3 1/2 Yr Old Girl Having Trouble Potty Training

I'm not sure if I understand exactly what's going on with your daughter - it seems from what you said that she goes to the potty but always wets her underwear slightly before. It's like she's waiting until the last second to get there so doesn't quite make it or is letting just a little bit out while playing so she can make it a few more minutes? DON'T WORRY!! This is totally normal! My oldest son who is now 4.5 trained when he was 3. At the beginning it seemed he did this all the time but then slowly he'd go through days where he didn't do this but then regress. Since he turned 4 he's been pretty good (still has the odd bad day). I wouldn't focus on it at all because when we did (offered rewards for dry underwear, etc) things just seemed to get worse. All I did was change him into dry underwear and said nothing more. As for the skin irritation, just check regularly to make sure her underwear isn't wet (like anytime she might be getting close to needing to go).

There is no night-time "training."
Night time dryness... is a whole DIFFERENT process, than day time pottying. It has to do with the biological development of the body.
Night time dryness... takes even until 7 years old, and this is normal, and per Pediatricians.

Kids, no matter what age, will still have accidents even if they are potty trained. They are kids. They have accidents.

When my daughter was that age.... and in Preschool, the Teachers said it is NORMAL and that is why parents have to bring extra clothing/undies to keep in their cubby.
Kids in Kindergartenn and 1st grade, have accidents too. NORMAL. This is per our Pediatrician and Teachers I talked to.

Even if just damp wetness on the undies, this happens. Or it can indicate a urinary infection.
Or they can't hold it long enough... even though they 'think' they can. They still don't have complete impulse control at this age nor with their bladders.
And, if distracted or wanting to keep playing, at this age or older, they 'think' they can hold it, but then its too late and their bladder is just too full by then. They won't always say it.

This is common.
Don't scold.
It is about impulse control and the body's cues. And about their nerve/brain/bladder development.

Remember, night-time dryness ALL night... is not attained until even 7 years old. It is their body development, not the child being naughty.

My daughter is 7... and every blue moon, she still wets the bed at night sometimes. Normal. No biggie. I just use waterproof bed-pads under her so the bedding does not get soiled. She gets up, tells me, she washes off real quick, changes PJ's and goes back to bed. No biggie.
My daughter was 5 years old.... when she was able to be 'dry' at night and stop using night-time diapers.
-When she was 3.5 years old... she'd get wet undies too. So did the other kids in her preschool class. The Teacher made no big deal about it nor any drama. It is normal. It was not a problem.

all the best,
Susan

I think you need to remind her to go to the potty more often-- maybe even every hour. I don't think you need to buy a potty watch-- just set the kitchen timer. Lots and lots of kids are not fully trained until 4 or 5-- don't worry about it.

my daughter always wet a little - not the whole way, and I think it was because she was too busy to stop and go potty - then had small accidents. It wouldn't hurt to have the Dr test her for an infection "just in case". Good Luck

Hi D. right from the start putting diapers on her is a huge mistake. You don't want to tackle the night time training? that's part of being potty trained. You are sending her mixed messages, it's OK to pee on your self at night but not during the day. You need to be consistant, I have potty trained many many kids in my daycare over the past 13 years, as well a my own 3. didn't not use diapers at any time while potty training.My 3 started waking up dry at 17 1/2 months old, the 15 month old in my daycare spends the night sometimes, and she is barely damp sometimes in the mornings. top stressing shes a girl and personal hygene has to be taken into consideration. J.

D.,

Guess what? Children can't STAND to be in wet undies!

When potty training my children, I have them wear vinyl pants over their undies and wow! They train quite fast!

Happy training!

Just be consistent in the times she goes, even if she has to or not