Potty Training Tips??

[MomofFaith]

My little one is definitely ready. She is showing all the signs...However, when we put her on the potty...nada!

Any tips to get it going?

[mamallama]

Yes, don't rush it!! (LOL I started PT my dd at age 2 and she didn't get it until almost 4!!) Even though she is showing the signs, she might not know how to recognize the "need" to go yet. (which I think was my little one's problem all along) How old is she? I might just put a potty chair out or make available a potty seat for the toilet and see if she will go on her own to practice.

[~Tara~]

If she's showing signs, just go with what she's giving you. Take her to the potty whenever you go, at least. Don't stress. Don't push. Encourage. Praise. Even when nothing happens, just say "good job sitting on the potty!" and you can even sneak in there something about maybe actually going pee next time ;) Go ahead, make a big deal out of it..the success that is. When she goes...hoot and hollar and dance and high five...make a sticker chart..whatever floats your boat. Some kids *really* dig that stuff. Others do just fine with "good job!" I never was an all out kind of person. We just "good job!" maybe a high five or "rock on!" hehe

Some folks go straight to the big potty..a smaller kid trainer seat on top, but I prefer the little potties that sit on the floor. http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Bjorn-055115US-BABYBJ%C3%96RN-Potty/dp/B000056J7L] ( [url) Baby Bjorn [/url]is an awesome one. What's so special, what does it matter about a potty? Well, we had others...the first had crevices everywhere that caught nastiness. Despite frequent rinsing and cleaning and wiping. Stuff just got in crevices and it was nasty. So, once that one wore out its welcome we got another for the next critters. It had a tiny hole. My dd hated it! She couldn't sit comfortably to do her business (she's a kinda chunky thighed gal, but even a skinny one I think would have taken issue with this pot). So we finally got the Baby Bjorn linked above and it's been great! Nice shaped seat, she can sit and spread as she needs to go. And no 101 parts and places and crevices to catch grossness ;) And no reaching underneath or dismantling the entire unit to empty the pot. It lifts right off the top. Very easy. Very clean. Sturdy. Love it! (as much as one can love a trainer pot hehe)

But back to the kid...just go with it. Take her lead. Don't get discouraged when she takes off for a bit then stops going, 'regresses'. That's all part of the process. It's ok. Just keep hanging in there and encourage the positive. :)

[RhysMom]

I wish I had tips but I am right there with you. My dd is showing all the signs but when I sit her on the potty she WON'T go. The second she gets off the potty and puts her pull-up back on she goes! :shock: I will be following this thread for advice too!

[~Tara~]

ok so I messed up my link somehow...but, I think it still works...I don't have the time to fix it at the moment ;)

[caseyk]

I agree with not forcing it! I decided to just start potty training whenever my dd wanted to. Well about a month ago she decided she was ready and has been trained ever since. It was easy and she barely has accidents. Actually most of her accidents are due to me not helping her right away when she asks, she wont go with the light off in the bathroom.

My friend started her dd when she was under 2 and she is now 3 and still has a ton of accidents and never tells her mom when she has to go, she has to be reminded but my daughter just goes when she needs to and tells me or goes by herself and then comes and tells me. It has been great and easy!

They wont go to school in diapers so I see no need in forcing the issue

[MomFromCanada]

We just started PT about 2 weeks ago, we started with making a trip to WalMart and letting her pick out her own potty. We also bought a potty ring for the toilet too. At first we would ask her, do you want to go potty? And sometimes she would go and sometimes she wouldn't. That still happens now. We also let her pick which potty she wants to use, her own little one or the big one. Today was the first day she went for an hour and had a DRY diaper!!! :) Don't get discouraged, it takes a lot of work and time but it is worth it.

[RYLEES MOM]

I just got done pt and somehow I really lucked out. I thought mine was not ready and it took about 3 days and after a week no more accidents. It's been almost 4 weeks now. (actually we have had 2 on the same day. the first pretty day of being outside all day) Here's is what I did: I pretty much stayed at home the whole 3-4 days. only panties, ask constantly, rewards ( whatever they like at the moment- for me chocolate, skittles, stickers), potty dance (be crazy!), and get them to listen for the tt to hit the potty. We would shh and listen. Once she heard something she got so excited. Then we danced. Let her help flush and wash hands. Now she tells me every time and even wakes in the middle of the night to go potty. I do pull ups at night still. I am not that brave. However, they have never been wet. (knock on wood) Hopefully some of this will help. I'm anxious to hear.

[Marlo Boux]

when ella was about 18 or 19 months she showed potty-readiness :) So we put a little seat on the regular toilet and put her straight into panties - NO pull ups. It worked really well!! It was messy at first but she was trained in 3 days. On day one she had about 12 accidents and by day 3 she had 2-3 - she knew if she didn't sit on the potty when she needed to that she would get all dirty and she didn't like that lol.

It worked wonderfully for us.

[JRBL]

My daughter just turned three and I did the same thing with her that I did with my older daughter... I bought a small potty and left it in their play room down here where I can keep an eye on her; I put a movie on or give her some toys, and let her just "sit" while she watches/plays. She's out of diapers now, dry at night and going on her own when she needs to go... it took two days, really.

ETA: We took her diapers away, too; she begged for them and even cried for a diaper, but we resisted, and had a few messes to clean up, but she's now dry at night and during the day, and goes when she needs to, without being asked to go. :)