I am trying to potty train my daughter. She is 20 months old. Any suggestions?

Question

She takes her diaper off when it's wet and hands it to me. She will wake up at night and cry so I will come and change her. She has also handed me new diapers. However, she's not much of a talker and has yet to say "potty"

Answer 1

I have 4 children of my own plus I have provided daycare in my home for 50 children over the last 20 years. So, I have potty-trained a lot of kids. Unless your daughter is very motivated because of an extreme dislike of wet or poopy diapers, you will probably not have much success at training her at this young of age. Wait for her to show an interest plus have several physical capabilities in place. Does she wake up dry after nap time? If so, this is a good sign that she can go longer between urination. After a dry nap time is a good first time to try sitting on the potty. Does your daughter have a vocabulary that is developed enough to understand 2 - 3 simple commands in sequence and does she have understandable words for what your family uses as terms for urination and bowel movement? You can begin the idea of potty training simply by letting her watch you use the bathroom. About 2 years old, children become great imitators. If your daughter is putting up any kind of fuss or just doesn't seem to get it or you are getting frustrated, let it go for a couple months and try again. It is my experience that most children are closer to 3 when potty training is most successful. Don't rush into it, she will need to be physically and emotionally ready. Also, approach potty training in a positive manner - praising success and making light of the failures with plenty of encouragement. My youngest, very strong-willed daughter did not potty train until 2 weeks before she turned 5! Then she did it herself and was day and night, pee and poop trained all in one day. Not very normal, but worked for her.

My definition of a potty trained child is a child who tells you that he/she has to go potty in time to make it to the bathroom on a regular basis. Children who wear underwear and stay dry and clean because an adult constantly asks them if they have to go and takes them to the potty are still in the process of becoming potty trained.

Answer 2

I would say 20 months old is very young to start training. But, on the other hand if she is already handing you diapers and knows she needs to be changed. She is off to a wonderful start. At that age i would find my son hiding in his closet pooping in his diaper. LOL. I would buy her panties, have her wear them around the house. She will have the feeling she is wet/pooped. Yes there will be huge messes, but this is all part of it. We even let my son run around naked to experience/see what he was doing. After a weeks he knew to run for the potty. You may also try buying a couple of potty chairs. One for the living room, one for the bathroom. Have potty try time. Where they sit on the potty to watch a show. They will be so suprised. Good Luck to you!

Answer 3

If you know she is ready the go ahead. Try and sit her on the potty with a book that she likes or sing songe together. When she does do some thing then give her loads of praise, that will encourage her to do it again. It can take time or you might be lucky and only take a week or so. Let her rome around the house with no bottoms on when you two are allow as this will help her get to the potty quicker. Good luck hope it goes well.

Answer 4

Whatever you do DON'T use Pull Ups!!!! They are evil and to a child they are no different than a diaper!!! I used them and it delayed every effort I tried to make with my boy! I took them away and started him on regular underwear, sponge bob and superman etc..... He had a bunch of accidents the first week then he realized if he went where he was supposed to he wasn't a mess and didn't have to get his fave characters dirty! That was 6 months ago and the only accidents he has had are the ones where he can't make it to the bathroom in time. (The mall or a big park.) I also hear allot that girls are much easier to train than boys!!! To keep him on the "potty" I used any means necessary, books, kids shows, music, etc.... Good Luck!!!

Answer 5

My little girl was potty trained at 19 mo. I got a potty chair and let her go when I did to get used to it then after a few weeks I started putting her in those thick panties durring the day. She had a few accidents up front, but they worked because she could associate the feeling of having to go with being wet.

Answer 6

Put real undies on her and frequently ask her if she has to go potty, and occasionally bring her to the potty sit her down and read her a story or let her look at a book herself. They have books about going potty for kids. Award her with lots of praise or a treat when she is successful.

Answer 7

i have three children and when it was time to potty train a friend gave me this advice.....put underwear on her tell her she is such a big girl , show her the toilet and tell her big girls go potty here, now when she has her accident show what it is and where it should go (toilet) and also when you catch her in the process. repitition and consistancy is the best technique to teach your child. it doesnt take long the key is patience. accidents aren't bad or wrong they are accidents. this helped me with all three and they were trained from 14 mths to 16 good luck and i hope this helps you

Answer 8

Get a little potty seat and introduce her to it by letting her sit on it while you go on the big potty and explain to her what a potty is for. Then try panties on her to see if she learns how to "hold it". Good luck!

Answer 9

nicely because of the fact the rest room seat is basically too enormous for her you need to apply something smaller. generally the little potty has a smaller piece which could connect with the rest room for her so use that. Then positioned a stool there for her. enable her be conscious of that next time she needs to apply the potty she would desire to run to the two mommy or daddy earlier hand and tell them she ought to circulate. coach her the thank you to tug down her pants and demand you whilst she's achieved. After that coach her the thank you to wipe her arms. quickly she'll have sufficient self belief to start wiping herself and whilst she's sufficiently old to return to you or your spouse contained in the path of the evening or basically carry it until eventually the morning she ought to positioned on underware! solid success!

Answer 10

Don't force the issue let her start out slowly...by showing her how and rewarding her for trying and NOT scolding her ever!
Each child is different and physically mature at different rates so just because you think its time doesn't mean her little bladder is ready to let her know its time.
If you force the issue and she is not ready it can cause bed wetting problems and behavior problems.