OK, I guess I need to get this toddler potty-trained. She starts Pre-K in the fall and they won’t take her if she’s not potty-trained. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am putting out the call to all parents, especially anyone who has been through this with a girl, for any help you can give. I perfectly open to buying books, treats, prizes, special products, anything it takes. But I need some advice here, and possibly some consensus.
There are techniques and programs that people swear by, but I don’t know which one to try. This child does not seem interested in the least. I’ve tried to let her take the lead on this, but we’re getting down to the wire here.
What hasn’t worked? The potty chair she picked out all by herself, the potty ring that lets her be a big girl on the big potty, Hello Kitty underpants, promises of kitties or a puppy, and appeals to her better nature. The only thing I will not use? Candy or other foodstuffs as a reward.
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What we did for our first three kids (and have started with the youngest) is that ‘potty time’ became a routine part of the day. Get up in the morning: sit on the potty. Before lunch: sit on the potty. A bit after lunch/before nap: potty time. That kind of thing. Very matter-of-fact. Not overly enthusiastic and very calm. Sometimes they went (especially in the morning) and sometimes not–but that was ok. We never used those little potties, we bought the seat that fits on the real toilet and a step stool for their feet (and to get on the toilet, of course).
With our first kiddo, we had a sticker chart where every time he went in the toilet, he got a sticker and after 3 (and then 5, and then 7) stickers in a row, he got a small prize. My other two weren’t motivated by such means, lol. They just did it and some initial clapping and “good job” (and new underpants!) worked. My youngest, so far, is utterly unimpressed by the whole process, though we just started it this past week, lol.
Good luck! I’ve found that after age three, there comes a point where it just ‘clicks’. Hopefully that will come before the school deadline!
With my son, I did something similar to what Misty did: regular times on the toilet (although ours were in intervals of just a few minutes to start), stickers for success with a prize every X stickers.
I really never struggled with PT with my older kids…but when my 3rd one was “ready”…it seemed to take forever. She was a little on the defiant side. After 2 episodes of finding poopy in her room….I did what you are probably NOT supposed to do….I popped her butt. After that little ordeal, I’m happy to say that she never did that again. I also did “Sonic” ice cream treats. I had to bribe with this because she needed much more motivation than stickers provided. (Sonic was just down the road at the time too.) I spent quite a bit of $$ on “potty snacks”…gummy bears. Eventually…she caught on and I’m happy to say that PT days are long gone. You’ll get there. If you don’t see some results after finding a plan and sticking to it a couple of weeks, I’d recommend a visit with your pediatrician.
Oh girl…I can relate to the potty training gone awry! Oh sweet pete, yes I can! My daughter, now 18yo, would not go to the potty for nothing…no special treat, new toy, or all the begging in the world, would make her go potty. I thought I was going to have to beat that child into submission…but no, I just had to give her time. She does not get in a hurry for anything…her theory, obviously, is “The party ain’t gonna start, till I get there anyhow so why rush”! Yep, she’s still that way! Ok so seriously, I don’t know how old your little “trainee” is, but “The Princess” was well into her third year before she “chose” to go to the bathroom by herself. She knew what to do, had been well prodded, sufficiently bribed, and properly scolded but she just wasn’t going to “poop” in the pot. I was to the point of “Whatever!!!” and…lo & behold, (insert the Hallelujah chorus here) she got out of bed one morning, informed me she needed to go potty and has never looked back. I don’t know what the point of, me telling you, this story might be other than to give you encouragement. Another thought might be that your little “trainee” isn’t quite ready for Pre-K…not to second guess your parenting skills but it might be something to think about. I also agree with Barb Lane, talk to your pediatrician about it. In any case…good luck, brave soul!
Grace & Peace
Mrs. G