Toddler Taking off Diaper - Help

Updated on April 22, 2008
S.E. asks from Oak Park, IL
63 answers

My 23 mo. old takes off her (dirty) diaper and pants all day long! It is extremely aggravating now that I have a 5 week old son and can't chase her around all the time. She will announce that she has a poopy or a pee-pee and then proceed to remove the poopy or pee-pee diaper and run around the house(and climb on the furniture, yuck). As you can imagine, it can get pretty disgusting. We tried getting her a potty, but she doesn't seem to know when she needs to go - only that she has just gone.

My husband and I have instructed her not to remove the diaper, but to ask us to change it. She just ignores us and does it anyway. We cannot get her to listen, no matter what! We have resorted to spanking her (on the diaper) but wonder if there's any other way. Any advice?

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So What Happened?

Thank you so much for all of your advice. ALL of it was helpful. I didn't mention that we tried potty training before our son was born a few weeks ago - we have the doll with a little potty and a teddy bear, and THREE potties! Our daughter peed in the potty a few times and then just stopped. So we figure she is not ready (and I certainly am not; I am breastfeeding an infant with reflux!). We are going to try duct tape for a little while (what a great tip!)and then use the wonderful potty training tips that we received (I love the idea of the M&Ms and the goodie box!) as soon as things settle down - which I hope will be really soon. Thanks again, moms!

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D.H.

answers from Springfield on

This may sound drastic and fortunately I haven't had to do this myself, but my brother's family used this trick. Duct tape the diaper on. Use the tape to make a belt around the diaper. Even if she gets it off, chances are it will take her long enough that you can get her stopped before there's a mess!!

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K.D.

answers from Chicago on

I am having that same problem with my 26 month old daughter. It is disgusting but I also don't have a "new" baby to tend to. My son will be 5 in July. I am also open to any suggestions.

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L.S.

answers from Chicago on

We had a similar issue with my twins, and so my husband starting duct-taping the tape part of the diaper, and they couldn't get that tape off! It worked until now, when we're trying to potty train.

About me - Married for 12 years to Chris, working mom to 4 kids under the age of 5.

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T.R.

answers from Chicago on

Start potty training a toddler when you have a 5 week old!?! With a newborn, you should be trying to make your life easier, not harder! Potty training can wait. I had a friend and her little boy liked to take off his diaper so she would use duct tape to keep him out of it. Just a little over the tabs. Sounds strange but she said it worked! (for a little while anyway)

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T.W.

answers from Chicago on

Angela Z, you'll get no criticism from me. My son did this as well...for about 2 months...and I was ready to go crazy. Ya do what ya gotta go. If duct tape works, use it. If pins work, use 'em. Onesies didn't work for us b/c our son learned how to reach up and undo the diaper while leaving the onesie perfectly intact. Gifted, that boy. We eventually resorted to having him wear overalls over the onesie pretty much every day until I suppose he just forgot how fun it was to spread poo everywhere. Good luck.

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M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Its time to put potty training in overdrive. My son started taking his diaper off around the same age. One time he removed the diaper right in the middle of Border's bookstore. It was quite a show and I was not happy. But it made me realize that children like us don't like to have yucky stuff on us EVER. Unfortunately, sometimes mommy and daddy just don't move fast enough to get the yuck off of them, so the best way to handle it is to help them potty train so they don't get the yuck on them in the first place.

I would encourage you to buy her a few books on potty training, talk with her constantly about going potty, and establish a routine of taking her to the potty after her meals. It is okay if she does nothing the first three, four, or twenty times. You are helping her to understand why and how we use the potty while giving her regular opportunities to develop the skill of figuring out when her body needs to go poop or pee-pee.

I know it may be frustrating right now, but you guys will master the potty in no time. In a few years, when your daughter is a cute little pre-teen all focused on her appearance - remember you will have some wonderful stories to tell. Good luck!

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J.B.

answers from Chicago on

Hi Sandra,
I'd second the duct tape pieces. That was my first thought. I know she wouldn't be able to get that off. If you feel you can find the time to potty train, that'd be great and make her feel like a big girl, but if she doesn't seem excited about big girl panties then it may be more frustrating than anything. Good Luck!
J.

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G.T.

answers from Chicago on

You are trying to reason with a soon to be 2 year old, which is part of the source of your frustration. Potty training is all about scheduling and the pattern has to be set and kept by you so that your daughter will get it eventually. Training children is all about scheduling and being consistent.

You should put your daughter on the potty as soon as she wakes up in the morning, immediately after naps, immediately after eating each meal and/or after each major beverage intake. Elimination tends to take place in those timeframes for most of us. You may have to allow her to sit until something happens, but don't we all have times when that occurs for us??? Also, whenever you take her out, put her on the potty just before you leave and immediately upon returning.

Try these things and be patient with her. Consistency is crucial. She must understand, by the schedule you put her on that these are the times when elimination is most likely to happen. Work with her in distinguishing which type of elimination is which too. And help her to speak appropriately about them by talking to her about it when you are taking her to the potty. In time, she will get it.

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E.Z.

answers from Chicago on

You may be doing this, but if not...it is time to tell her that everything has a place. Dished in the cabinet, dirty dishes in the sink or dishwasher, clothes hung up or in drawers...everything has a place. Where does poop and pee go? In the toilet. Then you have to look for signs that she is about to poop (much easier without another baby at home I am sure). Figure out her timing if there is any and start putting her on the toilet (with a book and a stool for her feet, unless you have a small toilet). He behavior is more irritating than unusual. Unlike when she was a baby you wait for a wet diaper to change it, now you have to catch them before they wet a diaper to get to the toilet. It is a confusing message at first for them...I will be interested in reading other ideas also.

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V.L.

answers from Chicago on

Not to sound mean but why is she not potty trained. My little guy is 1yr and we are introducing him to the potty and teaching him pee pee, and poo poo. Kids let you know and taking off the hot diaper is one sign. My two older children were potty trained before they were two,it took a little longer for my son during the night but no problems during the day. If she can understand that taking off the diaper is wrong than she can be potty trained.

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A.A.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter used to do this. I just made sure that she always had a onsie on. Stopped that problem in it's tracks. I also second (or third, fourth) getting her potty trained. Don't force it, but get a potty and encourage her to use it.

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M.R.

answers from Chicago on

I second M. F.'s post. Bravo! Unless YOU are ready for the task of potty training, don't push it. See if your daughter is interested (offer the little potty), but if not, don't force it. Just try some of the suggestions offered here to keep the diaper on. I checked my kid's interest level around their second birthday and neither was ready. At about 2 1/2 (when THEY were ready)they trained within 5 days with only minor incidents.
GOOD LUCK!

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D.G.

answers from Chicago on

My 21 month old has started doing the same thing! And I have a nine month old who watches whatever her sister does, and occasionally tries to play with the discarded dirty diaper~I know gross, gross, gross! I now ALWAYS put a onesie on her under her clothes or just use onesies as her shirt, and that way she is unable to get at her diaper to take it off. If has worked wonderfully! If that does not work, my friend put duck tape on her son's diaper so that he would stop taking it off:)That worked for her!

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T.C.

answers from Chicago on

My son doesn't do this (yet at least), but I have heard of moms putting the diaper on backwards (not sure how comfortable or effective this is at holding everything in) and of putting them in onesies that they cannot take off. Good luck.

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M.B.

answers from Chicago on

My 21 month old daughter was doing something similar to that for a while. Luckily she only did it in her crib, but it was still frustrating. It seemed like I was washing her sheets every day! We told her not to do it but I think the excitement of undressing herself was too inviting. We even took away one of her favorite toys when she was found naked, but that eventually didn't work. What worked for us was to put her in a onesie (the kind with the snaps in the crotch). For some reason those must be just tricky enough for her to not take them off yet. Good Luck!

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J.K.

answers from Chicago on

When my youngest started doing that we had to keep her in her onesie pajamas when we were at home. ( at least she never did it in public!) I have found then in sizes up to 4T. We slowly started letting her wear clothes for short periods and now she is fine. Good luck!

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S.M.

answers from Chicago on

dress her in bib overalls until she is potty trained.

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L.W.

answers from Chicago on

Try putting her in a onsie or a swimsuit. That way it will be to difficult to take off the diaper! We had this with my twins and it did eventually phase out!

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M.B.

answers from Chicago on

Sandra, welcome to the world of "ready to be trained"!

Put her training potty in the middle of the playroom, livingroom or wherever you are usually at. When she does that tell her this is where she poops.

My granddaughter trained herself by the training toliet being set in the middle of the livingroom (they have a very small house and this was the center of activity when the kids were small). She trained herself within a couple of days.

M.
www.toy-train-table-plans-store.com

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A.H.

answers from Chicago on

We have the same problem. Our 2nd little girls is 23 months and take her diape off all the time. especially if she is alone (like at nap time). We have done 2 things. one started potty training. This is more thtat just putting the potty out. with our oldest we used the 20 minute timer which worked like magic. the youngster though doesen't tolerate going into the bathroom when she's not sure she has to go. So we put her on the potty every time she takes off her diape or has a diaper change. She is catching on pretty quick, and love that she gets a reward everytime she does it.
2- we use diaper pins to keep her clothes on when we are not going to be in the room or interacting wih her directly for a lenght of time. At bed time we use footed pj's and pin the top so she can't open it, or go a size up the footie pjs and just put them on backwards (twisting the feet around forward)
during the day we put on a onsie and pin the crotch closed.
We do have to be careful as these 2 things are contridictary. Potty training means going potty all the time but then we pin your clothes on so you can't pull the diape off.
the bottom line is we want her to learn to go potty but we just can't afford nother carpet cleaning!
good luck!

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A.R.

answers from Chicago on

I have 3 children, the youngest is 4, and we experienced this as well. We starting by rewarding him with little suckers, or stickers. He loved it and he's been going to the bathroom ever since and seeking his rewards.

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S.G.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter would do this at night. We ended up putting duct tape on the tabs. She stopped trying and then after about two weeks we were able to stop putting the duct tape on. she never took off her diaper again.

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B.D.

answers from Chicago on

I second the onesie suggestion. I know many people who had to do that and I believe I did it myself for a short time. It is definitely a pain with regard to changing but the clean up of a dirty diaper and your furniture probably takes longer.

I would try it, worse that can happen is it won't work. I hope you find a solution to this problem, sounds like "not so much fun" while also tending to a newborn.

Good Luck!

T.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hi Sandra,

Sounds like an icky mess. Yes, this could be a sign to start potty training. She is still pretty young though, so it may take a while. Sometimes when you push them too soon, they resist potty training even longer. Definitely start trying & talking to her about it and see how she responds.

I know this may sound a little strange, but duct tape or packing tape once around the waist works like magic. It is really hard for their little fingers to get off and even if she does, it will take her longer than it will for you to notice. Just be careful that it doesn't touch her skin, cause that would hurt! GOOD LUCK!

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A.K.

answers from Chicago on

Fustrating...this I know. I have two children 15 months apart who are now 2 and 3. We went through this phase with both children and this too will pass. Try getting your 23 month old around children 3 and 4 who go 'potty' and they will watch and learn. Soon you will find the diaper removal buisness will come to an end. Your little 23 month may decide to potty train early or decide its not for her. In any case...it doesn't last long. My advice...you can try any advice...or hand your hubby a washcloth and diaper, take a deep breath, and let him know you need to sleep until tomorrow. Have a nice rest.
A. K.
Mom of a 23 month old son and a 3 year 2 month daughter.

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B.M.

answers from Chicago on

My twin boys went through the same thing. Except they did it during nap time and would throw poop all over the room. I ended up using duck tape to keep the diapers on. Sounds crazy but which is worse picking poop up in their bedroom or taping down the diaper straps? When they started doing this they were very young. They did potty train young then and they also potty trained fast.

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S.C.

answers from Chicago on

She's ready to start potty training and be done with it. When mine was 24 months she was completely potty trained, so I think she's trying to tell you something.

You have to take the time to get a potty book and sit on your potty and have her sit on her potty at the same time. She'll get the idea. Make sure you show her how to potty by doing it in front of her and then asking her (it seemed like every 5 minutes at the time) if she will sit on hers.

Good luck!

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

I had a friend who's daughter did the same thing around the same age. She was given the advice of having her wear onesies backwards, so that she was unable to open the snaps on her own. After a while of this, the phase seemed to pass. Good Luck!!

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R.K.

answers from Chicago on

Two words - Duct tape
(I'm not kidding. My toddlers thought it was great when they learned how to unfasten a diaper. But a nice strip of that grey miracle around the top of the diaper works wonders.)

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K.M.

answers from Chicago on

my daughter went though a similar phase and i kept a "oneies" on her,(at 24 months) until she forgot about wanting to play with her diaper or trying to take it off. it worked for her...just an idea???

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J.C.

answers from Chicago on

You have gotten a ton of responses so I'll keep this short . . . please don't feel pressured by our current crop of mommies thinking little ones need to be potty-trained by the time they are two! I agree 100% with the poster who pointed out that a lot of kids start training when they're 24 months & are finished when they're 36 months. Better to wait until 35 months & be done quick! Just b/c your DD is taking her diaper off does NOT mean she is ready to be potty-trained. And even if she is . . . with a 5 week old to care for YOU may not be ready! So try the tips about duct tape, safety pins & overalls (worked for us!) and when your newborn is older (maybe this summer when it's warm and we wear fewer clothes anyway) you'll feel more ready to tackle the whole potty-training thing. Good luck!

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S.P.

answers from Peoria on

I went through this same thing with my now 3 year old daughter...she would take off her clothes in her crib and go #1 and #2 everyday! It was beyond frustrating. We resorted to DUCT TAPE....it really does work for anything! Put a fairly long piece from tab to tab on the diaper (across the front). It worked like a charm...we called it our "magic tape". One day, she tried to work her way out of the diaper with the tape on and the tape got stuck to her skin a little. Of course, it didn't feel good coming off...but she never tried it again! I would definitely recommend it...let me know if it works for you! S.

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S.A.

answers from Chicago on

Take her, some sippy cups full of juice, some snacks, some coloring books, your five week old son and a potty chair into a bathroom for a few hours. Strip her down naked and when she starts to pee pee, hurry and sit her on the potty. After one or two times she will understand the urge and what will happen soon thereafter. Poopies are a little harder, but if you know about when she will do it, then sit her on the potty with some snacks and books until she goes.

I would also add that I don't think you should use pull-ups. Most kids just think they are diapers. I only used pull-ups when we were running to the store or when we were on a trip during potty training time. We kept a potty chair in the van for emergency situations.

After the day of nakedness, then put some teri cloth diaper material like panites on her. Call them big girl panties and really hype it up. Buy a big can of carpet cleaner and have lots of paper towels handy just in case. Some kids don't have many accidents but some do. I just trained a 20 month old and she had a few accidents, but not many. Her mom then let her pick out some princess panties that she hates to wet.

From time to time I have to remind her to go on the potty and sometimes she will wait to tell me she needs to go poopies as it is coming out, but she's doing great. I think girls are easier. We still don't have bedtime down pat, but she does good during nap time.

The first week or two you will probably need to sit her on the potty every hour or so...maybe every half hour if she goes frequently. At the same time constantly remind her that she needs to tell you when she needs to go pee pee or poopies. That means every 15 minutes sometimes. It is exhausting, but if all goes well she will be trained in a week or so. Both my girls were trained at that age in about a week.

Try some little treats when she goes on the potty. I used one chocolate chip for pee pee and they got two or three when they went poopies. After awhile they forget about the treat and just want to go.

After they get over the novelty of it, they may have some accidents if they are playing hard because they don't want to stop playing so you will need remind them if you are outside or kids are over.

Good luck!!!

She's taking her diaper off when she makes a mess so she's ready to train. If she continues to mess and then climb all over things then make her clean it up, sternly reprimand her, and a swat on her bear bottom might be in order too. That is something you have to decide based on what you know about your child.

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A.Z.

answers from Chicago on

I am sure I may receive some criticsm for this one, but if the whole clothing option doesnt work you may have to resort to taping or pinning the diaper on her...i had to do it with my twins, but it was much better than cleaning up poop from all over...good luck

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

Try getting her the book and video called Once Upon A Potty it really helped my son to understand when to go to the potty and he started at 20 months.

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

Toddlere usually pp, minutes after drinking. Get her on the pot then...until she goes. Then, give her a little cracker treat and make a big deal about it to her...clap and cheer, hugs and kisses...what a big girl, mommys big girl, more kisses, etc. About what time of day does she poo? Get her on the potty then for 10 minutes at a time with the treat waiting. She's probably doing this for attention because you have to change the new baby and she wants to remain "your baby". Good luck mommy

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J.H.

answers from Chicago on

My daughter does the same thing and the ped told me to duct tape her diaper and I have and she cant get it off and she gets mad but atleast it saves me from cleaning up the mess. I am trying to potty train her but no luck, she likes to sit on the potty but then get up and pee on the floor, so I am gonna wait a little longer. Good luck.

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S.D.

answers from Rockford on

It really sounds like the perfect opportunity for you to potty train. That way, you will only have one in diapers, and that is a really good thing. I know that you said that she doesn't seem to know when she has to go, so I'll tell you what I did that worked. I put a M&M dispenser and a little "goodie box" on the counter of the bathroom. The goodie box was filled with stickers and other cute trinkets that were age appropriate(the Dollar Store is a good place for this). I then would take them to the bathroom, and sit them on the toilet. If they went potty, any amount, they received a few M&M's. If they went poop on the potty, they received M&M's, and were able to pick a prize from the prize box. You can change it up however you want, but it really does work! I have used this technique on all of my kids. Good luck!

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J.C.

answers from Rockford on

I see some good advice here. She is probably seeking attention from you and feels rivalry with the new baby. I would suggest that when you see her with her diaper on, notice it and give her lots of attention and praise. Make her feel all warm and fuzzy and she will associate that with keeping her diaper on. When she pulls it off, ignore her as much as possible, just quickly and quietly clean it up, put her in a new diaper, and briefly say something to her about it without giving too much attention. If she does not get the attention when she pulls everything off, she might respond better to the potty.

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C.F.

answers from Chicago on

A friend with this same dilemma used duct tape.

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J.E.

answers from Chicago on

When we had this problem I bought diaper pins and pinned the disposable diaper closed through the tape. That did the trick. As for the timing on potty training, I agree that trying to tackle that with a baby sibling sounds like taking on an awful lot at one time! Also, many moms I know found that their kids were completely potty trained around 36 months. If they started working on it at 24 months, it took a year, if they started working on it at 35 months it took a month. Just something to think about. (Of course I'm not saying that kids can't be potty trained at much younger ages, I know some are.) Good Luck! : )

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M.F.

answers from Chicago on

Sandra,

I see a lot of good advice here, and I just want to second all of the suggestions to use a onesie, overalls, anything that she won't be able to undo easily. My daughter is 22 months right now and we just got past this stage with her. She just eventually forgot about it once she wasn't able to undo the diapers, and it didn't take long at all.

I would respectfully suggest that you hold off on potty training until you have more energy for it. My boys were 17 months apart ... I remember having an energetic toddler on top of a newborn. So please don't let anyone make you feel like you MUST potty train her now. If you want to put a potty seat out to see if it gets her interest at all, go for it, but I have learned through my three children that they won't be potty trained until THEY are ready. (For one of my sons, that was age 4, for one, age 3, and daughter looks to be ready now, we are going to tackle it this summer.) Anyone who says their child was potty trained at age 1 is confused. THEY were trained to get their child to the bathroom at the appropriate times and that is all.

Please don't concern yourself with potty training right now if you are busy with your newborn. Enjoy his infancy, dress her in some clothes she can't get off (or use duct tape - love that suggestion!), and once you and your son fall into more of a routine in a couple of months maybe, then you can try potty training if you think she is ready.

BEST OF LUCK! This will pass!

M.

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T.S.

answers from Chicago on

you might try to put the diaper on backwards - it will work the same but is harder to undo the straps. If an added security measure becomes necessary- dress her in a onesie t-shirt (they sell these up to about a 2T) this should slow her down and with the added mixed up diaper - you should be able to catch her in the act.
Best wishes.

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K.S.

answers from Chicago on

My cousin had triplets who did this. She had to tape the diapers on and then cut them off. Yes it's a lot more work but I think it's better than cleaning up the messes.

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L.Z.

answers from Chicago on

I had a friend with twins that did the same thing. Her and her husband tried everything and finally put a piece of duct tape around the front on the diaper. The piece did not go all the way around the waist but did go across the front around the hips. The twins could not get the diaper off and it really helped until they were ready for the potty. This was 12 years ago when they had the plastic tabs and they liked hearing the noise it made when they pulled them off. (They would wake up from naps and spread poop around their cribs and the wall.) Not sure how it will work on the new cloth type and velco(sp)diapers, but you could try until she is ready for the potty. They also put them on the potty with every diaper change to try to reinforce the training. Hope this helps. Good luck

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A.S.

answers from Peoria on

She is telling you she is ready for a change. Start asking her about every half hour, if possible, if she has to go potty. Also if she doesn't seem to know what to do with the potty chair itself, go and sit in there (the bathroom) with her. Show her what to do. Potty training is not the easiest, but when it is accomplished, it is a true blessing.

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D.P.

answers from Chicago on

I had this problem too around the same age, though he only did it while in his crib. The best suggestion I got from here was to cut the feet off of a thin cotton sleeper and put it on backwards, this way the zipper is on the back. My son hated it, but he eventually learned that the diaper has to stay on. It also seemed that the more we yelled, or paid any attention to it, the worst it got. She may be trying to get the extra attention b/c of the new baby. Hope this works for you. Good luck!

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A.H.

answers from Chicago on

Onesies. The shirts that come down and snap under the diaper. They still make them for this age and I have had to use them at night myself for my daughter (25 mos now) after I came into her room in the morning to have her waggle poopy fingers at me and suggest she'd been EATING it! *horrified shudder* So, for now, bedtime means she wears onesies again. She does seem to be getting over it though, as if she's forgotten what all the fuss was about.

If that doesn't work, it may be time for some hard-core potty training. lol. I recommend the following book: http://www.amazon.com/Potty-Train-Your-Child-Just/dp/B001... for potty training. It worked with my son (took about a weekend to really do it right) and we didn't even technically hold the big party at the end. I'm considering doing it for my daughter soon, once I'm sure her interest is real...

Good luck!

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J.M.

answers from Chicago on

My only advice is to put her in clothes that she can't take off in order to get her diaper off. Maybe put her in overalls that she can't get off by herself or put her in pants and a belt that she will not be able to take off by herself.
Good Luck!

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M.W.

answers from Chicago on

Sandra,
My son who is now five, did the same thing. It was so annoying. He was actually older around 2 1/2. We did buy a potty seat and all the books on going potty but really they decide when they are actually ready to sit and go. If I were you, I would try using pampers Easy ups. They are a little more comfortable and maybe not as easy to get off completely. In response to Vanessa L ...give me a break...1 year old! This must be her first child because she is totally wrong here. Kids are typically not completely ready to be potty-trained until 3. That is what our Pediatrician told me. You can introduce the potty seat earlier but do not expect them to use it. Good Luck! It sounds like she might be doing this for your attention. I am pretty sure that is why my son was doing it because I had a newborn at the time too. I agree with Andi K's response she has some really good advice!
M.

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I.C.

answers from Chicago on

Yep, it's all normal, and the frustration level is magnified because you have a new baby and you're tired as can be. It seems that you're toddler is ready for the potty.

I had the same dynamic as you have now. a toddler girl and a newborn son....so I know what you're going through.

I know it's hard, but this is what worked for me: My toddler daughter was determined to take off her diaper what seemed to be a hundred times a day. I had her on the potty those hundred times.....a day!

Just put her on the potty everytime she takes off the diaper. She'll get it, I promise.

You and your husband telling her NOT to take it off is like telling her TO take it off. For her it's a game.
As soon as she's off with it, take her into the bathroom.....everytime without fail.

I know it's tiring, but that's what being a mom is all about......repetition.

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J.R.

answers from Chicago on

I know it sounds strange, but we ended up using duct tape to keep our son's diaper on.

Good luck.

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E.P.

answers from Chicago on

Since you have a newborn, her behavior may be coming from a bit of jealousy and a way to get yours and your husband's attention - good or bad. Plus....she's getting into THAT age! Have you started trying to potty train her? (...as if you don't have your hands full already???) Buying her frilly and fun big girl pants and seeing if she has any interest might help you - she already knows when she has gone in her diaper. Using a smaller potty might help too. It's got to be frustrating having her do this. Hopefully it's short-lived.

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K.K.

answers from Chicago on

You got a lot of good advice, so I won't bother, but we have the same situation...only she takes everything off, of course when you trying to get out of the house or out in public just to add more excitement to our lives. It will pass, I hope for my sake too. At night she goes into a sleep sack so she can't get out and be naked in her bed.

Ignore some of the condescending comments you got. My daughter is not potty trained either. I do not have the energy. My 1st was not trained until a little after 3 and it was such an easy process with no accidents. I plan on the same with number 2 and eventually number 3. My friends that pushed potty training before their kids were ready are still having troubles. Accidents at night and some during the day. So relax and be consistent with what ever you try.
K.

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S.M.

answers from Rockford on

Maybe you could put the somewhat snug fitting platic pants over her diapers... the kind you use with cotton underpants during potty training. She can probably still get them both off, but it would make it a little more difficult and slow her down a little. She may get so tired of struggling to get them both off, that she just starts coming to you for help.

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T.G.

answers from Champaign on

have you tried the pull ups that don't come apart at the sides? if she can still get those off, i would keep her in those little snap-crotch shirts- my 2 year old was doing the same thing, and she cannot undo these :) good luck

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J.R.

answers from Chicago on

Sandra,

I have to say that I agree with the other mom about this continuing due to the new baby - you'll have to work that much harder to nip this in the bud.

my daughter did this too (now 10 and thankfully broken of this particular habit, tho its been replaced with new ones that are equally annoying). We put her in training pants - pull ups (store brands can be much more cost effective than the pull-ups brand). keep her in a onesie, or some other form of clothing she cannot remove. and then if she still figures out a way to get it off - god bless her, she's creative and determined - put her in a time out - dont expect any more than 2 minutes from her. i am a firm believer in more than just removing her and putting her in a chair. your tone of voice can be very powerful if it's not abused. Or, just keep on with the potty training - tell her she needs to put her poop in the potty and then even when she takes her diaper off, she has to flush it away - she might like the flushing - but if you need more of an incentive, find a reward that works for her and use it.

i feel your pain though... i had a baby when my son was just 13 months - he had been walking for quite some time, but decided that 5 days postpartum (c-section on top of it) he would try to WALK down the stairs (2 story home,... 15 stairs= long fall). he wasn't happy with scooting down on his tummy anymore... the poor baby still has to have her bottle taken out of her mouth for a second so mommy can go get her brother off the couch, which he recently learned how to climb on, thanks to hubby teaching him this new skill - WONDERFUL! :)

anyway, I hope some of the tips you get here will work for your daughter.

good luck! and Congratulations on your new baby :)

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P.O.

answers from Chicago on

Ok this is crazy I had three in a row, they are now 7,8,9 but I remember this and we used duct tape and it stopped the poop from being all over the house.They all survive and we didnt ruin them for using it. They new at the time it was wrong but I could get to them rite away also when this started happening we started potty trining harder and that helped to but if you get stuck pull out the duct tape.
pattie

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K.E.

answers from Chicago on

Wow! 62 replies - I have not the time nor the patience to read all the responses but I'll put in my 2 cents...
Definitely don't punish her for taking off her diaper. It is her attempt to understand her body functions as she's becoming more aware of her body. The last thing you want is to have to train a 4 year old that has no problem sitting in her own poop, stinking around all her friends at playdates and you being stressed that you need to get her into preschool but you can't because she's not potty learned yet!
I'd recommend looking into "elimination communication". Even though she's almost 2 there's a lot to be learned from that method. It's about having them learn about their own body functions so that she will recognize ahead of time when she has to go. My doctor recommends going commando 24/7 for about a week. You will have some accidents at first, but they will gradually lessen until she finally learns what it feels like to have the urge to go and follows through on asking for the potty. You have to be comitted to it though. You can't put her in a diaper for a couple hours without giving her lots of potty-tunities in between. I'll be starting with my son once he turns 18 months in the summer so I wish you luck!
K.

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L.C.

answers from Chicago on

Try putting on one piece outfits that may have snap closures between her crotch, she will find them diffcult to open, if that doesnot work place portable potty in the area she is playing in and give her little stickers when she uses the pottyanmke a big scene about her sitting on her potty (lots of praises).We'll go out to buy you an icecream or give her some reward she will enjoy....however you have to watch for the tell tale signs of time to go and encourage her to sit on the potty. Good Luck. L. C

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D.F.

answers from Chicago on

Both of my granddaughters liked to remove their clothes and diapers..they just liked to be naked. That's all we could figure out anyway..the key was to find things they couldn't get off. Bib overalls are good..anything that's one piece. Or pin something from behind where they can't reach...good luck.

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D.V.

answers from Chicago on

It may be time to potty train her! my youngest PT'd at 25mos.
prior to that she would take her diaper off & pee everywhere. I tried the toilet, she wouldn't go, but when she got off she'd pee on the floor again! FINALLY I had her try the little potty & BINGO. No more diapers. she did then ask for one to poop for a few months.
So, I suggest trying one of those little portable potties vs the big potty, just because of age .....unless of course she WANTS to go on the big one. Follow her lead.

It is difficult with a new baby, but not as much of a pain as cleaning up potty messes all over the house & furniture.

This (taking diapers off etc) is something she has control over.....& with a new baby in the house, she is feeling the need for some control.....& rightly so, in her mind she 'lost' her mommy to a new baby, so she will do things to get your attention (even negative), & it works

SAHM to 5 year old g/b twins & 2 1/2 year old girl

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T.K.

answers from Chicago on

Firstly,I'm sure that your daughter probably wants attention now that a newborn has taken some of the attention off of her. What other way to show that than to be disobedient at the most inconvenient times. I'm sure that when she has used the bathroom on herself that it is very uncomfortable so she decides to take her diaper off herself. A suggestion to you would be to purchase a potty seat with cartoon characters that sits directly on the toilet and try to continue to potty train her. I'm sure that she would love imitating an adult on the toilet and the cartoon characters would help to make it fun too.

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