when and how should I potty-train my two-year old?
By liquorice
@liquorice (3887)
April 13, 2008 4:41pm CST
I feel under pressure from various family members to potty train my 2 year old. They say that when we were younger we were trained between the ages of one and two, and that we should hurry up and do it, for my daughter's comfort, to no longer have the bother of changing nappies all the time and to save money. I agree with the money reason (!) but when we were babies most of us were in cloth nappies which were much more uncomfortable when wet, so I know that this was a reason why so many babies trained earlier. Disposable nappies are so absorbent that children don't notice the wet so much and don't get as much nappy rash. Obviously I would like her to potty train at some point soon but I don't want to pressurise her, which will just make her resistent to using the potty or toilet. She is already quite against the idea of the potty as I have tried to explain what it's for and gently suggested that it would be good for her to use it. As she's a typical two-year old she does the opposite to what anyone says, so she currently uses it as a portable chair (fully clothed of course) to store her toys and to climb in! I'm starting to feel that she'll never use it for it's correct purpose, and she also seems a bit scared to try using the toilet, maybe because it makes a strange flushing noise.. How and when should I do it?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@ladym33 (10978)
• United States
13 Apr 08
Don't let other people make you feel bad about potty training your child. All children are different when it comes to potty training. Some start really early, and some take till the are nearly three. You need to look for signs of potty readiness. If your child is curious about it, or is coming to you telling you they need a diaper change, or if they seem uncomfortable in wet diapers then they are ready. If you start introducing potty training to your child and they don't seem interested, then they are not ready. Start letting your child watch DVD's like once upon a potty and Elmo's Potty time, and read books to them about potty training, it will help them learn about it and will plant the seed in their head with out making them feel like they are being forced to do it. If you push to hard to potty train most kids will resist.
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@liquorice (3887)
•
14 Apr 08
Thanks for your posts. Yes, I'd much rather she communicates it to me than let other people dictate. She's showing signs sometimes, but is inconsistent. The DVDs/books are a great idea, should just seem like fun for her. What do you think about leaving her nappyless in the summer and seeing what happens?
@ladym33 (10978)
• United States
18 Jun 08
Honestly there will come a point where her wet self will become uncomfortable to her. Instead of nothing at all I would try some cloth training pants with a plastic covering over them. That way she will feel the wetness, and she probably will not find it very comfortable, this may help to increase her desire to go potty.
@liquorice (3887)
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18 Jun 08
Thanks. We've moved on a bit since I last posted on this discussion. She now wees on the toilet when she thinks of it (like when she's got nothing better to do!) She really seems to enjoy going to the toilet, I think it's the novelty at the moment, and so far it's been all her doing without us pushing too much. I've started a new discussion today on where we should go from here, hence me re-visiting this one!
On the one hand I'd like her to carry on setting her own pace and enjoying the experience, but on the other hand we do want to move on, and get her to use the toilet more often - and for pooing as well!
Thanks for coming back to this discussion, and for your suggestion about terry nappies. I might try this as a step between nappies and knickers.
@cream97 (29085)
• United States
13 Apr 08
I get the same remarks from inside and outside sources. Let your child tell you when he/she is ready. They will give signs, like pulling down their diaper when it is wet or has poop in it. Telling you they are wet. You as a mother have to go by your own instincts and not someone else's.
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@katisaurus (1038)
• Canada
14 Apr 08
If this hasn't been mentioned, try getting her to pee in a tin can. Sounds weird, I know. But my boyfriend mentioned it to me for my two year old nephew. Like the coffee tins. Kids like the sound against the metal. Or just let her run around without a diaper on and try to teach her to tell you when she has to use the bathroom. Kids will always make mistakes during potty train, (stupid to say, I know. lol) but the less they're in a diaper the more their chances are of telling you when they need to go. Especially if you tell them not to pee on the floor.
@liquorice (3887)
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26 Apr 08
Thanks, I've never heard of the tin can idea - guess it would be easier for a boy than a girl though?
Yes, we like the no nappy (diaper) idea. It's been too cold to try that much up until now but the weather's changing here now so we're going to try it more and more. We did it for a bit the other day and got a big puddle on the carpet. Thing is you tell a two-year old not to pee on the floor, and they'll go and pee on the floor just 'cos it's fun to do the opposite of what you say! Maybe I should tell her to pee on the floor...
Thanks for your reply!
