More Potty Training Advice? - Issaquah,WA

She sound ready. This is what I did for my boys. First I used pull ups just so they could learn to use the potty while still being protected. Once they showed they understood the concept we went to big boy undies. I made a big deal about this, letting them pick them out and giving lots of praise on big boy day. That said, the first day was awful! We had like 13 accidents! My son was begging for his pull up back, but do not give in! Once he realized the diapers were gone for good he tried harder, and the second day he only had 2 accidents, then one a day for 2 or 3 days, then one a week for a couple of weeks, then none at all. Just don't get mad when she has an accident. You will need a sence of humor and a good carpet cleaner!

best of luck

She sounds ready. Around 2 years old, their bodies develop the mind/body connection and undersatnd what is happening when they go to the bathroom. I would switch her to either cloth training pants or underwear. We used cloth training pants with my daughter and I loved them! It provided me with the extra protection I needed for those early frequent accidents especially when we had to leave the house. The cloth is more like underwear and they feel when they are wet or messy and relate to cause and effect a lot faster. Plus you'll save a ton of money since you'll be washing clothes and towels a lot more during potty training anyway, so you just wash all the underwear instead of throwing them all away. You'll also want a couple pair with snaps on the side. These are great for poopy accidents since you can unsnap them and remove them rather than pull them down the leg, making a mess. You can see the different pants here:
http://www.punkinbutt.com/potty-training-training-pants-c...

Get her a little potty and let her sit on it. It's a novelty and she is enjoying it. Plus, many times they are actually processing what is happening and thinking about the potty when they are on it. The other thing is many children feel the early need to go poo and it takes a while for it to actually come. So they want to sit on the potty a lot during that time. If she's just playing, then offer her a new activity and have her come join you. They don't want to miss out on anything!

Let her get used to going potty in the potty as much as possible. Many children will get bored with it and then want to go back to diapers or just decide playing is more fun than going potty. This is where you can teach them that going in the potty is a must. We took my daughter to the potty after an accident and had her pull down her pants and sit on the potty, then we would pull up her pants and take her back to where she had her accident and then we would explain that you do not go potty on the floor and we would take her back to the potty and have her sit on it again, repeating these steps several times. They get bored with this quickly as will you. But, they will learn fast that it is better to go in the potty instead of continuing to play and make a mess.

Another thing many children will do is go sit on the potty and nothing comes out. They will say they need to pee, but repeated attempt to go potty will result in nothing and they will give up. Then they end up pooping in their underwear. If she is repeatedly trying to go, encourage her to try again every couple of minutes. Catching those accidents helps relieve stress for both of you and they love accomplishing something and getting praised. It does take a while for them to understand their body's signals and it will take time for her to perfect it.

I think it sounds like she's ready - I just trained my 2 year old daughter, and she was doing many of the same things. We had a few accidents at the beginning, but she was nearly accident free (including car trips, nighttime and naps) within less than a week. Here are my suggestions:

- Accidents will happen - don't stress about them! They're a much smaller deal than you fear. If you have to go to your baby, go to your baby. I have my 6 month old in my arms many times when I'm needed to wipe a butt after a poo.

- Put her in underwear all of her waking hours when you are ready to start. Let her wet and mess herself, just take her to the potty each time, sit her on it, don't scold, change her, and dump the poo (if any) in the toilet, showing her that's where it goes. Think of each accident as a learning experience she'd never get with a diaper or pullup on. She will learn to detect the need to go SO fast this way, you won't believe it! Gerber makes some wonderful thick training underwear, they are somewhat absorbent and super soft.

- Have her sit on the potty every 30 minutes at first, but I bet you she will start telling you she needs to go, or running for it herself within a day or two.

- Stay at home for a few days to train, but then start taking short trips out, but always keep an extra pair of underwear and pants with you.

- Reward her with something small each time she goes, as well as at random intervals when you feel her underwear and they are still dry. Don't scold for accidents, though. We used 1 choc. chip for pee, 2 for poo.

- Use pullups only for naps and nighttime, when the pullups start staying dry when she wakes up, you can start leaving her in underwear at those times too. I trained my daughter starting Jan 1st, she's been in underwear at naps since about 2 weeks into it, and just started having underwear at night too. We only used one pack of pullups.

- Pull-ups are not a good potty training tool in my opinion. They just extend the diaper wearing period. Use them as little as possible, or they will be treated like a diaper by your daughter and you've wasted a lot of money.

- Be ready to hit the public restrooms when you go out! A little portable potty seat is a great investment. I didn't listen to my daughter at the grocery store recently (or rather, suggested that she hold it til we got home) and paid with a puddle at the checkout line. Oops! We do visit nearly every public restroom though, much more with her than ever with my son - he has always been one to hold it til home, where he's comfortable.

Good luck! I was so nervous when I potty trained my first (who's now 4) and the second time through, with my daughter it was SO much easier! I thnk when my youngest son hits two I'll be ready to roll. It's not nearly as scary as you think it might be.

I was in a similar situation last week. My daughters are 2 years and 5 months and last week my 2 YO decided no more diapers. I felt less ready than her, having a baby to take care of as well. So my advice to you: If possible get someone to come over and help so you don't feel you are neglecting either kid- that's how I felt, Put the potty chair in the living room or wherever you spend the most time- that way you can tend to baby and still see your 2 YO. I even brought the potty chair to whatever room I was in if I was going to spend a lot of time in there, Books- when my daughter was having a hard time going, I gave her one of her favorite books to help her relax and a minute later she had pooped! I also tell her to take deep breaths or blow and show her. I've heard blowing bubbles on the potty can help, but too messy when you have another one to take care of.
Now with all that said- be ready for set backs. My daughter was doing great. I put her in panties the first day she asked and she peed 2 pairs then I told her when I put the third pair on, "last pair then you will have to wear a diaper." She peed them, but didn't throw a fit when she had to wear a diaper and the next day she didn't pee any. She had 3-4 dry days before having another accident. Then on day six she started getting 2 year molars and wanted her diaper back. So we are at square one.
I hope my experience helps you somehow. We can do this. :)

I suggest letting her run around naked. If she is aware of her need to go she won't want to go on the floor (per my experience with both my kids) with my daughter we did a couple days of naked, a couple days of training underpants both these stages I would automatically put her on the potty every couple hours then underpants and easy to pull on and off pants letting her go when she needed to, then we were potty trained. I put my little girl in underwear (training pants are thicker and a little more absorbent than regular underwear) during the day and pull ups at night. I never had a problem with pull ups and I used the Fred Meyer Kroger brand.

Your dear little daughter is trying to tell you that she's ready for potty training and 24 months is definately NOT too young. Make it a game, race her to the potty when it's time, read a book or look at pictures while she's on the potty also really helps.

E. get her the pull ups there like a diaper but not this is what my Daughter-inlaw is doing with good results you may want to try them. Mom & Granma J..

For the record my kid is not potty trained.

That being said I know lots of parents who have had success potty training their oldest once they have a baby. You have one very smart kid - she knows that once she has your attention on this one you take your attention off the baby. So my advice is to take advantage of this and work on it with her.

Hi E.,
Pull-ups worked great for us. As soon as I used the "cold" pull-ups, both of my boys used the potty instead of the pull-up. Pooing took a little longer, but not much. A sticker chart reward worked good for them. I would let them choose whichever one they wanted and they would put it on a calendar that I had printed out. Sometimes when we'd go to the store, out of the blue I would say "you have been doing such a great job going potty that today you get to pick a prize". It thrilled them. It was never a huge item, maybe a matchbox car, but it made it exciting for them which in turn helped with potty training. Have a good day!

When she yells no diaper, put her on the toilet, and if she goes, put a pull up on, and give her a big emotional reward. If she doesn't go, put the diaper on. Tell what you are going to do. If she doesn't go, don't appear disappointed or sad, just without emotion and go with your day.

Do this every time she yells no diaper.

Always give her the opportunity. Always remind her what is going to happen.

If everybody becomes too frustrated, back off.

I think she is just on the cusp of being trained. All she needs is the right momentum.

Good luck.

I recommend the book "Toilet Training in less Than a Day" by Nathan Azrin. I used it years ago with both of my children, a boy and a girl, and it worked as promised. It has a chapter on figuring out if your child is ready. Both my children were about 2 1/2 years old when I trained them. They went directly from diapers to underwear. I still used diapers or pull-ups at night, until they were able to stay dry while sleeping.

Well, my first advice would be to avoid pull-ups, except for overnight. They are practical at night because if your daughter wants to go on the potty then, she can just pull them off. But if she doesn't make it in time, she's protected. During the day, regular underwear will work, or else it's just like she's wearing a really expensive diaper. And she probably will be too tempted to use it instead of the potty.
I would have her pick out some big girl underwear, and then just get ready to do a lot of laundry! With our son, who trained at 2 1/2, we took the potty wherever we were in the house. In our bedroom, his room, the living room, etc. And then I'd calculate how soon after having a big drink he might have to pee. I told him to be mindful of his "tummy" hurting or pressure on his tummy right before he had to pee.
But our son let us know he was ready because every time he had to poo, he'd go hide. He'd go in our closet, or under a table, and then make us go away. So I figured he was ready, and would then put the potty in the closet, or wherever it was he'd go to do his thing, and within a few days he was almost totally potty trained. But those days get really long when you're cleaning up lots of clothes and puddles on the floor! We are just now letting him wear underwear at night, and its conditional on him either going pee right before bed, or if he refuses, putting on a pull up. There are still accidents from time to time, but that is to be expected! He is almost 3 1/2 now.
On your question about her staying on the potty too long, if it looks like she's just playing there and nothing more is coming out, just put a little timer or give her "two more minutes" on it, then have another activity ready so she has an incentive to get off. Timers work great with toddlers, or even little bribes like a toy she cherishes or a snack she likes. Anyway good luck!!

First of all, take a deep breath. This happens even earlier for some kids and sometimes as late as 5 years for others. I have 3 children past the potty training age and one 24 month DS who isn't ready yet. It does sound like your daughter IS ready. Here is how I would handle it if my son were ready now based on what I've learned through the years.

I already have 2 little potties (one for upstairs and one for down) that I got from the dollar store... yes, I said dollar store. He prefers to sit on the big people potty when he does ask to go though. I would go ahead and get pullups AND undies. I'd use the pullups for sleeping times and the undies for awake times. I would use a timer and sit him on the potty for 15 mins (or when he's done, whichever is first) when we get up in the morning and also from naps and before/after breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner and also before nap/bed times... and of course whenever he asked. This would avoid the all day on the potty routine you were talking about. I would start on a week when I do not have any other major plans so we can focus on getting the new routine down. When he had accidents, I would have him help rinse out the undies/clothes and put them in the washer. This is the natural consequence for having accidents: clean up after yourself. No big deal. Everyone has an accident at one time or another. After a month of no wet pullups during sleep times, I would go ahead and try undies for bed as well... always remember to give praise rewards!

When we did start going out, I would have him sit on the potty beforehand (15 mins). I would also make sure that I know where the potties are when we go out and avoid places where there is not a public restroom available. In the "travel bag" or backpack that HE would carry, I would pack extra clothes (2 sets), undies, pullups, and a plastic baggie. If an accident occured, he would help rinse and place his soiled clothes in the plastic bag after getting changed. I would tell him that he is not being punished, but he can try using undies again when we got home. If he had an accident because he told me he had to go and I simply couldn't get him to the potty fast enough, I'd let him try again with undies... once. If he didn't have an accident while we were out and told me when he had to go instead, he would get a reward when we got home, like a very small piece of candy, a short video, or a sticker on a sticker chart. Some people choose to have potty chairs in their cars for side of the road potty emergencies, but I like teaching them that sometimes we have to wait until we can get to a gas station or rest stop.

That is how I would handle it based on my experiences. The important thing to remember, no matter how you decide to do it, is to be consistent and patient with her. She may pick it right up, or it may take her a while. My DD who is 12 and has some developmental delay still has minor issues with recognizing the sensation of having to pee and I still have to send spare clothes with her to school... middle school... because sometimes she just can't make it to the potty.

Good luck. I'm sure she'll be fine and you will be proudly stating very soon how your little 2 year old is already fully potty trained! Have fun with her and your new little bundle!

With the exception of having two kids, we are almost in the same position right now. My daughter is also not wanting to wear diapers. So, we do panties at home and pull-ups on the go. Also, invest in a small inexpensive potty (Ikea has one for5.00) and just take it where ever you go. Then she can sit there while you attend to your other child and you don't have to worry about her falling in, etc.
My daughter just decided two days ago no more diapers and we have had a few accidents, but a lot of successes too. Let her pick out some fun panties. Get two packs so you don't have to wash them immediately because if you only hve 3 pairs, you could go thru them in about 2 hours. Then just let her try.
My friend gave me good advice....don't ask them if they need to go potty because they will always say no. But tell them it is time to go potty and take her in. If she goes, great, if she doesn't, then still lots of praise and try again in 15 to 20 mins. Give lots of potty reminders and lots of praise.
I am glad you posted this, because I can now watch all the responses for advice too. Lord knows I need it.
Good luck.

Yes, lots of potty training questions today....I think you will know when a child is ready, they will show and interest if you have introduced them to it. If they dont, the I believe they just are not ready. My daughter (15 now) but she was potty trained by the time she was 2 and my son (now 5) not until he was almost 4! He just wasnt ready and I knew it. We had him sitting on the potty for an hour here and there, then short bursts of time and he never went at two, then at three he actually did potty but no poop, so it wasnt until he was just about 4 did he go poop too and he has been fine ever since. Just take your time.
Oh and yes, I did get the potty book and dvd for my son and he loved it, I think it did help in a way too! And..we did pull ups too but I always felt like they were just prolonging the "its ok to go in the diaper" thing, so we switched to underware for my son and I think that had an affect on his going poop because he didnt want to mess up his elmo underpants!

It sounds like you're actually doing everything right! Our pediatrician told us that it normally takes about 6 months to potty train. Sounds like your daughter may have been ready to start a little while ago, but just realized it. Do keep the potty a positive experience. Maybe get a kitchen timer for the bathroom and let her set it when she goes in for how long she wants to spend on the potty. When it goes off, she gets up. Then when there are times that she only has 5 minutes, you might be able to set it for 3 and ask if that's okay or if she wants a couple more. You're allowing her choice and control all along the way, but also working within the parameters of what NEEDS to get done. Good luck!