How do I get my 2 year old to potty train??

Question

My 2 year old refuses to potty train! I have been trying for months to get her to use her potty. I have offered her treats and rewards for using but she just is not interested in the potty at all. What should i do to help the process along?

Answer 1

you can encourage her by showing her books, videos, dvds that have the little stories about it...

I found, only because of how many times I have done this, that it becomes a struggle, almost a battle of wills when I have tried to force the issue..... so, my best advise is to not let it get to that point....

the rest of anything I can tell you... might work, or not.. each child is different... I am working on potty training number five here and having done this five times? I can say only that I had to get creative and come up with five different ways of getting them to give up the diaper/pullups.... doesn't sound too encouraging, but it is actually a pretty easy thing to teach our children.. once we find incorporate our own child's preferences... reasons.. etc...

some toddlers are afraid.... pure and simple.. fear is ugly, as we know.... and a fear of something we do not understand that is happening in us, that we do not even have to to describe/explain to anyone... well that is more so.... pediatricians, teachers and those child "experts" have all agreed that toddlers first response to doing a #2 is to think a part of their body is coming out... kind of gross.. ok.. very gross really... but? it is what stops a toddler at first sometimes... they can ready, want to.... able to understand, and have enough of the control needed and everything else is in place to get them taught and on to the next thing? but they get on there... and... well... they get afraid... halts the process.... that could be the first and only obstacle in your daughter's path.... is understanding the "process" so the stories, silly songs might help her.... or just you and she talking... it does not have to be gross.... but after you try next time, if you get down to eye level with her, and tell her it is ok... no big deal... and ask her if she understands/knows what is happening that makes her need to do #1 or 2... see how much she grasps so far... and take it from there as to how much/little to tell her and whether you want to just give her the "stinky" facts the way an adult would? or as a kid... I always have gone with putting it to the individual child's level... in comprehension and terms... but straight facts.... for all serious things that pertain to them.... that is a personal choice though....

I use a combination, especially if I do not know which one my son likes or is motivating him... I use "smiley/star chart" he gets a smiley everytime he uses the potty instead of having an accident.... and if he goes the whole day he gets to put a star on the chart as well... we have not gotten to use the stars yet... I bought a new potty chair for each child... they helped pick it out... it is their's.... it helps at times when the child gets to have a say, or participates in shopping, buying... my youngest daughter (now four) wanted to potty train so young... I wanted her to be encouraged, motivated.. I was impressed! she was only twelve months... she had been walking, climbing though since four/five months... trying to toddle after and keep up with her older brother and sisters.... she started indicating that she wanted the potty... she was afraid of falling in (she was and is tiny) that slowed her.... I was hestitant about starting so young... after all they say once you start.. do not "end" it and re-begin down the road... but slow it, take cues from the child... well she would look so upset, act embarrassed and did the hiding in corners when she needed to "relieve" herself... so I knew she was giving me all the cues that she wanted and needed to be taught how to... I took her shopping, I had already bought her one.. but she did not seem to like going near it.. still do not know why.. nothing wrong with it.. anyway..... my daughter loves to shop... she picked the one that is a "throne" and plays music... it had a princess and prince book... she carried that everywhere.. everyone HAD to read it to her.. she read it to everyone... within a week she was accident free during the day.... she was 18months by then... I had done treats, gifts, surprises... rewards, stars... I was ready to pull my hair out... then it dawned on me that she likes to control her environment as much as possible... she prefers to pick out her own clothes, and even then had very defiitive tastes.. likes and dislikes...and she is all "girl" so... she shopped and found one.. and her "reward" was a new dress each week her chart had all stars.. she loved that... for the whole month of the chart her "big" reward was her nails done as well.... not sure if your daughter is similar... I have three daughters and my eldest just decided she did not like the feeling of the wet, stinky... and fifteen yrs ago diapers were not as absorbent... so that was her motivation.. one day she decided to.. but since the drs had said let the child lead on potty training, I had waited.. she was not interested till she was four.. talked about it before.. went no where... my second daughter; she wanted to be like big sister....

one of the things helping now is my four yr old... lol.. she is a very assertive young lady and tells her brother like it is. "just do it.. sit there and make a face like this.. and it happens.. no big deal" is what she was saying last night to him... they have potty chairs next to each other... and every night she helps to try and encourage him... his is fear.. since we have done all the explaining and continue to remind him that it is okay... his is more of a matter of timing for that.... I have to have him "ON" the potty when he can not (excuse the bluntness?) hold the #2 in anymore.... so he can see for himself that he had nothing to fear... you know... patience and time for that one...

I apologize if this is long-winded, I wanted to give you as much info to assist as possible... every child is different remember.. so just keep at it..be patient... consistent.. and use what you know about your daughter... what her favorite anything/everything is... the rewards are and will work along with that...
good luck

Answer 2

Yes you should just wait until she is ready. Relax. You have a lot of time between 2 1/2 and 4. No normal child goes to kindergarten in a diaper. I freaked out when my daughter was 3 and not potty trained. I didn't listen to my mom who kept tellling me to relax, that she would get it soon. Oddly enough, by the time she was 3 1/2 she was fully potty trained, nights and all. My son is almost 2 now and not even close to being ready. I know eventually he'll get it too. :)

Answer 3

I tried potty training my son when he turned 2 and he just wasnt' ready. Now he is 2 1/2 and it only took a week to potty train him. We bought him a little potty and a potty seat. I put him on the potty every 45 minutes. When he finally did go we made a huge deal out of it and called family so he could tell them. We also have a sticker chart. We also took him to the store and bought him big boy underwear that he picked out. We just went straight to underwear, no pullups. Maybe she just isn't ready yet? You could try again in a couple of months if nothing works. Also, have you tried Dr. Phils method of potty training with the doll that wets? Good luck!

Answer 4

I don't know for girls but with my nephew who is 3 next month whenever I have to go to the washroom I ask if he does too, and he usually will sit on his potty but not go.

My nephew still isn't potty trained but it's hard for him to be when all day he's with my mom and trying to get it started than going home and no one tries there...but he has found a new use for his potty- he uses it so he can climb up onto the counter and to the fish tanks.

Answer 5

Do you show her when you go and say see big girls go potty on the big potty. Have you tried her own personal potty. Don't give her rewards for something that she isn't doing. If she potty's then she should get a reward. Good Luck!

Answer 6

I had the same problem with my daughter. I eventually backed off for about a month and a half and she is now more interested in going, and wants to do it on her own.

we live in an apartment community, but if you have your own washer and dryer, I would put her in panties. I have seen many kids get potty trained very quickly because they don't like the feeling of soaking their clothes. I just don't have the money to put forth washing all the underwear until she learns. I can wait a couple of months though until we get a house. But when we do, I will be putting her in underwear until she learns

Answer 7

Seeing someone around her same age is often the best motivator...She is gonna want to be a "Big Girl" like mommy and her peers...Also try buying her some themed panties and telling her that she doesn't want to wet Dora or something to that effect..You know your child best.
There are potty training books you to could read together... and a potty Elmo (if your child likes Elmo)

Answer 8

he /she might not be read yet. dont force them i would ask my son ..lets go sit on the potty and read a story,i bought a little book about potty training,for boys and girls and it helped him to understand .and every time he did go potty i would cheer and clap and say what a big boy he was . but they have to understand what their doing they will come around

Answer 9

Well i will say i had trouble with my son and there was nothing that i could do and one day he came to me and said i have to go potty so what I'm saying is its not up to you she will go potty when she feels its right.

Answer 10

We had great luck with our daughter (now 6) but our son - AGE 3 - sigh. So ... when you find out, let me know lol. I've done almost everything people have told me. The boy doesn't care if he pee pees on himself! I am so sick of diapers but this little man isn't ready yet. SO! That's my answer, basically - they will let you know when they are ready. If they aren't interested, wait a bit, try again. It takes a while (longer than you want) at times. But they are our little rulers (lol) - and they let us know in due time.