Potty Training frustrations

     My daughter Ruby turned 2 in October. This past summer undirected by me, she started asking to go pee pee on the potty. She was doing very well. Then, in the fall when all the kids that I keep came back to me, she regressed BIG time! She stopped asking to go pretty much all together. She would cry every time I put her on the potty. It was ridiculous.
     Here we are almost in February and she is just now telling me she has to go pee, but poop is a whole other issue. She won't go poop on the potty. She will sit on the potty forever and the moment I take her off, she poops. I've tried bribery. I've tried ignoring it. I've tried the big potty. I've tried the little potty. I've followed her around all day asking her if she needs to go. I've tried everything!
      I read an article on a parenting website that said to just let them sit in it and get uncomfortable. It sounded terrible, but I am willing to try just about everything. So, when she pooped I left her in them for a while until I couldn't stand the smell anymore. Ruby could have cared less to stay in those nasty pants all day long. UGH!
      ANY suggestions are welcome. Please pass you mommy wisdom my way! Thanks!
Jessica
http://jessicanfamily.blogspot.com

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on February 1, 2010 at 8:39am

HA HA HA HA HA!

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Permalink Reply by Mommyfriend on February 1, 2010 at 8:50am

BTW, loooooove the name Ruby. Well done!

Jessica said:

HA HA HA HA HA!

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Permalink Reply by Sherry Claytor on February 2, 2010 at 3:49am

I work in a daycare. Out of a class of 8 2 yr olds , 3 of them are completely potty trained. And yes, many of them have it down then regress at some point. Not wanting to have a bm on the toilet is normal.
I would not push her and I would not make her sit in it. The more you push the more she will back away.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on February 2, 2010 at 7:12pm

Thanks for your input. Let me clarify, I didn't MAKE her sit in it. The article I read said to wait for them to come to you instead of changing the diaper as soon as I notice she has gone. So, I waited, and waited and NOTHING. Finally, I asked her if she wanted me to change her pants. She said NO. I changed her pull-up anyway.
I'll try harder not to be pushy. I've read a lot of articles about potty training. There is just SO much conflicting information out there. Although I keep kids out of my house, Ruby is the first I have had to potty train. So, it is new territory for me.

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Permalink Reply by Stephanie L. Watson on February 2, 2010 at 7:52pm

My best advice is to NOT potty train. Wait till this summer, then have the child run around in a swim suit without a diaper or pull ups. Just explain to the child "You have your swimsuit on don't get it dirty go to the potty" and you will be surprised if they are over 2 years old, they will do it. Don't say it like they will be punished, don't say it like you'll be mad, just "don't potty on your superman suit" or "don't potty on your pretty flowers" etc...

No judgment.

But, caution here: Children need reminders when they are playing, and may for years to come. So give them friendly reminders and LOTS and LOTS of praise.

I have four kids and never "trained" any of them. They just did it on their own because they could understand my words, and wanted to do it. I also used to be a preschool director and I can say for certain that training doesn't work.

Talking, scheduled reminders, and praise works!

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Permalink Reply by aplaceforthoughts on February 3, 2010 at 4:07am

Oh boy, Jessica! I've not been there yet but I'll be following and checking the other replies. Keep us posted on how it's going!!!

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Permalink Reply by aplaceforthoughts on February 3, 2010 at 4:07am

Hilarious picture, Lori!

Your Mommy Friend Lori said:

SO wish I could help you Jessica. This is what my 2 year old thinks the potty seat is used for.

I need help too!

Lori
www.mommyfriend.com

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Permalink Reply by Sherry Claytor on February 3, 2010 at 4:24am

One thing that I have discovered does really not help is the pull ups- they use them just like diapers. When potty training mine. I went straight to "pretty panties " Made a big deal of going to the store to let her pick her own etc.... A pain for me, but the diapers and pull ups pull wetness etc. away from the skin and makes it harder for them to know they are wet. Even at night it was panties- I bought water proof pads and did a lot of laundry. Another thing I did was keep the potty chair in whatever room she was in- that way she could get to it fast.
Until a child recognizes the gotta go feel there is no point in forcing the issue as some parents do.
I do know one mom that had her daughter trained at 15 months ( I thought she was crazy, but her daughter did it.) None of mine were completely trained til about 3. It was available to them and I encouraged and gave hugs etc when they did it, but it was ok with me when the forgot.

Jessica said:

Thanks for your input. Let me clarify, I didn't MAKE her sit in it. The article I read said to wait for them to come to you instead of changing the diaper as soon as I notice she has gone. So, I waited, and waited and NOTHING. Finally, I asked her if she wanted me to change her pants. She said NO. I changed her pull-up anyway.
I'll try harder not to be pushy. I've read a lot of articles about potty training. There is just SO much conflicting information out there. Although I keep kids out of my house, Ruby is the first I have had to potty train. So, it is new territory for me.

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on February 5, 2010 at 8:54am

okay, so here is the latest. I dropped the pull-ups, except at bed-time. I couldn't go all the way on that one. I got a great idea from my sister-in-law to do a tea party. The idea was to fill Ruby up with water and get her to keep going to the bathroom It's suppose to be a weekend event. I've done it the last few nights and it has gone pretty well. Only two accidents and those were because she was wrapped up playing and didn't stop to go potty.

SHE WENT POOP IN THE POTTY. Only once, but hey it is a start. We are snowed in AGAIN so, I have been able to focus on helping just her because the other kids aren't here. She LOVES her princess underwear. I'm not pushing anything, except the water. I do ask if she needs to go, but that's it.

We'll see what happens.
http://jessicanfamily.blogspot.com

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Permalink Reply by Mommyfriend on February 5, 2010 at 6:39pm

I must be so lazy because I'm not even trying. He is so uninterested (see pic) and I found myself getting too frustrated. I'm going to let him take the reigns on his readiness and see how we do with that plan (or lack of plan)...now watch, he'll be in 5th grade and not potty trained...yikes!

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on February 5, 2010 at 8:21pm

Don't worry Lori. You are probably doing the right thing. The only reason I am doing this now is because we are here without the other kids and I can focus just on her. But, ultimately, it isn't up to me. It's up to Ruby!

Your Mommy Friend Lori said:

I must be so lazy because I'm not even trying. He is so uninterested (see pic) and I found myself getting too frustrated. I'm going to let him take the reigns on his readiness and see how we do with that plan (or lack of plan)...now watch, he'll be in 5th grade and not potty trained...yikes!