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Toddlers: 24 Months+
So frustrated with potty training
Our DD is a little over 2.5years old and will be 3 in May. We are having no success with potty training. We tried for 3 days straight in Sept and again in Oct and she never really got it...mostly bc she's scared of the potty. So we gave it a break and started again today, it seems like we are on the same track again. She will hold it until she has to pee, then cry about wanting a diaper, then pee on the floor. She does not like sitting on the potty at all to try.
We have a potty book we read and talk about how big girls use the potty all the time. She has a little potty and a potty seat for the regular toilet both that she picked out. We've tried making it fun, offering prizes and treats but nothing. She is physically ready too and will tell me when she's peeing or pooping in her diaper.
I am so frustrated right now, and I'm not really sure what else to do. I'd really like to train her before baby # 2 arrives in May and she needs to be trained before pre-school next year.
Anyone have advice on a child who is very resistant to this? It's really hard for me she's made all other transitions so well, like giving up the pacifier and sleeping in a bed.
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Re: So frustrated with potty training
She will sit for a few minutes sometimes if I give her M&Ms, my ipod or her leap pad, but it seems to be when the sensation to pee is that she stands up and refuses to sit back down. Also how long do you do this during the day? All day everyday until she gets it, or maybe just mornings to start? DH was complaining this mornings that we can't go anywhere while he's home this week bc of this. I told him tough, we need to try again and it's very hard to do it when I'm home alone during the days. I think he's just hoping she will be magically potty trained :-) How long do I try at this until I decide if it's time to back off for a bit?
I think I'm going to make her help clean up the mess moving forward, thats a good idea.
Like pp said, just stick her in real panties and stick with it. I know it stinks, but she will get it much, much sooner if you are consistent all day, every day until she gets it. The first week will suck but after that it's awesome. My DD has been trained since about 20 mos and it is awesome. So much easier to no have to lug diapers around. Since your DD clearly knows when she has to go, if she thinks she can manipulate you into putting her back into diapers she will. I would literally throw away all the diapers you've got in front of her and tell her "no more diapers, you're a big girl and use the potty now".
One thing I read somewhere (although I never tried it) is for kids who are afraid of the potty, let them sit on your lap on the potty and go between your legs. It sounds a bit insane but if it works, who cares? Cleaning up the mess is good too (I have a very good friend who did this and it was the turning point for them, her DD didn't like having to clean it up so she started using the potty). Good luck!
First of all, it sounds like DD is simply not emotionally ready for PTing, even though she might be physically ready. Many kids aren't ready by 3 years old. No doubt it'd be nice to have her trained before LO arrives, but it may not be worth the struggle. And pre-school is a ways away, so there's lots of time for her to be ready by then.
We PT'd DS this past august when he was almost 3.5 years old. Like you, it was in preparation for preschool, and he simply wasn't ready or interested before then. But FWIW, it definitely took him more than 3 straight days for him to catch on. We were housebound and had many many accidents. It was frustrating, no doubt, but we stuck with it and he was 100% within 2 weeks. I'd suggest you keep going, but if DD is showing a fear of the potty, she just may not be ready.
I would drop it for now - its too much pressure.
Talk about it all the time, make sure she sees you peeing and any other girls you can talk into letting her watch! Grandmothers are great for this! And just talk it up - alot! Remind her that she can use the potty whenever she wants, etc.
You could try putting a little potty in the living room/playroom too. and, jsut reminding her its there if she wants to use it.
Your daughter sounds exactly like my DD. Super frustrating, but we actually found something that seems to be working. The biggest, most important factor in her not being afraid to go on the potty chair now is that we lay one of her diapers on top of the potty chair so she goes right on the diaper. Obviously we'll have to slowly transition it off of the potty chair, but at least it gets her sitting on the potty chair and makes her not afraid of it anymore.
We just keep the potty chair in the middle of the living room and have the diaper draped over it. We try not to hover around her when we know she has to go and basically just let her make it to the potty on her own. So far this is working for her so it might be worth a try!