Potty Training Help! - Quincy,MA

Take away the diapers all together. No pull-ups, nothing. Put long t-shirts on them and let them go that way for a day or two. It will start them realizing when they have to go. Also put them on a schedule. Make them sit on the potty whether they go or not every two or three hours for about 5-10 minutes, give them a book, or count with them. Make it a fun time, and you should see a change quickly. Also take them when you go.

J.!!

I had similar troubles. My older daughter, now 4 yrs/2mos old was finally potty trained at 3 1/2 years. We casually tried for 2 years--offering potty after bath time, whenever I would be in the bathroom--anything not to put pressure on her. She simply wasn't interested. Pedi said that it wouldn't be a real issue until she was 5. So, we didn't push it. Last August I had a 6 month old and was ready to have #1 out of diapers. I had been told that summer was the best time because I could let her run around completely naked and she wouldn't get cold. Of course, the week I chose was raining and cold so I couldn't take her outside to run around naked in the backyard. I barricaded her into the kitchen with toys, etc that could be easily cleaned if they were wet, and her potty. She truly resisted for an entire week of this. By day 5, I started giving Hershey kisses as rewards--something I swore that I would NEVER do! WIthin a day or 2 I realized that she was controlling her flow to get as many chocolates as possible. So now I know it is merely a battle of wills--if she can control herself this well, then I know that I can win with the right strategy. She then only received chocolate if she went on the big girl potty, like Mommy. Then it changed to only with a BM. I also put a paper on the wall and let her choose stickers to put on it in different places for pee and BM--to show Daddy when he came home. I would also sing a stupid song that I made up whenever she used the potty. This seemed to work for the most part. She would have the occasional accident, but for about a month she was good--only, I couldn't put her in Pull-Ups because she treated them like diapers--only could use them at night. Then there was one day (about a month from when we started) when she had a terrible, horrible, unbelievably embarrassing accident--she hasn't had an accident since!!!

Our daughter is 3 and is now fully potty trained, but it didn't happen until right around her birthday. I used to get a little peeved when people would say "Don't push it, just let them decide when they're ready." Well, I didn't want to scar her psychologically and did NOT want to get into a power struggle that she would surely win. But I KNEW she could do it, she just wasn't. And we had an infant too so changing diapers for both (and PAYING for them...) ugh. So! We started and stopped a few times. Doing a chart with stickers really helped. But I think the most helpful thing was when she spent some time with her older cousins and they were all using the potty. That really got her interested. Since then, it has been always her idea, though we remind her to go sometimes. So I really agree that you have to let it be the girls' idea--just be supportive and ready. Oh, we also did tiny candy rewards for poops because she'd pee in the potty and then poop in her diaper. Anyway, sorry this got so long but I hope it helps. Good luck! It'll happen! No kids go to kindergarten in diapers. :) Peace, G.

Well when I decided to potty train my son at 18 months I started taking him in the bathroom with me. After about a month of that I decided when we'd get home from daycare we'd instantly take off the diaper and put "BIG BOY" undies on. I constantly asked him if he needed to go potty. He had accidents and didn't like that he was wet, so then he decided to use the potty, which was the one what played music everytime the pee hit the bowl. He loved it and I gave him a dime everytime he went. (for him to buy a toy for himself). By his 2nd birthday he was potty trained and we've never looked back. Just be very supportive with the "BIG GIRL" undies and give her rewards if she goes on the potty. Hope this helps

I would suggest putting them in underwear and having them sit on the potty every hour.

I just read a great booklet on it (87 pages)..
start with 1 day at a time, and every 20 minutes (set a timer), put one on the potty. This gets them to the idea of being at the right place, when they need to. Also, reward them when they go and encourage when they don't. It is really hard and exhuasting to stick to, but 3 days of it, and my daughter (will be 3 in July) was trained. It is about sticking to it and keeping up with it. Stay focused and don't get upset. Either wear real underware or a pull up. So worth the 3 days of no fun to be potty trained. And always stay positive, dont get upset if they get off the potty and wet their pants. Good luck

You are not alone. I'm a mom of 6, and at one point I had three in diapers at once as well. My oldest refused to potty train, no matter what I tried, until finally, at almost 4 1/2, he just decided he was going to do it, and he did, no training required. At the same time, my 2 1/2 y.o. daughter wanted to also, so I went from 3 in diapers to 1. It seems like no matter what you try, they won't do it until they are ready. I think consistency is the key, as in anything else, ie. just picking one method and staying with it, and trying not to pass on the stress to them, because it makes them even more resistant. We found that setting up a reward system helped, but honestly, with so many, I actually have mostly taken the non-training approach, just because I don't have the time to keep taking them to the potty at regular intervals all day long. Fortunately, my oldest was the only one who held out that long. I just made sure all of them were exposed to the potty and to their parents and siblings using it, which wasn't too much of a problem since it seems kids always gravitate to you as soon as they see you headed in there! :) They each pretty much decided they wanted to do it too. Wish I could be more helpful, but this hasn't been one of my strengths! Good luck.

Depending on your girls attitude towards it putting them on the potty every 20 mins might work, but if they are like my daughter it won't and it will just make it worse. My daughter turned 3 in January and still isn't potty trained....and from what I read, its ok. 3 isn't the magic number for some kids, some kids take longer. My daughter is so stubborn and was never bothered by her messy diapers. She wouldn't even tell me if she pooped in her pants. What I did was let her run around bare bottomed all day in the house. I put the potty in an easy accessible place, like the livingroom, and explained that if she felt like she needed to go that she needs to sit down. She had a few accidents, but then finally started to sit and go. However, poop is totally different, still haven't got her to do that yet. I have used a sticker chart with rewards for going so many times. The problem is that when I asked her to sit down and try she would get mad, and cry and you do not want to make it a stressful situation for them. Thats why the sitting down ever 20 mins didn't work for me...all i would do is have a break down on my hands every 20 mins and a kid who is scared to sit on the potty because mommy made her do it. So first tip, be flexible...if one doesn't want to do it, sit back and let it go.....work with the one who does.....if you begin potty training one of them, the other may start to follow their lead.