Seeking Moms - Indianapolis, IN

C.,

I have two grown children and have a daycare in my home, so I have been there many times. What I have learned is that you cannot force a child to potty train, if they are ready they will do it. I also have found that pullups are a waste of time and money. They feel like a diaper. Training pants work much better. I realize they are messier, but they definitely feel it when they have an accident. It needs to be unpleasant to mess in their pants so they won't want to.
Wait till it warms up so you'll have less laundry and try again.

Hi C.,

I personally would try not to make it a power struggle. Maybe she is just not ready. Give her a few weeks/months and try again.

There are anatomicaly (sp) correct dolls that potty. I have found this very helpful for my son. He would give the doll a drink and then we would take the doll to the bathroom, took the diaper off and he would let the doll go potty. We would praise the doll highly for being such a big "boy". I don't remember for sure but it could be Dr. Phil's suggestion? It really worked for our son.

Good luck!

Dont worry she will catch on here soon!!! What worked best for me , was i took my daughter to the store and let her pick out her first pair of big girl underware. Then the next day we were ready to wear those and gave our diapers away. Yes she had accidents, and that was just fine, but after a couple of times, she will not like the way it feels, and she will go potty!! You can also get her a book that talks about her becoming a big girl and using the potty they love that. You could have her place a sticker in the book everytime that she uses the potty. Just be patient and it will all come together.
Good Luck and just show her how exciting it can be to use the potty.
S. L

The dr will says dont rush her it will happen. Put a potty chair in the bathroom, everytime you go, have her sit on hers. I loved pull ups, dollar store brand is ok, just a step closer to big kids pants. Good luck and I will pray for you and the little one. B.

dont use the potty as a place to pee but a place to sit. I used to bring my sons potty chair into the living room and let him sit on it and watch cartoons with all his clothes on. he used to come in teh bathroom with me when I would go and he would sit on the potty, sometimes he would even tell me he had to go, but let it be up to the child. when she is ready to go she will go, that is what my son did. He one day just went running for the bathroom talking about I have to go potty. After she decides she is ready to go then do the treats for when she makes it there and goes as an incentive to continue. eventually she will poop in there and she wont want to have diapers or pull-ups anymore, but let it be up to her! Hope that helps!

My kids were both potty trained before they were 2. They were always so interested in the potty that it really wasn't stressful for anyone. When we started (after I figured out they were asking to go to the big potty) I got them big kid undies and we got rid of the diapers after a little while. I also used the Elmo potty training doll that comes with a potty seat and a sippy cup. I think it helped the kids understand that they would probably have to go after they drank something, and Elmo is very encouraging saying its ok we'll make it next time. But I think the key is if they aren't ready they just aren't ready. My doctor tried to tell me not to potty train yet, but I went ahead since they were asking to go to the big potty. I used a potty seat with my daughter and when we started we brought it out in the living room and got her used to it before she even tried to use it. With my son, I had my dad call when he went to the potty and pretend he was barney. He told him that he was so proud of him for using the potty and my son was really proud of that. So if she has a hero you might have someone pretend to be that person and give her some encouragement that way.
good luck

Hi C.! I feel for you because potty training is such a stress not only on you but also the child. My pediatrician has always told me (and I have two children now potty trained) that if they aren't interested. . .then dont force it! You will only stress yourself out and it isn't worth it. Your child is only 2 years old. . .some children never fully get it until they are 3 or 4. I personally would wait a few months and then try it again. . that is what we did with my son. He wasn't ready the first two times we tried. . the third time it took only 3 days to train him. And, I don't know if you have a boy or girl, but I have always been told that boys are slower than girls. Also, don't worry about other children around you. .. every child learns when they are ready!!

I wish you luck because it is the most frustrating thing to do. Good Luck!

i never forced them to be potty trained.. just took them to bathroom ever time i went and as i went potty i put them on the potty..and my hubby did it to ..with the kids.. stuff like that I never pushed them.. I have 4 kids..when they started telling me they had to go i took them and then they started going on there own... they were botty trained between 21/2 and closer to 3 befor they were potty trained but it was not a big deal to me. as long as they were leaning about it i was find... and they fianly said I DID IT I WENT POTTY MY SLEF.. they were so proud

then they are ready they will do fine

You try to continue to encourage her by asking her if she wants to be a big girl. If she does then keep telling her big girls potty in the potty and not in their panties. Maybe even tell her that if she starts potting in the potty all the time that she could get pretty big girl panties or panties that have her favorite characters on them.

My son did the same thing at 2 years old and I had the same problem with him. He is now 3 and about 4 months ago he woke up and asked to go potty in the bathroom and since then has been going potty in the potty with very few accidents. It just clicked with him one day. Good Luck.

C.-My suggestion would be to stop. Give her a week or so off from any pressure to potty. Then ask her if should is interested. It could turn into a power struggle if you keep at this rate. She is only 2, so there's no big rush. I have 3 girls, 2 of which were potty train right around their third birthday. My youngest is 2 yo and she talks about it, but hasn't produced anything on the potty yet. When she asks, we go, but if she doesn't then I leave it alone. My mom always said that she should be waking up dry from a 2 hour nap before her bladder is ready to control enough to work on potty training. I hope that helps. The more relaxed you are about it, I think the easier time you both will have. We are in this with you-good luck!!

My son started that at 2 and he didn't actually potty train until 3 and half!! We went through the whole power struggle thing multiple times. With my next one, and suggestions to all parents...they will go when they are ready. Offer it, but don't push it. When they start taking the offer to sit on the potty just ask them every 2 hours, they will figure it out. Don't force anything. It leads to way too much stress on you! (And longer potty training time!)

The average girl isn't potty trained until 30 months! From what I've read and stories I've heard, most parents who try before that just spend months trying to no avail. Parents who wait until the child is ready spend a long weekend focusing on it and it's done. You might want to lay off for a month or so and then try a new method (there's plenty of books you can read) to see if she responds.