Potty Training Tips for the Beginner!

Check out "Once Upon A Potty for Her" on DVD. It has a silly potty song and cute kids showing how to sit on the potty but most important is after the show...a DR. shares info. for the parent about potty training and readiness. I have 3 girls and 1 boy and we've watched this dvd over and over.

Sounds like your daughter is showing some interest but I still wouldn't push...if you start to make it a battle of wills and get frustrated with all the "accidents" then it will just take even longer to potty train. Some Moms just have the "get 'er done" mentality but I wanted it to be a more relaxed, successful, positive experience so I didn't start until about 2-1/2 yrs. old and that worked for our family. Children are smart and they'll let you know when they're ready (some kids sooner and some later than others).

I agree with starting pull-ups at naptime and bedtime and 100% cotton underwear for during the day. We also used stickers and lots of cheering and hugs as positive reinforcement when the girls went potty in the stool. Don't be surprised if potty comes easier than having a BM in the stool too because doing #2 in the potty can be scary for some kids. Good Luck!

I would just like to encourage you to do what you have been doing. You have been doing a great job of letting her take some of the lead, not pushing too hard and not making it a difficult experience. Great job mom :)

Lots of helpful advice here: http://www.drgreene.com/54_19.html

It sounds like she is still a bit iffy and may need a bit more time. I know this sounds icky, but if you haven't already, let her watch you go potty a few times to make sure she "gets it". (Sometimes when they are this young and have gone on the potty, it's more of a coincidence than intentional.) When she's used the toilet several more times (hopefully with a BM in there), I would go ahead and wait for a weekend day where you can just be home and put her in underwear. Go shopping for underwear and let her pick what she wants out. Then tell her, "Okay, we need to keep *character* dry, so when you potty, you need to go on the toilet." Have her sit on the potty every half hour to every hour, and don't make a big deal when/if she has an accident, just don't strip her down in a nanosecond-wait a few seconds so she can FEEL the wet/icky feeling and remind her when she goes on the toilet, her big girl panties stay dry and clean.

Honestly, most kids are ready way before their parents start working on it.
Good luck!

You might also want to check out "toilet training in a day" which is a great developmental readiness approach to potty training. It's all about encouragement and natural reinforcements (such as, if they have an accident, have them help clean up to the best of their ability). It seems too good to be true, but it's a pretty simple, positive approach. It might be harder if you're working full time, but taking a weekend or a few days to get her into the potty frame of mind is worth it.

Oh Boy!! My son turned 3 today and if I could do one thing over it would be to wait until he was REALLY ready to push potty training. My son is potty trained but refuses to wear anything but a diaper. It is crazy. But it is all a battle of wills and as one mom said you don't want to get into that war. Keep it fun and up to her to take the lead too. I could be wrong though. I hear girls are a little easier than boys.
Good Luck and God Bless during this trying time. :)