Potty Training - Clearwater, FL

My daughter is almost 22 months and does the same things. She will sit on the potty and wipe herself, but has yet to go on the potty.

There are a lot of different stages of potty training. It starts with exactly what you're describing. Her showing interest when you go. A dry diaper when she wakes up from a nap. Even her telling you when she goes in her diaper. It tells you that she is aware of what is going on. It wouldn't hurt to go ahead and buy her a potty (let her help pick it out) and some training pants or those little underwear with the thick middle. But don't think that it will all just suddenly fall into place. She could still be far away from being trained and just in the beginning stages of interest. Don't ever force her to sit on the potty for long periods of time (yes, people do that) or make a big deal if she has an accident. Most children, regardless of what the parents say, are not fully trained until 3-6 years of age. Fully trained means no accidents. Or less than 1 per month. Some people simply want to rush their child thinking it's some sort of milestone that they have achieved when the child is not fully physically or mentally capable to handle it. Parenting is not competitive. Take clues from your child and do what's best for her. You can easily get her to go on the potty. That's not hard at all. And you can give her a reward for going. Stickers, chocolate, whatever you choose. The problem is that until she is able to come to you before she is actually going, she will not be trained. It takes them a while to be in tune with their body to realize that the feeling means something is about to come, not that it's already happening. The only thing that makes that easier for them is time. You have to wait until they are ready. Besides, look back over the past 20 months at what all she has learned to do and what all she will continue to learn and base how important this potty thing is to you. She's got a lot on her plate as it is. This is the time where mental development is key and in my opinion the moms that spend the majority of their time trying to rush a physical development instead of reading to their child or playing with the child is losing out on an opportunity that they won't get again.
There are two things that parents have zero control over. Those are making your child go to the bathroom and making your child eat. You set the stage for both to happen. You offer the potty or offer the food, but you cannot control what they choose to put into or let out of their bodies.
You will find the path that you're most comfortable in navigating and don't listen to all those negative people that will give you a "look" when she's 3 and still wears a diaper.

I worked with my daughter for a couple of months on potty training and she was doing ok. As soon as she started daycare it was like everything clicked. Less than a month later she wore nothing but panties (Even to bed!) Being around other children who use the potty is a BIG help.

I would buy her a potty to start with and just let her sit on it. When you go to the bathroom just ask her if she wants to go on her potty while you go too. If she is having dry diapers when she wakes up in the morning, take her to the potty and see if she wants to go. This is a big sign too. Consistency is key. Just keep offering but if she says no, don't force the issue. Just talk it up to her about how great it is and how she can wear big girl panties if she starts going. Maybe even buy some that she likes as an incentive. This is how I trained my oldest. She was trained by the time she was 2 and it only took me a month. My youngest is different. She is 26 mo and still is not potty trained, 5 months after showing interest. She will go when she wants to and tells me, but it's not all the time. She also still wakes up with soaked diapers. Just be consistent and don't force it. Daycare is great for potty training too because they take the kids to the potty the same time every day and that helps.

If you think she may be ready, give it a try for a day or two, but since you don't want it to "backfire" be prepared to put her back in diapers if she starts having too many accidents.

When my son turned 2, I thought he was ready and after a week, it was clear that he wasn't. We put him back in diapers for a year and when he turned 3 it took no time at all. He was ready and he even told us a few months before his birthday that when he turned 3 he would stop wearing diapers. With my daughter, she seemed ready at age two also, but I kept her in diapers because I didn't want to push her like I felt I did with my son. When she started camp that summer (she was 2 months away from turning 3), her camp counselor (who I knew well because my son had her the year before) said she would potty train her. Within a day she was totally potty trained. It was so easy, I couldn't believe it. She had a few accidents here and there but overall it was such an easy experience.

Anyway, I say try it if you think she is showing signs but if, after a few days of trying, it's clear that she is not ready, don't worry about putting her back in diapers. You'll both be much happier. Also, as you mention, with a move coming up, a big change could have an effect on it. And if she is going to start day care when she is 2, find out how willing they day care people are to work with her and help her with it. It may be worth waiting for those reasons, too.

Good luck!!

Hi R.,

My name is T. and I too have a two year old as well as a 16 year old and a 12 year old. Just remember no pressure!!! If your daughter is interested go with it, just don't expect complete success unitl your changes have calmed down. My two year old son is doing the very same thing and when he tells me he has to go potty I take him sometimes he goes and sometimes he doesn't. When he does go we clap and celebrate. Just don't stress out over it. I didn't think my daughter would ever get it and I finally gave up and it was shortly there after she decided she was going to use the potty. They will do it when they are ready remember that but until then let her explore it that is the only way she will learn!!!!

Good Luck,
T.

Hi R.

Traveling while potty training is difficult, but still manageable. You just get them on the potty at every single stop-even if they don't go.

So if you think she is ready this is how it goes. They wet themselves and come and tell you they are wet -for a long time. Once they realize its not fun to be soaking wet they try making it to the potty.
Then they are able to make the connection and tell you before hand. Buying some disney character underwear of her choice will help with this process.

Put her on the potty in the morning after waking up. Start taking her every 45 minutes to an hour. Every 30 minutes if you are giving her lots of liquids. Then make sure she uses the potty before nap and after her nap. (I would recommend using a diaper at nap and night time in the beginning processes)

Always put her on the potty (like "just sit here for a minute") while you get her bath ready. When she hears the running water-it'll make her want to go.

I did this with my son and by the time he was 25 months, he was completely trained. There's a lot of bumps along the way and yes it can be a bit frustrating and sometimes commical but try to keep your cool.

But the important thing is, if she says no, don't force because then she'll never want to do it.

Best of luck...

I still have another one to train in about 10 months from now, when she's old enough.

Have you tried pull ups? Have a talk with her. Give her the option. Show her how the pull ups work and see how she takes to them. Potty training is just one of those things where they either are ready and want to or not. You won't know til you try. Good luck!

There is a really great opportunity window between 18mo and 2y/o where they really respond if you start trying to train. It sounds like she's ready. I would start by putting her on the potty every night before her bath. Even dip her feet in the warm water, then put her on the potty (they'll usually go EVERY TIME). Switch to pull-ups (make a big deal...."big girl" pants), and you'll be off and running...then try panties. You'll go through 6-8 pairs a day at first...be prepared to do lots of laundry! We even made a sticker chart...every time she went on the potty, she got to put a sticker on it. I would do it now before you move....by then she should be well trained and maybe she'll have a few accidents, but if you wait, she may want to wait even longer. That window rapidly closes when they become more and more aware of their own independence. Best of luck to you!