Should I give up?

[Kwaniss]

I was preassured into trying to potty train my 2 1/2yr old daughter by family members even though I knew she wasnt really ready. It's been a month & she doesnt seem to be catching on. She urinates & has bowel movements every time I put her on the toilet & seems to prefer the big toilet to the potty chair. The problem is she will not tell me when she has to go! I've tried stickers, candy, toys, praise nothing works!! She has no problem staying wet! I've tried the cotton panties w/all the characters possible, tried the pull-ups w/designs & the ones that get cold. I even threatened to put her back in baby diapers, she said "ok!!" I should also mention that I'm 7 1/2 mnths prego & have to get on my knees to put her on the toilet because she is very petite. My mom says I should put her back in diapers, everyone else keeps telling me to hang in there & dont give up. Has anyone else had this problem or did I make a mistake & start her too early?? Someone help me...I'm at the end of my rope here!!!!!!

[big-mouth-burgher]

If you are stressed out and your daughter isn't interested in going only in the potty, I'd give it up for awhile. She'll let you know when she's ready. Now she probablly won't come up and say mommy I'm ready to use the potty, but she'll start to ask to be changed right after going to the bathroom in her diaper. Maybe even try to take it off herself. It will also be easier if she is able to remove her pants, that way you will have to help her alot less. Start working on having her take off her pants and socks at bedtime.

When she does start to notice that she needs her pants changed, praise her for telling you and remind her that big girls like mommy go in the toilet. It will happen, I've never know of a child to go to school wearing diapers, but you have to wait for her to be ready. It is just a long, frustrating process if you child isn't on board with the program. And don't worry what you family and friends think. She is your child and you decide what is best for her and when. They can give you advice, just like I am, but it doesn't mean that you have to take it.

Good luck with your daughter and with the new baby on the way.

[djasinski]

I starting potty training my daughter just after she turned two (she will b 3 next week) and the way we started was with a POTTY TIMER. We used a kitchen timer and for one week set it for every 45 mins then increased it to 1 hr and increased weekly from there. When it starting beeping she knew what it meant. Plus I always rewarded her when she did potty. If she did not potty when we went, I would reset the timer for 30 mins. Her reward for using the potty was a suprise. We had a basket of colored plastic easter eggs full of toys. Because the eggs were colored she never knew what she was going to get.

Hope this helps.

PS: I would say it took a solid 6 months before she could go all day w/ no accidents. She is in full panties now but still wears a pullup at night.

[kare.bear]

Never give up!!! Never Surrender!!!! But that doesn't mean you can't circle the wagons and take a break :) Enough cliches yet?

Your little one is about to have a HUGE life change with a new brother or sister. Even if she does manage to potty train in the next month or so, she'll likely regress once the new arrival comes. Do you really want to go through all the work now and again when new baby arrives? You will most likely be better off to let things stand (unless your DD has a sudden interest in potty training) and start again once your newborn is a few months old and your DD loves being the BIG sister - therefore a BIG GIRL!!!

You don't need any additional stress right now! Now, go put your feet up and snuggle with your little Princess and tell her what a great Big Sister she's going to be :)