toys, and nothing seems to be working. We even took a short break trying not pressure so much as to traumatize her but that hasn't worked either. So I'm sending this note into the void (no pun intented) hoping to receive back a magical solution to our delimma. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
J. F.
Mother of two beautiful daughters and looking forward to the birth of another one soon!
***Update: She will be three in a few months. She was previously going on her own numerous times a day without reminders which is why we know she is/was ready to go without diapers. Right now it's more like a battle of wills than an inability to grasp the concept. My first child is now almost 15 years old and was potty trained by this point. In response to one of the posts: other than potty training for the second time with this one child, there are no new expectations on her for anything. We are extremely laid back parents! We'd just like to see her successful at this like she was a few months ago! (And if we can get it done prior to the next baby's arrival that would be a bonus!) :)
Get rid of diapers and pull ups. Do not keep any in the house. Put her
in panties.. End of discussion. Make it non-negotiable. When she
realizes how serious you are things may change. Whatever you do,
do not go back to diapers or pull ups. You found out that it creates more
problems. Good luck. JUST REALIZED SHE IS TWO. LET IT GO
UNLESS SHE IS REALLY MUCH CLOSER TO THREE THAN TWO.
She's only 2. Just take a break from it, encourage it if she does it, but relax. Diapers and wet pants are not such a big deal, and she'll get the hang of it before her first date. Don't sweat the small stuff!
No magical solutions.
She is not ready.
It can take even an entire YEAR... if she is not ready.
trying to do it because a baby is on the way, will not make it happen...because it is on your time-line, not hers. And she is probably having to deal with you being pregnant and different and ALL of a SUDDEN there are TONS more "expectations" upon her.... for which she does not know why nor is she ready for it.
Keep ALL expectations, be it pottying or other things, age-appropriate... otherwise, there will be lots of hard transitions for her, AND regressions. Which "regressions" in a child is a symptom of "stress" or they not being able to cope with something.... it being out of sync expectations versus their ability or understanding and age.
All the best,
Susan
I know what you're going through! The same thing happened to me. My daughter was 100% potty trained (newly but even dry for naps.) In fact, she potty trained herself, absolutely no effort on my part. Then I had surgery and hubby was in chemo and she regressed to full time diapers now. I have tried using panties and she just pees through them. She will stand there and pee or poop and then go about her merry way.
She is now THREE and she does NOT want to use the potty now at all! She has all the signs listed below. When she wears diapers she comes to tell me that she used her diaper and she wants me to change her. I was so excited that she was trained at two because her sisters weren't potty trained until 4 and 5 years old.
Hi there:) Well I went through pretty much the same thing, my son was 2 1/2 and very ready to potty train at the end of my pregnancy but I was big and prego so I couldn't do it, I was so tired! When my newborn was about 7 weeks I started trying to train him and he did great but I just couldn't devote the time and things got hectic and he ended up feeling really pressured and went back to diapers. Now he wears his diaper but anytime he says he needs to go to the bathroom we just let him go and he does great. At this point we are just happy that he has come back to being interested in the potty, because he went on strike for a couple weeks completely. I know that little by little he will use it more and more and I don't want to stress him out about it again. So I say just relax and let her try again later. Having two in diapers really isn't as bad as you think it will be, if it happens. If you are trying to train her to fit in your schedule she may end up feeling super pressured to perform and want to go back to diapers like mine did. I say give it time and don't worry if she is in diapers when the next one comes, you will be able to handle it. Congrats on your new baby! Mine new little guy is now 11 weeks and I am finally able to think about how to get my house clean, so don't be hard on yourself or expect too much, things will work out with time. Wish you all the best and a great delivery!
here is something I have posted many times.
I like to remind parents that children that are truly ready should catch on in a few weeks. If it is months and months. it is really a waste of energy, just try again in a few more months..
Here is a list of signs, your child may be ready to potty train. It has been my experience, MOST children really will let you know when they are ready. Spending a year trying to potty train is a waste of everybody's time and energy.
* Your child signals that his or her diaper is wet or soiled.
* Your child seems interested in the potty chair or toilet.
* Your child says that he or she would like to go to the potty.
* Your child understands and follows basic instructions.
* Your child feels uncomfortable if his or her diaper is wet or soiled.
* Your child stays dry for periods of 2 hours or longer during the day.
* Your child wakes up from naps with a dry diaper.
* Your child can pull his or her pants down and then up again.
You may start noticing these signs when your child is 18 to 24 months of age. However, it is not uncommon for a child to still be in diapers at 2 and a half to 3 years of age.
Here is the link to information.
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/par...
Here's some good info on potty training and more can be found at the link below:
http://blogs.goddardsystems.com/Cedar-Park-TX/2009/09/22/...
Excerpt from Me, Myself and I
At first, it probably appears to the child that it is the toilet that’s being trained (hence the misnomer “toilet training”). After all, she is typically reasonably satisfied to fill her diaper and continue on about her business. It is parents who are so enthusiastic for her to move on to the pot in support of public health.
The transition need not be Armageddon if parents remember that a body is more ready for the mind to influence its conduct when development has prepared both. Consequently, toilet training takes less time and energy when your toddler is as ready as you are. Starting too early pretty much guarantees the process will be long and messy. Many children who begin training before 18 months are not completely trained by age four, while those started around two usually are completely trained by age three.
Timing: Somewhere between 18 and 36 months, the child will start to notice that her dirty diaper has become a bother. She may pull at her diaper or crotch while, or just before, she empties her bladder. She’ll pick a favorite corner of a room or go under a table before she quietly moves her bowels into her diaper. These are critical signs that she is making the necessary mental connection between bodily sensations and the urine or stool that is produced from them. It is easier if this behavior follows the easing of the extreme negativism of early toddlerhood. Bowel training is typically the first goal.
What Helps: Put a potty in the corner of her room and let her sit on it fully clothed at first, then without a diaper, a few times a day. Tell her how big people go poop and pee and let her watch a grownup using the toilet. (Stick to same sex demonstrators. Otherwise, you will create needless confusion at this age.) Tell her the potty is where she will put her poop when she is ready. Then, she can wear “big girl” pants and leave her diapers for babies. Let her play with her potty using dolls, water, whatever – the less mystery the better.
This is not a good time to be potty training. THere are going to be a lot of new changes happening that she will not necessarily understand. Keep the status quo for now and try later.
J.,
I have three boys, 14, 12 and 3. I also have alot of experience w/ children your daughter's age from teaching 2/3 year olds in preschool and my opinion is that it is completely normal to regress. It may be a control issue and more than likely when you lose interest she will want to do it again or sometimes is stops being fun so they quit. Also, you didn't mention whether or not she is aware of the new baby but almost every time a toddler realizes there is a baby coming they begin to act out in some way. Your daughter could very well be digging in her heels to try and keep her position as the baby in the family. The best thing is to stop for a bit, as frustrating as this is for you; and give her as much one on one special time as you can. Try introduce an activity that names her as the responsible big sister to prepare her. Sorry this is so long, I just wanted to do my best to help! Good Luck! Oh and by the way, my little man has stopped going for me too lately, I am so tired of the diapers and pull ups but, I know that he'll come back around on his own. Don't lose faith.
