As of 5 days ago, my 2 year old daughter was potty trained. My husband and I took 4 hours out of our time to sit with her and teach her how to potty herself. It worked magically and seemed too good to be true. This is how she did it. For the last 5 days she wore underwear and sweats (easiest clothes to pull off on her own and with it being cold here in Ohio, it was easy for us to keep her in sweats). Whenever she had to go potty, she would go into the bathroom, pull down her pants and underwear, sit on her Winnie the Pooh potty chair, pee or poop on the potty, stand up, wipe herself, pull up her underwear and pants, take the bowl from the potty chair and dump it in the adult toilet, flush the toilet, return the bowl to the potty chair, and use that new Kandoo hand soap to wash her hands. She was a genius at it for 5 days straight. No diapers whatsoever, including naptimes and nighttimes. She suffered just 3 accidents TOTAL in those 5 days. Now, today, she has refused to potty. I'm assuming she's constipated because she stands there, cries out loud, and wets herself. She acts as if she's holding in a bowel movement but not once today has she gone on the potty chair. So she's been in diapers today and is in one tonight. Aside from child suppositories (which I really prefer to use as a last resort), and the tons of 100% juices I've been giving her to help her go potty (which usually helps on constipation with her), is there anything else I can do? Will I have to retrain her on the potty chair after today's episode? Please help! I'm tired of diapers!
I agree with Jennifer. My daughter was going through the same thing last year. Her doctor told me to us mineral oil. Just put some in her drinks. Also he said prune juice works good too. I hope some of this will help.
I'm an incredibly lucky mom when it comes to potty training. Both of my daughters were potty trained by 2. However, when Reagan was about 2 she started wetting herself, and crying much as you've described, and we came to find out it was a urinary tract infection. I would say that if she is showing signs of pain, to check farther into it with your doctor. But as for her, just let her do the deciding wether she wants the diaper or the panties. Reagan would agree to the pull-ups during that week, maybe that will work too. From the sounds of her capeabilities to empty her potty and wash her hands and such, she surely seems ready, so I wouldn't give up unless she clearly doesn't want to any more. Good luck.
My daughter just turned 3 and we are still having accidents every now and then due to constipation. We have not had to repotty train her ever she has pretty much been potty traind since she turned two but unlike your daughter mine still wears pull ups at night and then also on days when I think she is constipated. I do not recomend suppositories but her doctor has her on mineral oil ( if I can get her to ever take it) also raisens, fig cookies, prune juice( if you can get her to drink it), I was told to try giving a medimucil(spelling not sure) bars but not the whole thing only about 1/4 of it.
Hopefully one of these might help you and your daughter.
As to the hard stool issue, our 3 1/2 year old has had issue with that for the last couple of years. We found that reducing or removing his milk intake and increasing his juice intake helps (apple juice especially). As a last resort, the pediatrician recommended adding mineral oil to his juice. We started out using too much so be careful if you try it. Now we start with a tablespoon to an 8 oz cup of juice maybe once a day for the first day then twice a day for the second day if he's still not having an easier time.
As to the irregularity, we've found that there's definitely a time when they 'get it' then a time when they seem to 'loose it' shortly thereafter. I've heard that a lot of kids go through that - I know ours has. All I can say is that I know she'll go back to what she knows - it's just reading her to know when to encourage her to get back to her potty schedule or when to give her time and back off until she's a bit more confident and not so afraid/frustrated.
I wish this whole thing of potty training were easier!
T.
In our culture/country, there's this ridiculous myth that our children are "too young" to potty train. Did you know that 100 yrs ago (before disposible diapers and personal laundry machines), almost ALL children were potty independent way before 2 yrs of age? Don't listen to folks who tell you she's not ready. DO listen to YOUR OWN observation of your daughter - it sounds right on the money that your daughter might be experiencing constipation and that's why she's having accidents. Treat the real problem (constipation) and your daughter will likely go right back to using the toilet. Trust me when I tell you that *from birth* our kids don't like peeing/pooping on themselves - and if your daughter was using the potty so successfully last week, and there's some big change this week, it's likely physical discomfort (constipation, UTI, etc.) that's preventing her from going on the potty. Just continue to be supportive, loving, and helpful with pottying - no negativity if there's an accident, no pressuring, no frustration - just help her work through this. You guys can do it!
As for your 7 week old son, if you *really* want to blow your mind, let him have a go at the potty - just as they can tell you when they're hungry, they can let you know they have to pee/poop. It's WAAAAY easier than cleaning up those poopy diaper blowouts, and your daughter will get a kick out of pottying together with her little brother! Check out these 2 links - even if you think it sounds crazy (like I did!) - and then give it a try (it can't hurt, babies usually LOVE it, and you can always quit!) - and see how amazing our babies really are:
How to do part-time potty-training with your baby
http://www.viviente.com/2005/10/how_to_do_parttime_pottyt...
Getting Started
http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/Articles/GettingStartedBobr...
Pottying Positions
http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/PottyingPositions.htm
Congratulations on potty training your daughter AND on the birth of your new son!
This happened with us too with my 3 year old daughter. If they're not ready, they're not ready. I've started putting pull-ups on my daughter again because it's not worth it to do a load of laundry everyday and to shampoo the carpets every other day and get angry at my daughter for going in her pants. She'll still tell me when/if she has to go but if she doesn't, no love lost. Potty training, unfortunately, isn't an overnight success. Good luck!
Give her some prune juice, which will do wonders for constipation. Then, let her wear diapers for a couple days, and ask her if she wants to use the potty. Make sure to treat it like it is no big deal, her choice, no stress, and she will likely use the potty again very soon.
Best wishes, and congratulations on such early potty training.
K.
I think maybe she just isn't ready to be potty trained. With our daughter, I waited until she was 3 years old to potty train and it took about one week for her to be potty trained during the day and about one month at night. She is almost 4 and has had only 4 accidents total. She just got the concept of potty-ing and I think maybe your daughter is just a little young at only 2. The last thing you want to have happen is her become afraid of the potty because then you have just made your potty training job even harder. Maybe wait 6 months or so and try again. Give her a chance to return to her normal poop schedule, etc and then try again when you think she may understand a little more why you want her to go potty like a big girl. Hope this helps.
Try taking her to bathroom when you go. Talk to her and let her see its not so bad. Encourage her to join you by asking her to sit down. When she does this, turn on the faucet and let the water run. At her age, she should be going to the bathroom to boo-boo at least once-a-day. Try drinking some prune juice w/little water in it. And when you go to the toilet take her with you.
Just b/c you're tired of diapers doesn't mean she's done using them, unfortunately. :) My first question is to ask what juices you're giving her. Some (like apple) make constipation worse, if that indeed is her dilemma.
Second, it's only a day of set back. She's very young still...don't flush all your progress away after one bad day.
