Potty Training Revisited

[Phoebe]

I really want to get my almost 3 yo potty trained. She has dry diapers through the night sometimes and I know she understands the concept and always tells me right after she peed. She is even starting to take off her diaper to change it. A couple times in the bathtub she says she as to pee and that is when she has used the potty.

I can get her to sit on the toilet for bribes but she has never gone. I have tried putting her in underwear and staying close by. The minute I get distracted she pees. The clean up is daunting, especially when it is on the carpet. Also with the baby coming, I don't know if the timing is right. DD#1 was just 3 yo and once she used the potty at school, she was pretty much trained. Earlier training went unsuccessful.

Am I missing a step here? Am I just not commited enough to the process?

Advice please...
Jennifer

[JaneDoe]

I wish I could offer advice, but I'm in the same place you are. My dd will sit on the potty but has only gone in it once - and that was because we sat there for an hour!

I could use advice too. I'm trying the potty training by M&Ms, but we haven't had much success yet. If I could only contract this part of parenthood out, I think I would.

[PrincessFiona]

Jenn,

We did so well with Aidan until the stress of baby, etc. I think I'd just suggest waiting until the baby is born and then approaching it again. She just might not be ready even though I know you are ready

I pretty much just let it go with Aidan and now he's showing interest on his own and we *might* have it conquered.


Maybe for now, just take her in with you when you go to the potty, read some potty books and talk about the potty without going the big girl pants route yet.

kris

[DCJenn]

Man, I wish we could get there. Nikolai announced that he wanted his diaper off- and he wanted to go sit on the potty. Great. and then he announced he wanted a bath. OK. So then after the bath he said he didn't want a diaper on. I told him he could wear big boy pants or a diaper- and he said diaper. and then he grabbed his pecker and said, "Mine" and it occurred to me that really, all he wants is ready access.

Good god. We adopted Al Bundy.

Jenn

[mommax3]

I think the mess of accidents is inevitable, sadly, but it is a lot less daunting when you aren't pregnant (the bending over, etc.). I think table it for now, except praise her for dry pampers and tell her that means she is getting to be a big girl, and when you make conversation, say stuff like "when you are older and ready to use the potty, blah blah blah" in a matter-of-fact way.

It will probably happen for her just like it did for her sister. Peer pressure can be a beautiful thing!

Sally

i 2nd (or 3rd by now) the waiting until the baby comes. while you'd prefer to be done w/diapers for her before, chances are she'll regress a bit when the babe comes. plus, you could use the baby as a an incentive: "see? you're the big sister. only the little sisters use diapers. big sisters wear unders and use the potty."

[Gwendolyn]

I have nothing constructive to add other than this potty training stuff blows!

[Phoebe]

Thanks for backing me up! We've been pretty non-chalant about it thus far, but I thought it was maybe because I am being lazy. I am definitely waiting.

Jennifer