Potty Training Advice! Get My Daughter to Not Think Its a Game!

Updated on June 09, 2008
A.B. asks from Wichita Falls, TX
17 answers

hi all---

My daughter is 23 months and earlier this week all of a sudden decided it was time to start using the potty! I was extremely caught off guard, but have been taking her every morning, in the afternoon when I pick her up, and before bedtime. She has done an AWESOME job by telling me when she needs to go so I hardly have to ask her anymore. My question is this, how do I get her to think its not a game? We went to my parent's house yesterday and she went to the potty but then continuously wanted to keep going which I knew she didn't need to go. So for abour 4 hours I was battling her with her taking off her clothes and running towards the bathroom. Today she has been better but I am afraid she thinks its a game and obviously its not a game. If you can give me any advice that would be greatly appreciated! I know potty training is a BIG THING and I have praised her every time, and we do our little song and dance. I just want her to understand going potty is serious business!Just an FYI I don't like pull ups as I think they are just laziness for the parent so if any of you say put her in pull ups, thanks but no thanks.It's just a personal opinion I have and I am not going to use them. I still have her in diapers and don't think she is quite ready for big girl panties just yet, so any other advice to help would be great! TIA

A.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.C.

answers from Dallas on

It is just a phase and you need to go with it. My oldest daughter was very much the same when she first potty trained. All of a sudden she had to go every 15 minutes, which can be a bit frustrating when you're shopping, etc. It is not so much a game, but that they are proud of their new accomplishment and want to keeping doing it. Remember . . . repetition is the best way for kids to learn! So while I know it can be frustrating at times, just go with it and keep celebrating the moments! Eventually she will settle down and be more in tune with her body's signals.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.B.

answers from Dallas on

I think they may all go through that to some extent. I remember accusing my daughter of just wanting to see all the restrooms because she wanted to go EVERYWHERE we went!!

It will level out as the novelty wears off.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

G.W.

answers from Dallas on

I would say just put her in clothes that are easier to take off so she can do it herself.

And as far as pull-ups... wait until you have a child (maybe not this one) who decides to pee in her pants at an important event (like birthday party, six flags, church, etc) after you have just taken her for the 10th time in 3 hours, and maybe you will not consider this "lazyness". I agree that parents need to be on top of things with their pottying child, but I am just saying... don't judge till you've been there.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.M.

answers from Dallas on

As far as Pull ups go I was there when they didn't have the feel and learn. My first child was using the pull ups like diapers because it didn't feel bad. So I went to the plastic underwear like I had. The Pull-ups feel and learn or the off brands feel and learn truly make a difference. Part of the potty training experience is for them to learn how to do things. My 2 year old has been potty training since he was 18 mos. He has almost got it, but he has always loved the part where he gets to pull his pants up. It makes them feel big. So if you aren't going to use pull ups then invest in some plastic panties and thick underwear and go for it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.M.

answers from Dallas on

I agree with you on pull-ups, not because of laziness, but because it teaches them that it's okay to pee in their pants when you're trying to potty train. It seems like 3 steps forward and 2 steps back to me. BUT, with that said: the method I've been using (and advertising heavily because it worked so well for my daughter) is you go cold turkey with diapers. You AND your daughter go and throw away every last diaper together so she can see that they're gone now, that will hopefully take the "game" out of it.
If you're interested in finding out the website (so I don't look like I'm advertising since it isn't my program), i'm happy to share it with you, just send me a private message. It's 100% money-back guaranteed and the manual that they send you to download is only like $12.00. WELL worth the money as after 2 1/2 days, my daughter would say "mommy, I have to go potty" and would just go by herself.

Best of luck to you!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.J.

answers from Dallas on

I think if you are doing to start potty training you just do it. Why just half way do something. If she is going then she is ready. Get ride of diapers and start potty training. It will only take a couple of days and sounds like she is doing a great job. Once you put her in big girl panties she can start taking herself to the potty. Buy one small potty and let her go whenever she pleases. She will be able to pull her panties up and down so you don't have to run in with her everytime. When you go somewhere keep an extra potty in the car and take it in with you to your parents house.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.K.

answers from Abilene on

Okay, so I will try very hard not to take offense to your comments about pull-ups, but in the mean time, you have a child that is not even two yet yanking you all over the house to undress her so she can go potty, because she is still in diapers, and you think pull-ups are lazy?!! Wow!!
Have you heard of cloth training pants? when used with plastic over pants they are usualy not too messy. Part of the potty training process is for her to do it for herself, and if she has to rely on you to undress her and undiaper her, she will get frustrated and possibly backslide. I wish you the best with this, but pull-ups, when used the correct way, are a learning tool, not a diaper substitute, and you don't have to buy them for very long,just keep them around for night until you are 100% on no nightime accidents. anyway, good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.M.

answers from Dallas on

Let her go as much as she wants. The novelty of it will eventually wear off and she'll go just when she is in need.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.N.

answers from Beaumont on

I never did pull-ups either. At 2 years old, I bought my daughter about 2 dozen pairs of panties and picked up some extra toddler bed sheets from a garage sale (6-8, if I remember correctly) and just went cold turkey on the diapers. Within 2 weeks, we had no more accidents. It was a wild ride, but well worth the extra work.
Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.

answers from Dallas on

This is just a thought, not a tried method, but what if you give her a reward, sticker on a chart or something, when she says she has to go potty and she does. But then if she says she has to go, and she does not, maybe you could take it off of her chart. And, maybe while you are at home you could let her wear a dress with nothing underneath, so that she can go potty all by herself if she feels like she needs to go so often, Good luck with this one I know it is tough. And while I agree about not using pull ups most of the time, you might want one package in case you have to go somewhere. I never used them often, but out first time at church potty training, or a longer than usual ride in the car etc. ~A.~

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.E.

answers from Tyler on

Wait until she turns 3 and it will take a day!!!!! With one accident!!!!!! :)

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.T.

answers from Dallas on

Well, my son had this phase during training too, where he just wanted to get on and off the potty all day. Pull-ups were my saving grace (I used them like diapers, I never tried to pretend they were underwear, it was just so much more convenient to pull up the diaper versus laying down, etc.) but since you don't believe in these, that's not very helpful advice for you. The only thing I've seen people do is the plastic underwear covers. That way she is wearing big girl underwear all day, but you are a little more protected during those accidents that inevitably occur; as far as being a game, it will pass as novelty wears off, it's just a phase.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.C.

answers from Dallas on

I think it's great she wants to do it and if she thinks it's a game, why not? If you start putting the pressure on or getting agravated with her, she will no longer want to do it and then it'll be forever before she's ready to potty train again.
Maybe if you take her the first time and then say we can go again in one hour and even point it out to her on the clock. Like when the hand is here. (point to it and when she comes back, show her again; say it's not time yet, we need to wait til the clock hand is "here") but keep in mind that little ones will need to go about once an hour at first.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.E.

answers from Dallas on

First of Pull-Ups are not laziness, velcro shoes are lazy. Pull ups are a convience when you are out somewhere, i would much rather pull up a pull up or change that then lay my child on a nasty table to put a diaper back on her. I am sorry to say that little girls when they are potty training will have to go to the bathroom a whole lot, it isnt a game it is the adventure. i have 2 girls and i swear when we were out they had to go to the potty at everystore, because it was new. I would have to tell them that we needed to wait until we really needed to go that way we could be a lot of pee, pee in the potty.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.R.

answers from Dallas on

that's just part of being a potty training tot. They want to visit the bathroom of every store and restaurant you are in, any house, church, or business. This falls under the "this too will pass" catagory. Just go with the flow, and let her do it. It is obtaining a goal (being potty trained).

BTW - it IS time for big girl panties. If she is telling you and going in the pot, she needs to be able to feel what it is like to be wet, that is part of training too. your daycare provider needs to get on board with a routine for potty training, too.

23 months isn't too young, especially for a girl. I have 2 girls, one potty trained at probably 20 or 21 months and the other one potty trained about 16 months.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.P.

answers from Dallas on

Your DD shows every sign that she is ready, willing & able...go ahead & put her in big girl panties. Make it a big deal & pick them out together, and while you are shopping, reinforce what a big girl she is. I think she was probably just bored with whatever else was going on the day you had such a time with her...I think we all have had those days when our child has us running back and forth to the bathroom for "false alarms." Just tell her before you take her that if she doesn't pee or poop in the potty this time, no favorite DVD or toy, or whatever consequence makes sense to you and your child. She'll think twice about "streaking" to the bathroom the next time! Most of all, don't sweat it. She will soon outgrow all these behaviors on her own. This too, shall pass!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from Dallas on

lol Do nothing to discourage her or she will stop altogether and it will be months before you can even try to teach her again! I would buy the thick cotton training pants (maybe a size large) and teach her how to pull them up and down. For toddlers who have short arms, teach her to pull them down at the sides and up with one hand in front and one in back. Put her in dresses this summer with the training pants and tell her what a big girl she is to go potty all by herself. Be sure to clap, dance, or whatever to praise her each time. The novelty will wear off soon, but hopefully after she has learned to go by herself. :) Good luck.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions