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Monday, June 28, 2010

Potty Training Dilemma

I started potty training Avery a few weeks ago. At first, she really seemed to get it, and did really well. Although she never really "told" me when she had to use the potty, it seemed as if she would hold it for a while until I asked her if she needed to go. She went a few days keeping her diaper clean, maybe only an accident here or there. Fast forward about 3 weeks. We have made no progress, and if anything have gone backwards. She rarely ever tells me she has to "go", and every time I ask her if she needs to go she says no. If I put her on the potty anyway, she does go every time.

Do I just give up for now and re-visit in a month or two? Or just keep asking her, putting her on the potty every hour or two and hope she catches on? She seems to understand what I am telling her, but it seems she doesn't realize (until its too late) when she has gone in her diaper. I tried the training pull-ups that turn cold when they are wet, but that hasn't made a difference. Anyway, just looking for advice. My boys trained in a day or so, without any major bumps along the way, so I have no idea what to do at this point.

By the way, she'll be 3 years old in September...

10 comments:

kayder1996 said...

I'm not a fan of the pull ups. For both of my kids, it just seemed like the pull ups let them stay wet and it didn't bother them if they were wet and I didn't catch it right away. Kenson was in the big toddler room before he came home at 2.5 and I believe he was, to some degree, potty trained before he came home. I wasn't planning on potty training with him until he turned 3 but he always wanted to go on the potty and knew what to do when he sat down. Conleigh was also potty trained (to what degree, I'm not certain). She turned three in February and I started working on it once soccer was over so it's been about 8 weeks. She has had only a handful of completely accident free days. Usually she has one accident a day but goes the rest of the time on the potty. Somtimes it's more though and it can be both poop and pee. Even poop doesn't bother her. I think her stubborn, independent streak is playing a roll in all of this. Hang in there. When I'm feeling frustrated about it, I always tell myself that she won't go to kindergarten in diapers and all will be okay.

Anonymous said...

I tried the techniques described in 3daypottytraining.com While Maria still has trouble going through the night without wearing a pull-up, she is potty-trained the rest of the time. And, admittedly I didn't try the overnight tricks in this guide. I just couldn't see waking her! Now I'm paying the price. Anyway, you have the time now so give it a shot! You never know...

Laurie said...

my advice is to ditch the diapers AND pullups. Go all underwear...even when you're out (but except for naps and bedtime). it's a lot of work for a while, but i think any kid will go for the lazy option and just go in a diaper or pullup if it's on them. that's just what i've always done and it seemed to work. good luck!

Beth Cotell said...

When we decided we were going to potty train, we went straight to the underwear. Peter was trained in a couple of days - it didn't take long for him to realize that dirty underwear was gross. Same with Sarah. They were both 2 and a half.

I also used M&M's the first few weeks as rewards (3 for pee and 6 for poop) and I let them both pick out their new underwear before we got started.

Good luck Tracy!

Heidi said...

Hi Tracy!
Saw your comment on my potty-training blog, and I would say everything you're experiencing with Avery is very normal. I would encourage you to continue taking her, even though she doesn't tell you. We have done this for weeks before, even to the point of setting a timer so that we don't forget. She will get it eventually. Regression is also very normal. Moses just went through a season where he had been accident-free and then suddenly started pooping in his pants again. I think the trick is to try and tell whether they are genuinely having accidents, or whether it is a control/manipulation tactic.
Don't turn back now, sister! You've already made it over big hurdles and the end is in sight!

Suzanne said...

Hey Tracy. I am trying to train Sophia too. She does not care if she is wet or dry, diaper or pullup or panty- she will run around playing wet until I catch her. However, she does love the "potty" and is now going just to sit on it several times a day by herself- usually after she's already wet some, but that is progress. Fortunately she has caught onto how much better it is to poop in the toilet than in the panties and has had no stinky accidents in 2 weeks. Good luck!

therobinsons said...

Hi Tracey,
When I potty trained my little girl, she struggled with every potty training issue I think known to man! It was bad… One of my friends recommended The Potty Boot Camp by Suzanne Riffel and it actually worked wonders on my daughter. You can even download the book right from the website… http://www.thepottybootcamp.com/

Goodluck!

therobinsons said...

Tracey,

I can tell you I think the same words came out of my mouth when it came to my daughter. The ONLY thing that worked for me was The Potty Boot Camp by Suzanne Riffel. I was at my wits end and thought my daughter was going to wear diapers forever! I was so glad my friend recommended her book to me! Hope this helps you. www.thepottybootcamp.com

Its only $5.95 to download the ebook.

Goodluck and don't give up!

Trina said...

Couldn't agree more w/ Beth & Laurie. Ditch the pull-ups and diapers (except naps and bedtime). My girls have gone straight to undies. Made for a lot of laundry at times, but well worth it. Then, they know right away when they are wet. And it took 5 months for L to begin telling us consistently when she needed to go. That would have been a LOT of diapers if we'd been hesitant about it. Stick w/ it. She'll get it and eventually, she'll be potty trained (K wore a diaper/pull-up at night until 3.5 but was day-trained including nap at 22 mo, which took a week).

Meltmomma said...

Vania just turned three. Each time we visited her in Haiti & when we picked her up in Miami she was doing well & accident free with the potty training. With all the confusion & excitement of her coming home I put her in a pull-up & I guess she found that a very convenient porta - potty :) I also think she realized that it was 1 thing she could have control over. So as frustrating as it was I put her in padded panties but stuck with pull ups at night to relieve the added stress of wet sheets in the morning.I decided to relax with the stickers & charts & just let things happen on their own. I knew she could do it . As things calmed down here she released her grip on the potty control. So each time she would go on her own we gave her a tootsie roll & praise. Even if it was only 1 time a day. She's doing great !!!!Hang in there :)
Bambi