Potty Training

[hberg]

At my wits end....

I have a 28 month old girl who started potty training in the first two weeks of Sept. For awhile she did great. The last three weeks we have had alot of accidents and I am not sure how to approach this. We tried using treats - which worked for awhile, we tried feigned indifference to the accidents "that's okay - try harder" and of course the ole' "why?, why?" -- which I know is like the worst thing that can happen but everyone gets frustrated. I don't want potty training to be negative, so we try very hard to tell her to please try harder, and reward her with positive comments and high fives when she makes it. At daycare, she seems to have very few accidents... which tells me there is something at home not working....

[Audrey]

My experience was when they're ready they're ready and all the treats, charts, tricks, etc did nothing to speed up or slow down the process. It sounds like she's doing very well for her age - try to be patient and just take frequent potty breaks at home to minimize the accidents. One mom I respect a lot had a good answer when her child said "I don't need to go" - she said "You don't need to go, you just need to TRY." Eventually something will click, and the accidents will stop happening. Bottom line, in a year this will seem like ancient history to you -- you will get through it!

[Dwarflord]

Let it happen. If you push the issue its usually detrimental. I usually encourage it but do not force it. When we can get her on the "potty" I usually have to sit on the one next to her's. We talk for awhile and I keep re-enforcing that we are going potty and thats a good thing. They will also begin to hate having their diapers changed and that is also a plus when potty training because they are beginning to not like the feel of dirty/wet diapers. I tell her that if she doesnt want me to change the diaper she has to tell me when she needs to go potty.
Of course all kids are different, but dont make it something that seems like a "choir" or "task" to them, but rather something fun and "the right thing to do".
Oh, and dont yell at them or lose patience. I find that as a "bad experience" for them. I need to keep the whole process in a positive outlook for her.

DwArFlOrD

[Carol Al-Ajroush]

Have you also tried any special kind of activity that you give her only when she's on the potty? Some kind of toy or game?

Good luck! I'm sure very soon from now this will all be resolved.

[SK8R]

I did not potty train until they were 3... lots of success.
Some kids are truly ready when they are younger but the mistakes can be devastating for the sensitive ones.
She doesn't want to disappoint you.
Good luck... rest assured she will be independant by the time she goes to college... :-D <3

[kassiabi]

SK8R is right. When they are ready, they will be trained. I was lucky enough that our daughter realized it very early on, ( I hated changing diapers when she started eating adult food,, :-). She was fully trained at 25 months but we sure didn't push her hard. She started not liking the "feeling" of dirty diapers before she even turned 2 and when we showed her the "potty" and how it worked, that was it. When your daughter is ready, she'll let you know and by then, the training will be a snap. Good luck ~

[hberg]

We have been very good about seeing if she was ready. The daycare thought she was when they suggested it to us. Of the 9 kids they attempted 2 made it - ours and a boy that was three.

She is in underwear all day and only at bedtime is she in diapers. She was devasted last night when we went through underwear accident number 2 and put her in a pull up until bath time, she ended up running around naked because I did not want her to cry and be that upset.

I think I will just stick with what we have been doing. She has never had an accident in public and always asks to use the potty when we are out so that in itself is a success. I was just wondering how long the potty process takes. My friend said her boy just had a few accidents for the first two weeks and then maybe one in a blue moon. Since it has been almost 2 months, I did not know if this was normal or not. Thanks for the feedback!

[cleansweep]

Try not having anymore kids!!!!quote:Originally posted by hberg

At my wits end....

I have a 28 month old girl who started potty training in the first two weeks of Sept. For awhile she did great. The last three weeks we have had alot of accidents and I am not sure how to approach this. We tried using treats - which worked for awhile, we tried feigned indifference to the accidents "that's okay - try harder" and of course the ole' "why?, why?" -- which I know is like the worst thing that can happen but everyone gets frustrated. I don't want potty training to be negative, so we try very hard to tell her to please try harder, and reward her with positive comments and high fives when she makes it. At daycare, she seems to have very few accidents... which tells me there is something at home not working....

[kassiabi]

What kind of a comment is this?????????? my god,,
quote:Originally posted by cleansweep

Try not having anymore kids!!!![quote]Originally posted by hberg

[Audrey]

It's the kind of comment people post to entertain themselves with all the resulting outrage. Best to ignore it.

[SK8R]

hberg, It sounds like you are doing a great job... and it sounds like she is/was ready ...so stick with it. just dont let her be discouraged with the mistakes (always be prepared to react calmly). Kids need to learn early on that we all have mistakes with many things in life... parents make mistakes too.
Have fun with this age, 28 months is a wonderful age. Mine are 17 and 20 years old and still wonderful:)

[neilz]

Just a note here on my personal experience, and I mean personal ... the only kids I have have four fuzzy legs.

My mom once told me that I was potty trained by the time I was toddling around, she said it was a year and a half. Of course, I only have what she told me to believe, so I can't be sure.

But this part I'm sure of: she said I could not stand the wetness, smell, feeling dirty. This was when all you had were cloth diapers. May say something about these 'throw aways' that wick all the wetness away so its 'dry'.

Which is probably why someone's come out with a new type of disposable underware that lets the child feel the wetness !!



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

[mdr227]

One trick that nobody ever really mentions when potty training is to try and make sure you plan the birth so that they will be hitting 30 months right around April/May. That way during peak potty training time (30-36 months) they will be in lighter, easier to remove clothing. Potty training in the winter is tough. It also makes it easier for them to go around the house in training pants and quickly pull them off when they need to go. Having raised two daughters I have found that the best way for me was to train them like I do our dogs, make sure you have plenty of time at home (like on the weekends if they go to day care) and take them to the bathroom every 60-90 minutes. As they start to be able to do that then extend the time between rest room breaks. It's very tough to train them when you are on the go and are constantly changing from training pants to diapers and back. They need to have consistent reinforcement that they are doing the right thing.

On another note, with little boys (and I learned this the hard way with my nephew) make sure when they learn to go standing up that you don't talk to them from the side as instead of just turning their heads to look at you they'll turn their whole body!!!!!!!!

[Newsy]

It sounds like you are in a good place. Your daughter behaves wonderfully at school and out in public. She only has "trouble" at home. Get used to this behavior. If your kids can contol themselves when you are away from home you are among the luckiest of parents. Every one likes to let their hair down when they come home home from work. You put on sweat pants and that slppy t-shirt you dripped ice cream on last night and chill.

Maybe your kid is doing the same. She knows she can be more relaxed at home (That is good the shrinks say). Maybe she has been working so hard to succeed at her new task during school that she just needs a break. Pay no attention its just not that big a deal.

The not liking the wet or dirty feeling speaks volumes too. Next time she has an accident make her wait just 5 minutes in her wet state. Just suddenly get 'busy' for a minute. Your daughter sounds very mature and like she is trying hard so kiss her and cherish every minute is will pass all too soon.

[moustafa]

I am posting this using my husband's account.
I know great deal of potty seat training, as I am the official distributor of the famous Flip N Flush potty seat. I have been selling those for years and I get a lot of feedback from mums, I can say that the potty seat itself makes huge difference. The attached potty seat to the toilet encourages toddlers to use it (they feel they imitate adults) also they feel safe as it is attached to something. Different colors (compared to the white one) also attracts them. I have CDs that teach potty training. Feel free to contact me at shahi32@hotmail.com for the CDs or for the seats.
Broadlands resident since 2000.

[Azsweepay]

Personally, I think that potty training is totally over-rated...

(posted by current CEO of Depends Corp)

Seriously, if the docs say that all is ok, then it could just be that they are either not ready or see it as a control thing. Either will work itself out.

Gregg

[thndrkats]

So do you wear adult diapers and tie your own shoe laces? Because I think shoeslaces are over-rated, it should all be velco, because laces are discriminatory.

Actually children really can't start school until they are potty trained, so is early eduation over-rated?

DUH!

quote:Originally posted by Azsweepay

Personally, I think that potty training is totally over-rated...

(posted by current CEO of Depends Corp)

Seriously, if the docs say that all is ok, then it could just be that they are either not ready or see it as a control thing. Either will work itself out.

Gregg

[greggbroadlands]

quote:Originally posted by thndrkats

So do you wear adult diapers and tie your own shoe laces? Because I think shoeslaces are over-rated, it should all be velco, because laces are discriminatory.

Actually children really can't start school until they are potty trained, so is early eduation over-rated?

DUH!

quote:Originally posted by Azsweepay

Personally, I think that potty training is totally over-rated...

(posted by current CEO of Depends Corp)

Seriously, if the docs say that all is ok, then it could just be that they are either not ready or see it as a control thing. Either will work itself out.

Gregg



thndrkats, this is a J-O-K-E. The signature is from the supposed CEO of depends.....

[thndrkats]

It made as much sense to me as your politics from another thread so I apologize for not readily recognizing it as humor. :)

[greggbroadlands]

Believe me, it was no great surprise that it went over your head.