How to potty train my 3 year old?

Question

My daughter, who was 3 in Oct, will use the potty when she feels like. She can just use it, then 10 minutes later mess herself or wet herself. She has to be bribed to go. She will say she has to go and we take her, but yet refuses to go when asked. We just ask her after eating and before nap and bed time, this seems to be when she goes, and we make her go when she wakes up. How can we break her so she can wear her "big girl" undies. I have told her she is not going back to mawmaw and pawpaw house till she can use the potty like a big girl. (seems to work a lil so far). Truthfully I am tired of changing a 3 year old. I have a baby to change. What can we do so she can go potty all the time?

Answer 1

We had a similar problem with our 3 year old. In the end we got a reward chart, and at the end of every day, if she made it through the entire day without having an accident, then she got a star sticker on the chart. When she got 5 stickers she got a reward (either an outing or a new book or toy) We only had to do this for 2 weeks before the problem was solved. Of course you have to make a big deal out of it and really praise her up for her successes. We also had to remind her constantly. We are now using the same process to get her through the night without wetting the bed.

Answer 2

You have waited to long already. It seems there is too much asking going on. Just remember you are the adult and you are in charge. She should go on an average of 6 times during her awake hours.Be sweet and positive, take her by the hand, say potty time, or some such, take her there and sit her down.
at home during the day don't let her wear diapers, put her in training pants and when she wets, let her stay wet for a time. It feels awful, it will not take her long to decide she would rather go potty and stay dry.It is hard work for the adult to potty train a little one, because it is up to you to remember and put her on and do it promptly. and encourage her. It is YOU that can not forget. soon, she will remember by herself, but you and all adult care givers must work together to achieve success.
Now, with the one still in diapers, the infant, the easy way to do it. is to begin the day they are born, by changing them as soon as they are wet or messy, this way they always feel dry and never have "that wet pants" feeling then between 16 to 20 months start with the training pants and let them stay wet. within 2 wks you will be diaper free. Actually,
at a year when you take the bottle away, start to limit the liquids after dinner, and they will actually be night trained before the daytime success. They will awaken with dry diapers.
I am almost a Great Grandma, I've had 6 children and a slew of fosters so I know this works. The key is adult consistency. Parenting is hard work. Good Luck

Answer 3

First of all, potty training should take place as soon as they show an interest, about 18 mos to 2.5 yrs old. Make sure you have a childrens potty as little ones feel like they may fall in a big one and so they freeze up.
Bribery does not work for the long haul. It is best to take her after meal, before bed and first thing in morning and any other time she seems like she needs to go. When she actually does something praise her repeatedly (good girl, big girl now etc) Do ot give sweets or toys or anything like that. I child learns early that they can use their parents that way.
You can also have a special item, that they child gets to hold only when they are using the potty. Make sure it is something interesting and the only time they get to feel and hold it is at that time. They will soon look forward to going. If the item wears off, toss it and get a new item. Things like wirligigs, push button item like musical, or a grown up (safe) item is even better. She is told she gets to hold mommys lipstick or such if she goes. Believe me she will try. Make it a game. If you dont a child picks up on your stress with her or unhappiness and then they wont go.

Good Luck

Answer 4

First of all, I completely understand how you feel..my daughter didn't get potty trained until she was 3 1/2! I realized that you can't push them into, because then it just makes them back track and not want to do it at all. Be a little more patient with him, but you can definitely try some things like only having him wear underwear vs. diapers and make him at least sit on the toilet once every hour, and make sure you do it every hour. you could also try getting one of the little potty's and have him sit on it for hours at a time, watching his fav movies. My girlfriend said that this worked for her daughter and she never wore diapers again. She used the potty like a chair, and whenever her daughter tried to stand up or whatever, it felt weird to her so she would just sit back down and eventually she pee'd in the potty and got excited! you could also try putting cheerios in the toilet and helping him learn how to aim for the hole's...I've heard this one is always kind of fun! But one thing for sure...you have to reward him when he does go and DON'T get mad when he has an accident....but just give it some more time, he'll get there. good luck! :o)

Answer 5

My son was almost potty trained at 2 1/2 until we moved across the country... then we had to start all over. One day when he was like 38 months he all of a sudden never wet himself again, poop is another issues! He wasn't ready until that point so give your daughter a little more time. I am about to start potty training my 2 1/2 yr old daughter.... she won't sit on the potty and when she does she just cries. I don't know if she is ready to be fully potty trained yet but since it is a long process I figured I'd better get on it now! Good luck.

Answer 6

First consider what is a potty. It is the perfect season for your child to experience using the outdoors for number 1. I no it's not always appropriate but hanging with mum long tee shirt no pants or nappies she experiences a fun and unpressured environment. Given a fun attitude from mum this is only allowed at home during certain hours. You will find a new independance in her and a keeness to proove she is an individual therefore given a few laughs she will ask for the potty, however personally my kids prefered me holding them on the big loo which eventually led to using a stool to climb up and the fitted child seat.
Make it fun use the summer to allow her to experience the sensation that comes with both motions, make it special to wear big girl nappy pants and reward her when she runs and asks you to hold her and your breath on the big toilet, face it at this age number 2 feels pretty bad squashed in undies. Also no matter were you are if a loo is not available and she wants to go let her where ever she can. Peer pressure will stop any possibilities of her just dropping her pants in public. Make it fun. Use her love language to reward her. And buy her favorite princess knickers tht she can were when outside with mum.

Answer 7

it will come naturally to the child. my son was 3 and i had a new baby. we tried everything- new toys, m & m's, bob builder underwear, the works. one day, when he was 3 1/2 he just decided he wanted to be a big boy. after that, we spent about another week in pullups and we were done with them. he saw kids his age not needing a pullup or diaper and was suddenly ready. hasn't had an accident since.

kids have their own internal clock and can sense when its time for them to do things on their timetables. my son is now 5 and my baby is 2. the baby already is starting to potty train although we have not pushed him or suggested it at all. he thinks he's ready to make pee-pee in the potty and we let him. Take your cues from your daughter and keep up the gentle reminders. you'll get there.

Answer 8

my daughter will be three in march and i have had the same sort of problem. She is very proud of herself when she does go but then will completely forget next time. One thing i have found to work is a reward program like a sticker chart that she can put the sticker on to every time she goes, or telling her that if she goes on the potty every day this week you will take her to the movies. It is a bit of a hard one but i think like anything, if you make a huge fuss over them when they do do it, it will encourage them to do it again. Good luck, i hope this helps.

Answer 9

First, she is not a minature grownup,
When u go to the potty, let her follow u and see that u are using it and then she will learn to do that too.
I potty trained my 2 at 9 months old.

Answer 10

SHow her how its done!