Toddler Emptying Bladder

Why are you putting the potty away? just leave it sitting out and see if she asks to use it, or sit on it. most experts say to reward (praise) them for sitting on it not for being successful. Do not expect her to completely empty her bladder or to make it there in time. She's not probably not emptying her bladder all the way because this is stressful and new. I put the potty our when my son was about that age but I had NO expectations for being completely potty trained until three. It's just out for occasional use, no pressure. As in ALL things we should praise EFFORT not success. If math is easy for a child but reading is hard it doesn't mean she deserves more praise for math she may be putting zero effort into performing in math class and working very hard in reading. If she sits on it while wearing a diaper smile and say "wow you look comfortable, you must be getting big!"

I would leave the potty out and keep it available. Encourage her to sit on it whenever you are using the bathroom, and in the morning, after meals, and before bath time (while the water is running in the tub!). Praise her for sitting on it, and praise extra if something happens while on it.

Don't expect her to know when she needs to go, so set a regular schedule of going there. She can wear a diaper in between times for now, then when the diaper seems to be dry often, take it off again and use the nude method.

Potty training is a process, not an event. Depending on age, maturity, etc it can be a months-long process. Be patient.

i'd just start with having her sit on the potty with her diaper on

I am not sure how you can help her but I do know that the bladder is a muscle that we learn to control. Perhaps let her sit on the toilet for an extra couple of seconds and remind her to try to push it out. ( She is still pretty young.)

Toddler awareness not to mention muscle control are still developing. When she is more ready, you can simply ask her if she thinks she can "squeeze more out" to make sure she's done.

I wrote this blog which was also published here on Mampedia some time last year. Just some potty training tips that could be helpful. Take what works and toss what doesn't.
http://www.ontheballparent.com/blog/?p=146

Best wishes!

I tried to potty train my daughter at 2 and it took a full year to get it down where she made it to the potty everytime. I decided to wait with my son to try at age 3 and it only took 4 days until he was dry all day and also stayed dry all night. That being said, I would just put your daughter on the potty at specific times (first thing in the morning, lunch time, dinner time and, before bed) That just gets her used to the potty idea and if she starts to hold it in between times or starts to ask to go you can get there quick. I also had a small seat cover for all of the adult bathrooms so she could sit on the big potty (Target or Walmart carry them, we liked the ones with side handles best and they didn't slip like the character ones did) and we kept the little potty in the family room so she could sit on it for her tv time if she wanted. Good luck

Oh 2 more things. Once upon a potty had a cute book & video my kids loved and a small step to put by the potty made climbing up easier.

It will come naturally with physical maturity and practice. You are right not to force it on her, but as others said you could leave it out for practice. At this age I pulled the potty in front of the tv and played a 10 minute potty video every morning as I made breakfast. Sometimes my girls sat on it, sometimes not. Then after nap we would read a potty book and maybe try again. It was always there and they got on it more and more as each month passed. We switched to underwear a little after they turned 2 1/2. They probably weren't totally accident free until closer to 3 though.