Potty Training and Going from Crib to Toddler Bed

The one suggest I would tell you is to do one major adjustment in her life. Pick the one that is most importance then to the other. It will be a lot easier.

I would first focus on getting her bedtime routine down. I would maybe pit a movie in before its time for bed and set the expectation that its bed time after the movie or even story. You can then say "ok, its time to to night night! Let's go get a drink, and brush our teeth. Once she's potty trained you can add the potty to the routine. My daughter has sometimes fought her sleep, but I've never had this trouble. I would suggest making sure she's actually tired and theres been at least 5-7 hours since she woke up from her nap. Try playing outside with her before dinner so she tires out. My sister has this issue with her daughter and has tried everything. She started putting a movie on in her daughters room at bedtime, putting the sleep timer on, telling the daughter it was bed time and after the movie is over she had to go to sleep. When the tv turns off she goes to sleep. In fact, she doesn't always set the timer anymore. When the movie is over, her two year old will get up, turn the tv off and get back in bed and go to sleep. When she was younger my sister would put her to bed and leave her there--of she threw tantrums she would just leave her there-soothingbher ever half hour or so. You don't want to go in to frequently because you may disturb them as theyr dosimg and you will have to start over' good luck, hope this helps!

C.,
Hello. I realize I'm really late in responding. But, still wanted too. I would agree that you should pick one major thing at at time, either the potty training or the change in bed. We moved my daughter to a toddler bed during a time when her Dad was traveling, so it was just too much, we moved her back to her crib for a few more months and then did the toddler bed, it was easier when she didn't have another major life event occuring. However, she still had some issues and after about 2 months in the toddler bed, we got her a full size bed. We decided the toddler bed just wasn't soft enough anymore. And she made that move really easy. Moving to a bigger, softer bed might be something to consider.

When you decide to potty training, what worked for us was moving to regular underwear and a few other tips I have. I let my daughter pick her underwear out at the store and our motto is to keep them "clean and dry", we say this every time we put our underwear on, I tell her she did a good job keeping them "clean and dry" when we go to use the potty (if they are), and remind her again when we pull them up after she uses the potty. Find about 3 days when you can just stay at home or in your neighborhood. I would take her to the potty - to just try every hour and then explain that she won't have to go so often if she starts to tell you when she has to go pee or poop. Once she starts telling you, I would still be aware of the time; children do get busy playing and don't want to stop. So, if it's been over 2 hours, I'd just say it's time to "try" to pee or poop.

Accidents will happen, and I never made a big deal out of it; however, it was my daughter that had to clean it up - meaning, she had to take her own shorts and underwear off, wipe herself clean and if it got on anything else like the floor, I gave her a wet cloth to clean it up (of course sometimes I would still need to go over it more), and then she had to carry her wet clothes to the washing machine, come back wash her hands and get re-dressed. I would ask, "Where do we put our pee and poop?" She would say, "In Potty" and I said "That's right, let's do that next time." I have always been kind and understanding (even when I just asked if she needed to go potty), and just talked her through each step of clean up. It's just natural consequences. After about two to three days of having to fully clean up after herself, I think she will start using the potty. I would be kind and understanding at all times during the potty training process.

I would move to underwear and have her clean up when accidents do occur, but that's just me. We did still use pull-ups for nap and night until those can be mastered too (dry for a few weeks after nap and dry for a few weeks all night). Sorry this is so long, hope it's helpful. Best of luck to you.
~ J.

ok the crib thing is try to give her a bath and rub her down with lotion and then give her a book to read at night before she goes to sleep. the thing is that even though she crys and doesnt want to be in her bed just sit in her room with her until she goes to sleep. if she gets out of her bed just put her back in it and tell her that it is night night time and she will give up, and go to sleep. i ahd the same problem the my almost 3 year old and now when we tell him its time to get ready to go to bed he goes and gets hisclothes ready for bath and then he picks out the book that he wants me to read to him and then he gives all of us night night love and then i put some nice calm music on for him and within 20 min he is out. ok now on the potty training try giving her a treat for going potty like a big girl. also they have to be ready to start potty training to though or they will keep going in their pants. dont waist your money on pull ups. just get her some big girl undies and tell her that if she potties in them she wont get to wear them anymore. it worked for me. the only problem im having now is him making it to the potty to go #2 now. good luck and i hope these tips help you.

Quick! Get Nighttime Parenting by Dr. Sears. Meanwhile, transition her slowly. It's a scary new place for her. Spend some happy daylight time in her toddler bed with her. Maybe put it right next to her crib. If it were me, I'd lay down with her after getting her good and sleepy, and let her relax knowing that you (or Dad, of course) are right there with her. Over a few nights or a week or so, you can start to get up and walk away with her still kind of awake. When she gets upset, you just go right back to her, reassure her, and wait for her to be almost asleep again, and then get up. She will, after a few tries or a night or two, get comfortable enough, knowing you will come back *if* she feels she needs you, to drift off even knowing you won't be there. Just be patient. We're used to instant this and instant that. One-hour photo processing, sitcom episodes wrapping everything up in half an hour or an hour, Jiffy Lube 20-minute oil changes, but children need a more drawn-out approach :) It's just a different pace. So, even if you feel like nothing's working, know that it's just a process.

This might not be the best time for serious potty training. She's going through a big change as it is. But what I read in Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvey Karp (a real gem!) is, you can get a really good, positive attitude going by just having potty time every day with books and singing and all that. Whether or not she does anything is beside the point. This is just to get her to like being there. When she *does* pee or poop, comment happily, but *don't* make a big deal about it. That just adds pressure, and can cause control/battle-of-will issues later.

But about the sleep issue, get that book! It addresses this issue and is so good at explaining everything.

The toddler bed transition is challenging. Do you have a routine...bath, book, bed? That helps. We went several weeks having our daughter wake in the middle of the night and stand in the hallway. You just have to be consistent and patient.
Same thing with potty training. Is she ready for training...tells you that she needs to potty? If not, it may just take time. Have her sit on potty throughout the day. Our dr. recommend rewarding stickers just for sitting and more stickers when she actually goes.
Toddler bed and potty...you may want to relieve stress (on yourself) and focus on one milestone at a time.
GOOD LUCk :)

Being consistant is the main goal in getting your child to sleep in a toddler bed. Make it a routine and the same one every night. Maybe eat dinner have a bath, read a book and explain its time for bed time. Just talk to her and let her know whats going to happen after dinner and all that. My son was easy going from crib to toddler bed. I know its rough, keep trying though and dont give in. Good luck.

S.
Helping others work from home!
www.always4myfamily.com

Changing beds and potty training at the same time is not a good idea. Too much for them. Gosh! It would be a catastrophe for me! I love my bed and only my bed. Cant sleep anywhere else! Im like the princess and the pea!
Does she sleep in the new bed at naptime? Nighttime I would put the beds side by side if you can. Or work on the potty training. Which ever you think she will be able to do. Then after that gets down pat- go to the next hurdle. Good luck. Dont rush.

Hey, I'm not sure how old your daughter is, my son is 19 months old and we've been debating when to transition to a 'big' bed and when to start potty trainning.

As for potty trainning i picked up 'Stress-free potty trainning' by sara au adn peter stavinoha. This book breaks down techniques based on personality and what will work best for that particular personality. After reading the book i've decided my son is no where near ready so i'm just waiting until he shows the signs of readiness (there is a chart of readiness in the book).

As for transition to a big bed we've decided to wait until he starts climbing out of his crib, so i have no advice (good luck!)

I would suggest to take one milestone at a time, both are totally new things for your daughter and can be very scary. and hard things to lear.

Good luck with both!

Unless you need the crib for a new baby arriving, I would put it back in her room and let her sleep in whichever she prefers. There's no need to rush the toddler bed. We moved both our children when they were in their 2's but they were both excited about it. Sounds like she just isn't ready. She'll get motivated for "the big girl bed" soon. Maybe put a new stuffed animal in it for her to sleep with during the transition. Same with potty training, let her go on her potty when you go. Take this slow also. The more stress involved, the longer it will take for these milestones. Good luck!!!

You didn't mention her age, but I wouldn't push either issue if she is fighting so much. My oldest was "ready to potty train" according to all of the information out there at 2. I tried and tried and she would refuse. I gave up because it was stressing out the whole family and upsetting her and I. Then at 3 something clicked and she decided she wanted to be potty trained. She hasn't had an accident ever! I learned for my other two year old to just let her decide and not push it. We talk about using the potty but until she is really interested and starts taking initiative I'm not going to do anything. I've also read the closer to 3 they are, the easier it is.
And for the toddler bed. I would let her stay in it as long as you don't need it. And if she isn't climbing out and hurting herself, then just let her stay in the crib. I bet if you try a toddler bed again in 4 months, she might like the idea.