Potty Training - Bedford,MA

A trick that I've used in potty training my own kiddos and many others is a "magic trick". It works best with a potty chair that has a white bowl in it. Put about a cup of water in the bowl, which helps you with cleaning later, then secretly put a couple drops of blue or red food coloring in the water...then...when she magically adds her yellow, it magically changes color! Magic really entices them to try to do it again and again! Good luck!

M.

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J.,
Every child is different. I have three childrn also. All girls. They all were potty training at different times. My youngest is four years old. Believe it or not that she is just potty training. I started her at two up until now she wouldn't cooperate at all. She would sit on the potty and then pull up her pull up and go in it. It was very frustrating. Her pediatrition told me to keep working at it and adventuall she would do it on her own time. The last week of November she finally did. She has been in big girl panties for a month. She has started reconizing when she has to move her bowels. Most of the time she makes it to the potty. Her older sister Brianna was also four years old but she is mildly mentally retarded so it made since why it took so long. My oldest daughter was completely potty trained by two years old and she was potty trained in one weekend. So everyone is different. I am sure that is what you will also find. My advise is to keep trying but don't sweat it. She will do it in her own time. I give stickers each time she goes and after ten stickers I take her to the store to buy something small. If you have a dollar store in your area that is the best this way she is getting a toy and it only cost you $1. I wish you the best of luck and don't get frustrated it will happen in due time.

T. L.

Age 37
Mother of 3

I'd say to go easy on your daughter. First of all, at 2 she is testing her independence and control. Also, she now has a little brother who is competing for your attention. She is getting your attention by rebelling on the potty training! Just praise her whenever she does things that please you, and ignore the negative things if they are not hurting or dangerous. If she can't get a big rise out of you by ignoring the potty, she may decide she likes it better when you praise her for using it. I have to admit, I gave my children one or two M&Ms when they used the potty (but that was 30 yrs. ago!) I don't know what the experts think about a little candy reward, but it didn't seem to hurt, and they were very pleased with themselves when they earned it! Good luck and don't worry. She'll want to use the potty once she sees other children her age using it.

I think its amazing that yout children have wanted to potty train so young.....however, I wouldn't get too upset about your daughter....medically they say children aren't really ready to understand the sensations of going potty until 3 years old. I do know however that lots of kids have potty trained before then, like your boys for instance. I am guess that your daughter is just getting into her terrible twos and is trying to gain her independence and control. My daughter will be three in 3 weeks and she still refuses to go potty. She has done it from time to time, but when I ask her and she says no, I leave it at that. My advice is if she really wants her diaper or pullups....let her use them.....if she had been using the potty so long before, she may decide on her own again that she would rather use the potty. 2 years old is still too young to try and force it on her.

I feel your pain. I have a 2 year old girl who i have been doing 'off and on' potty with for months now. sometimes she wants to -and sometimes not. if she asks for a pull up i give it to her...if she wants the potty...i take her. i have taken the pressure off of her and myself by giving her the control(all toddlers are looking for it anyway). My theory is she wont be graduating college without being potty trained. I have heard that boys are harder to train so i commend you for doing it so early with your sons.

J.
My suggestion to you is to use cloth diapers and training pants. I think the pull ups keeps them dry and so they have no motivation to stop using them. the cloth ones will feel wet and they will not want to stay in them long. Yes, it is more work for you with the washing and all but it is much more effective.