Potty Training Help Needed - Downers Grove,IL

I have a 3 year old son and we used the 3 day potty training book. We used pull ups for a week and then threw them out. We followed the book closely and praised the heck out of him. We did not want to confuse him and sort of "allow" him to slip back so when we threw out the pull-ups, we told him he's doing such a great job and that we expected him to not have accidents. We are not hard core about things and I was sort of surprised that he still has had no accidents since February when we started. It may be her age. Was she ready to start training or was it you? I know the book talks a lot about general guidelines for ages (around 2) but my son was absolutely not ready until he was closer to 3. You can see that even reading the responses, there is a WIDE variation in answers because our own children are our filter... if I were you, I might back off for awhile. I don't know about going completely back to diapers but it just sounds like she's not emotionally ready. As I said, I'm kinda shocked at my son. He's now going pee and poop all on his own. He tells us we don't need to come in- and we laugh but he does it. Now handwashing is a different story... haha. I only say all of this because HE is running the show. We don't have to really push, etc. I think that's how it's supposed to be. I just think the novelty has worn off and she's not ready. Good luck and keep us posted.

She will when she is ready. Potty "training" is rarely finite nor consistent in the beginning. As she gets older (you didn't say how old she is now), and as the bladder/nerves/brain connection matures, she will get better at it, naturally.

Next, night-time and nap time "dryness" is a whole other realm and time-line. A child does not pee/poop/do night time control at that same time. It is in stages. And yes, 'accidents' will happen. Its the life of a child, until they are mature enough to hold their bladder for all those hours.

Night-time dryness... is not even attained until 7 years old. And this is normal and per Pediatricians. Night-time dryness, is BIOLOGICAL based... not the child being naughty, for example. It is biological based and until the bladder/mind connection is mature enough.

My daughter was already 5 years old... until she could be dry at night. MANY kindergarten kids, still wear diapers at night as well. Normal. Even older, they will sometimes have accidents at night. Normal.

Don't push, don't pressure, don't show disappointment in her. This will only backfire.

If you pressure a child too much, they may even "withhold" their poop, for example, causing induced "constipation"... and this is not good, and then turns into a medical problem, and constipation, once the vicious cycle starts, is HARD to undo. Because constipation hurts when it comes out, then because of the pain, the child will "withhold" going poop altogether. Then it causes more medical problems.
I know, because my daughter did this and although we didn't pressure her, it just causes anxiety in a child... and stress.

Again, accidents and relapses will occur and regressions. Until they can AT-WILL control their body....

My daughter is now 7 years old. A couple of weeks ago she had a pee accident while sleeping at night. No biggie. I just use waterproof bed pads under her, change her jammies, then put another new one under her, then back to bed. She even had a dream that she was on the toilet until she felt herself wet. No biggie. We do not scold/pressure/use rewards or punishments for accidents. They don't do it on purpose.

Kick back, don't pressure her, and just encourage... but without pressure. Even perhaps tell her, you don't expect her to be "perfect."

Again, accidents happens. Preschool kids, Kindergarten kids, and even 1st grader kids have accidents. Still. And ALL my daughter's Teachers said the same thing. Only that they parents won't admit to it... openly. But it happens and is normal.

For naps and bedtime, I never used pull-ups. They are useless... they don't hold much and leak and are expensive. I just used night time Diapers by Huggies.

ALL my friends has well, who have 5 year olds, their kids are still using diapers at night. The bladder is not mature enough yet. And a child that age, still may want/need their parent to go with them to the toilet at night, if they wake up. IF they wake up and are at that stage, of being able to wake at night, at-will, to go to pee.

all the best,
Susan

22 months is on the early side of success. Earlier training can and does happen, but very often results in regression when the full size of the obligation hits the child. How old is she now? Three or older is not unusual for kids to thoroughly want to be out of messy diapers and into big-kid undies.

Success rides on considerably more than the simple physical ability to use the potty. There is a level of emotional willingness and motivation – a maturing of the child's impulsiveness and distractability – that really must happen before the child can complete this developmental step, which will be a satisfying source of pride once she is ready to make it.

Before then, it is more likely to become a source of anxiety, frustration, and resistance. However old your daughter is now, when she's really got all her stars in alignment, she'll go for it. Pressure, disappointment, or punishment from you now may keep those starts out of whack longer. Don't mess with the stars. Potty training is as natural, and as desirable for the child, as learning to walk and talk.

Hi, I have some experience in this that I'd like to offer. We did the 3 Day Potty Training Method ebook (http://www.3daypottytraining.com/) and it worked great. We started a little later than you; about 33 months. It was such a relief to quit buying diapers, and my daughter was very proud.

We never used pull ups. They are diapers, and it's confusing to kids to have times when it's okay to use a diaper and times when it's not.

We had some trouble at nap and bed time at first. She was scared she would need to pee, which is understandable. However, we stuck with it. Currently, we cut back on fluids by 6, she goes to bed at 8 (potty, then bed). Then I take her to the potty at 10:30. She hardly wakes up.

Someone we know quipped that it's not her that's potty trained, it's us. Okay, a pack of 6 pairs of underwear is a lot cheaper and lasts a lot longer than a box of twenty diapers.

I've been surprised to hear friends talk about their kids in grade school still wearing pull ups. I guess the diaper companies don't mind.

As far as daytime goes, I would review the ebook and the website on how to offer encouragement and find good rewards -- the every-time rewards and the big achievement awards. Good luck.

the honeymoon period wore off, that is all. Since you used that method, do a day of it being that method again as a refresher course and she'll be back on track. You may have to reward for a while, I find a bag of chocolate chips is easy to keep in the bathroom - one chip and they are thrilled so the bag will last you a LONG time

We did the 3 day potty training ebook also. We did not use pullups (I agree that it might be confusing). We did the method about 3 weeks ago and I still have to say to my son multiple times a day "Don't forget to tell mommy you have to go potty!". He gets 2 M&Ms when he goes potty so when he doesn't want to go - I often remind him that he gets M&Ms when he goes and that seems to motivate him to try. Good luck! Stay strong!!