Potty Training - San Jose,CA

This may sound simplistic, but I bet if you take the pressure off yourself and her, she will do it on her own pretty quick. It sounds to me like she is perfectly capable of going and knows when, but it's a power struggle between the two of you and she is enjoying her power over you with this issue. Kids are great at being able to tell what is important to us and stressing us out and when it's something like potty training that they have a great deal of control over, they like to use that against us. lol Relax about it. Make going potty just a normal routine of the day, no extra attention to it, just routine and mundane like getting dressed. Still stay consistant of course but take the pressure and the attention off. My son was the same way and once I started acting like it was no skin off my back if he went or not... then he decided to go for his own benefit. :)

The summer is usually easier & if she is like any child and likes playing in water and such she may go along things a little bit easier. I remember both of my girls living in their bathing suits over the summer & with my youngest we would just have to keep telling her that Dora & the Princesses (on her bathing suits) don't want to have you go potty on them & it worked. We did have a few accidents here and there but maybe try to come up w/something that will really make her feel good about it. We would mail stickers to my daughter once a week - we'd also do coupons to mc donalds, my oldest daughter would make a gift certificate for an ice cream party, just things like that which will make her look forward to making it the whole week (i'd give in even if there was an accident as long as she was trying) - we would also keep a calendar of the week so she'd see how far she went. Don't give up - u'll make it!

I was well out of training as my youngest was 8 my eldest 13 and we had our niece come and live with us at 3 months old (she is 3 in june now) I found it a mission, but did notice she does not like the feeling of being wet. Loose the pull ups as they make it comfy, back in the old days when we had cloth nappies kids potty/toilet trained faster because they don't like to be wet. It may take a few weeks but only use nickers/undies in the day time (not sure what the bed time story is) She'll catch on honest. And if she does do it on purpose make her responsible, ie. "ok you've wet yourself and the floor now can you go and get the cleaning cloth etc and help to tidy up the mess please" My baby understands all that and is very happy to help but remember they do have accidents.When I got my baby (niece) going to toilet, she then one day refused to put a nappy on for bed I said fine don't wee the bed or your turn to clean it that was at least 8 months ago and we've only had 4 accidents!!
Try it see how you go if they know they can wee their pants they will.
Hope that helps!
S.

She obviously knows what you want but she just isn't ready to do it yet. This is one of very few areas that she can control, so she is being independent. I would call a 1 month "truce". Tell her you are not going to remind her about the potty and that she is a big girl and can do it herself. If she does use the potty, praise her, but if she does not, don't say a word for that month. She may just start on her own, now that the pressure is off. If not, then try the reward system again, but with no direct potty reminder. Instead of saying, "Would you like to use the potty", say Would you like a sticker" (crayon, M&M, or whatever you use). If she says yes, you say, "OK, you know what to do". If she goes in her diaper or pants, don't say, "You should have use the potty", just say, "Oh, too bad, you could have had a M&M. Maybe next time".
I'm a pediatrician. It has worked many times for me. Good luck.

R., where did you read it takes 8 months, I have potty trained more kids than anyone I know, and it took a few weeks. It's not about her being interested, it's about you being the parent, and not let her be the one in control. Reward and discipline, NO DIAPERS NO PULL UPS. I see one thing in common with all the parents having potty training issues, they start to late, I start kids around 20 months, they longer they poop and pee on themselves the more of a habit it becomes. J.

Hi R.! You've gotten a lot of good advice from the other responses. This is a link to another thread similar to yours with my response and a few others you might want to consider
http://www.mamapedia.com/questions/15809695455262081025
I swear by the "It's Potty Time" Super Duper Pooper video by Duke University....I've used it for 6 and have just started my 23mo old little boy on it............it's a no pressure, subtle positive reinforcement show about going to a birthday party and it's so much fun to watch and the songs are so engaging, the child doesn't even clue in to what the purpose really is....they just internalize it and use it and potty because they want to. Anyway, just wanted to throw this out there again....I can't praise that video enough! Take care and cut you both some slack...she'll get there and you'll figure it out sooner than later I'm sure....September is a looooong way away in a little person's life! M.

Don't push it. She's not ready. Just back off and try again later.

I agree with Julie, start early and stay consistent. Pick one method and stick with it. No pullups or diapers! Stay home for a week and have her sit on the potty every hour. At 2.5 she should be fully capable of changing herself so when she is wet, send her to the bathroom with wipes and dry bottoms. (Dirty is something I think you would have to step in with.) Get a basket of special books that stay beside the potty, these are books she can only look at while sitting on the potty.

Try sending her own her own to the bathroom and see what she can do. Focus on independence and self confidence.

We have all been there so good luck!