Potty Training - Farmington, NM

If she's anything at all like my daughter, she probably doesn't want to have to stop playing to go potty and hates being dirty/wet so she figures she could wear a diaper, not make a mess and not stop playing. What finally worked for my daughter was a. I stopped buying pull-ups and only put a diaper on her at night (she battled for the diaper too, but I told her that she didn't get one and let her walk around naked until she chose to put on the panties I laid out for her...and she couldn't do _________ until she was all dressed) and b. I bought a potty watch--it is a "watch" with a set timer (30, 60, or 90 min) that lights up and plays a potty song then automatically restarts the timer. It worked wonders since I had a battle making her go potty at regular intervals, the potty watch tells her to go instead of me and no fights! Plus I don't forget to remind her to try. I got mine from www.pottytimeinc.com...they are rather cheaply made, but they don't cost much and do the trick!

Personally, I believe you can't push a child. We have had regression with our daughter when it comes to potty training, and we have just let it go. We ask her each time we change her, do you want panties or a baby diaper, and she'll choose based on her mood.

Don't lose hope, when she is truely ready for them, she will let you know.

Hi J.,

I'm not sure if you did this the first time around, but make it really fun! Make up a potty song and dance! Also, if you don't have one-get a little potty just for her. I know it's more work because you have to clean it up all the time, but it makes it more fun for her. It lets her be independent and she knows she can do it on her own. I just potty trained my 2 yr. old right after her 2nd birthday in December this exact way. I also rewarded her with a potty treat every time she went. I would give her one skittle or a sweatart. I know some say not to do this, but it worked great for me. I also have a 4yr old girl that I potty trained the same way. It was a breeze for both girls. Just stay consistant. After aboout 3 weeks she forgot all about the potty treats! She even goes potty by herself then calls me in to wipe her. You may also want to get a potty book for her. I would definately stop buying the diapers and just tell her they're all gone. Once you decide to potty train her you shouldn't go back and forth. It confuses her and she thinks it's ok to go back to diapers. I put pull ups on my 2yr old at night. Don't give her the choice to wear diapers at all! It may be tough for a week or two but she'll get the point. It's all about consistancy. I know it's tiring but stick with it. If you feel she is not ready at this time then just wait untill she shows interest again, but once you decide to start up again be consistant. I took my 2yr old every half hour wether she had to go or not and pretty soon she just started going on her own. I hope I gave you some knew advice and I hope it works for you.

I am a SAHM with a 4yr old and 2yr old. I never had a problem with potty training them. I used the methods I just told you and they were potty trained in two weeks. I was very consistant.

Mother of 2 girls!

When my now 4 year old daughter was just older than 2, she was completely potty trained, then her sister was born, my mom left from a visit, and the treats she had been getting for pottying were gone. She regressed! I wasn't going to go backward, so I made a chart for her and had her mark on it when she went. 3 times and she got a sticker (even if she just sat down). The chart made a huge difference, and has for other things for her, too. My youngest just turned 2 and initiated potty training. She was very easy, but she ran around the house naked for about a week. I used special treats with her, too, and then had her try every hour or so, and it worked great. I didn't argue with them, it was more a panties or naked choice they could make and then they couldn't do certain things until they were dressed. I actually don't even remember them crying about it, and now we're done! We also did a lot of singing and dancing to our "Party in the Potty!" song. Good luck!

She is apprently very bright - she knew enough to ask for diapers instead of having accidents....TRUST HER!! let her go back to diapers. It is her body and she needs to feel like she is in charge. If you push her you set the both of you up for a power struggle and failure. She will come to it...I PROMISE! it sounds like she is having a crisis of confidence. Let her know you trust her ability to ask for what she needs. When she feels more confident, she will probably give up the diapers.
Good luck!

What your daughter is displaying is very normal. It happened with my little girl who was 2 at the time and I found that the best way to handle it was her was to put the diapers back on (I used cloth) and wait till she was ready to try again. It was a matter of days and she was ready to be a "big girl" again. She's almost 3 now and rarely has an accident. Children are all different and respond to stress and change in various ways. Be patient, she will train, but it's easier on all if she's the one in the lead. Best wishes!
R. Crocker, stay at home mom and Certified Nurse Midwife

We went through the same sort of thing, several months ago. We even spent $40 on a choo choo potty because our son is into trains. He used it a couple of times and then cried everytime we even suggested he sit on it. He started this around 2 1/2, now he's almost 3 and last week and said he wanted to go potty and wear the big boy underwear! He's been doing great ever since. He has a brother on the way and we keep telling him he's going to be a big brother and that big boys don't wear diapers. I don't know if that finally helped or if it's just because he's a little older now. Don't worry about it! 2 1/2 is still young and your child will do it when she's ready! Put up a sticker chart (we let him put a sticker on it or give him a small treat even if he tries to sit on the potty). We make a big deal about it everytime he goes. I let him call Daddy at work and tell him he went in the potty. He also calls his grandparents or tells friends that come to the house. My Grandma and Aunt even gave him a toy and told him it was because they were so proud of what he was doing! All this seems to really work for him. Before this we would ask him occasionally if he wanted to try and most of the time he would tell us no, but sometimes I could find something to bribe him with that he really wanted! If he started crying I would back off! The last thing you want is to make it something that makes her cry and you frustrated! A friend of mine gave me the book The No Cry Potty Training Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. I've only gotten a chance to read a few pages, but she said it was very helpful for her. Good luck! I hope my son continues what he's doing!

Little about me: I'm a SAHM. I have an almost 3yr old son who is the light of my life and another boy on the way in 2 mos. I've been married to my wonderful husband for almost 6 yrs. now. I used to teach kindergarten, but I love staying at home and being a mom!

I have alwasy been todl to let them set the pace. My daughter is two years and 4 montsh and doing really well with panties or pull ups during the day and diapers only at night and for naps but initially she did start and then have a slight setback for a couple weeks. I would completely stop bringinig it up for at least 3-4 weeks and may be focus on something else "big girl" for her to do like a new chore or dressing herself - something that is positive, she'll be successful at and will help her be motivated to do more "big girl" things. Next time you try the potty training, do stickers or some other motivational reward as soon as she starts doing it well and be consistent. Hope this helps and remember that this too will pass and each child has a different pace. I'm sure it's harder having one who is older, but may be you can use some reward or activitiy that your oldest gets to do to motivate your 2nd child. Best wishes!
A.