more info on the long journey to potty training my 3 yr old daughter?

Question

I have tried to let her sit in her dirty diaper and it jus doesnt phase her, she knows that she went in her pants but jus smirks and its almost like its a game to her, cuz she laughs and continues her play.... any advice??

Answer 1

I am in the middle of potty training right now - also a daughter. First thing you need to do is forgive and forget. She knows when you are stressed and not pleased... she sounds like my little one. When I started pretending I did not really care, things changed. Here is what I think you need to do.

1. stop using pull ups - they are not helping things and they let her sit in her dirty pull up without much discomfort.

2. buy some training pants and rubber pants or the combination ones - you can get some great training pants at Target that have the rubber part built in over top of the padded quilted pant. They do a great job of keeping things off the floor. They clean up great - wash in washing machine, just don't put in dryer.

3. Have her wear these "big girl underwear".

(explain to her that she is a big girl now and to keep her underpants clean and dry)

4. Every 1 hour take her to the bathroom - remember, don't get stressed - if she does not want to go to the bathroom, just say "ok" and try again in 10 minutes - if she does go to the bathroom make sure she knows you are pleased "wow, you made it to the bathroom, great! Lets sit on the toilet" Same thing, if she sits, praise, if she does not want to sit, let her go but make sure she knows how happy you are that she came to the bathroom... keep this going, praise praise praise... never get mad. If she plays with the toilet paper, big deal, praise! Good girl, you found the toilet paper - you can wipe yourself after you go!

5. If she does have an accident don't make a huge deal out of it. Have her take off the underpants herself and put them in the washing machine and get new clean ones all by herself. If it is super messy help her, but it really helps to have them do it for themself to see... I also tell her - see how wet that is, next time tell mommy you need to go potty - then take her to the bathroom and have her practice taking the pants off and sitting on the potty. The key here is to make it fun - don't get stressed and try to do it 10 times.

Just remember to find the good in her accomplishments. No more negative. I also keep a potty in the room my daughter is playing in and remind her to use it.

It takes time, but its time well spent - she will learn a lot just by changing from pull ups to a more regular type underpant - you should see changes quickly.

If you have the time - spend a day with her butt nakid (patio works great for this) with potty - when you catch her going, smile and say, "Oh, you are going pee pee, lets put it in the potty"... by the end of the day she will be running to the potty - expect accidents and always smile and find a positive. Treats can work wonders too - pee pee in the toilet - one m&m ...

hope I was some help - feel free to email me if you have any questions or just need another mom to yap with [e-mail]

good luck

Answer 2

It does sound like a power struggle right now.

For starters no more diaper. Use training pants, the old fashioned kind made of heavy cloth. They don't feel as comfortable on a wet bottom as the diaper does.

Also get a doll that "potties" and set the doll on the potty every couple of hours and then ask your daughter if she wants to try to go potty too. Hopefully she will eventually get interested in using it.
Don't give up!

If she is stubborn, you might try reverse psychology and tell her she can be in training pants forever, it doesn't matter to you. Hopefully being uncomfortable a couple of times and she'll be begging to use the potty.

It will happen eventually, all kids get potty trained sooner or later.

Answer 3

Okay, this worked for me, so I'm hoping it works for you, too. Does she have a favorite dolly? Well, if she doesn't then just get her favorite stuffed animal. N. e. waz, gather the doll and a cup of water and head to the bathroom. Put the dolly on the potty and hide the cup of water behind her. Then, while your daughter is watching, say, "Look at what a BIG girl your dolly(insert name) is! She is going potty like a BIG GIRL!!" And slowly pour out the glass of water from behind the dolly so it looks like she's peeing..
Praise the dolly for her "performance". You may have to do this several times a day for a week. But hopefully, your daughter will come around right away. Good luck! I KNOW the whole potty-training thing can really try your patience! Just hang in there a little longer...I'm pulling 4 u!

Answer 4

Don't make it an issue. She's playing but it's a power struggle, too and she can hold out longer than you. She holds the cards and you're the only one who has something to gain. Just let it go - this is difficult but in a couple of months, she'll come around. Be patient.
With the last one, we gave her panties for her birthday and threw away the diapers. We had a "big girl" celebration and though it didn't take right away, she was totally trained in a couple of months.

Answer 5

Try some type of reward system. Both my granddaughters were potty-trained before they were 3 and all they wanted were stickers and a praise party after each potty visit. My own children were potty-trained by 18 months to 2 years. I guess I was the "trained" one. I knew their habits and took them at regular intervals until they got the picture!

Answer 6

First get rid of d diaper. set her on d toilet with a book and let her read it. if she can't read give her a long pic book. then leave the room. she needs to relax, if she don't relax she'll be afraid of the potty 4ever.

Answer 7

NO DIAPERS dont put another one on her! reward her if and when she uses the potty, candy ,sticker whatever will work