I really wish I could remember back 10 years and tell you how I did it - but for some reason the only thing I remember clearly with my boys is the fact that they enjoyed "shooting" the cheerios in the toilet. (They use to sell "toys" to encourage boy toilet training but who wants to touch those?!)

With my girl we did many of the same things, read books that were purely for potty time, sang songs, counted, recited our ABCs... I've realized that it takes time for her to "relax" in order to go potty. Pretty much by song 2 after the initial month we were good to go. But it really needs to be when they are ready. S honestly seemed to potty-train herself. I encouraged and cleaned up a LOT of puddles and then she just did it herself.

But make sure to keep cleaning up those puddles and a previous poster is absolutely right - don't go back and forth because then they know it's an option.

Jazzymom.. yes it definately sounds like time. Pick a day to start that you will be home the whole day. You might try the underwear with the heavy lining down the middle. I used them with Kylie and so when she did pee one she felt it and two it was a bit easier to clean up. Also, pull-ups at night is a great idea until you think she's ready. Plastic cover over the matress is the best investment for potty training!

And to momma. I think Morgan is on her way.... try to put her on the toliet everytime you think of it. You will know by this effort alone if you should keep going or if she's not ready.

Good luck

Hello! I am new here and checking things out. I seen about potty traing. My daughter is almost 2 and she will sit on the potty no problem but she wont go in it. as soon as i put her underware on she goes in them. Can anyone help me with on how to get her to go in the potty. I have tried almost everything. I just dont know what to do any more. Thank You. Michelle

Oooh - I forgot to mention those! Those thick panties are a must have! Not only do they feel it but it definitely cuts your puddle cleaning in half! I went on a shopping spree for those after a week of scrubbing carpet.

 I think Target has them for 8.00 for 3 or something around there.

S is in panties and her pjs right now - she's thrilled - my fingers are crossed, boy I don't want to clean up urine at 3 am.

My oldest, Zach, will be four in March and he just got potty trained this past December - it was a long haul for us, we tried so many times and we tried everything, but finally he just dug his heels in and refused to cooperate.  I planned a "potty party" for him (Dr. Phil does something similar) - anyway, we talked it up for about a week.  I bought balloons and cupcakes for the big day.  He was telling everyone about his big potty party.  The key for him was he got to drink anything he wanted that day - he had kool aid for the first time that day and also some diet sprite, juice, smoothies, I stocked up on everything.  I also bought him some cool cups to drink from, just a little more bribery.  I just kept having him drink and drink and drink and he would have to sit on the toilet every 15 minutes - it took most of the day, but then it just CLICKED (just like everyone said it would, but I was literally having visions of him in pull ups in kindergarten).  He hasn't had an accident since.  The poop part was harder - but he's gotten there too. 

GOOD LUCK - it will happen - hopefully it won't take as long as it did for Zach!   

Ok, I have to update. My daughter - who is 29 months old at the end of this month - slept in her panties all night AND STAYED DRY! Woohoo. She even woke up for a drink during the night AND had her last cup of milk around 9 pm. How did I get so lucky.

Sometimes I wonder if she should raise herself. lol

I took her to the bathroom this morning and made a big deal about it - she was so excited. Now it's all about being a "Real Big Girl".

If anyone has questions I will forward them to my 2 year old considering she seemed to have really potty-trained herself and seems to have the whole staying dry at night thing down - again, by herself. I can say honestly that I can not take credit for any of it!

OK so I tried a lot of things and here's what worked!  I only have girls but I think the general idea exists for all children.  I got the potty chair that makes music everytime someone potties in it.  We didn't put the batteries in it until she got serious about it.  Anyway, have the bathroom all set up so he's comfortable with it for a few months, let him go with you in the bathroom.  Once she showed some interest in it we started!!  Pull-ups are worthless if you ask me, didn't work with mine so if they don't bother him after the first pack don't waste your money on them.  They are harder to change as well!  It's easiest if your child does #2 the same time everyday because you can go sit them on the potty, sing, read book for a while until they go, bam they get it and you are on your way.  Nothing was working for us somy sister told me about a video "Once Upon A Potty".  There is a girl version and a boy version.  I just googled and found mine to buy.  They talk about your body parts and what they do and sing a song.........my daughter just loved the song.  To adults it's just out there but it really helped her understand.  It's not very long so you don't have to endure a LONG movie and there is a part for the parents to watch as well.  I've loaned it out several times and my daughter  has been potty trained just over a year now.  We then let her choose between stickers and m&m's (she played with them in her kitchen) until she was going so often it wasn't that big of a deal anymore.  Oh, and we made a huge deal out of it, jumped up and down, noisemakers etc.    Hope all your advice helps!  Potty Training gets us ready for the teen years!!

One thing.  Don't buy the book "How to Potty Train your Child in 24 Hours."   Trust me, it doesn't work.  :-)

update ... its working i'm so excited. Olivia has big girl under pants on today first time. lets see how works out. shes doing great. we have moved the potty chair to the upstairs bathroom now too she was wanting to go up there and use the big potty so now she has a choice on hers or the big one... the big one is kinda too big for her she struggels to set on it... she really is a little one. i'm so proud.

Well this has been a roller coaster ride for us.  We started out giving "nummies" (M&M's) for rewards everytime he would sit on or go in the potty.  This worked very well, he was waking up dry in the morning and going on the potty all the time at home.  We even took a trip to Target and he told me when he had to go.  However, he goes to daycare 5 days a week and they don't seem to be putting as much effort into it as I am.  Then he got an ear infection which lasted for a month and a half.  He got the runs bad and we had to keep a diaper on him because he couldn't control when or where he would go.  He is now back to his healthy self so we will be getting on the potty training boat again.  This time I think I am going to send him to school in underwear so they have no choice but to put him on the potty.

 Krissie

Okay I have a  question for ya'll.  My son is just over 4 and my daughter is 2 1/2.  We have done the whole put a potty chair in the bathroom let them follow you ect.  We even let them flush the toliet when we go.  But they still won't potty train.  They show signs and act like they want to but its a hit and miss. 

Some say don't do pull ups.  Well my kids know how to take the diapers off and they are constantly ripping them.  Pull ups seem to be the only thing that stay on in one piece.  I know my son is going to be a little slower at it because of the DS but he's been showing signs since he was 18 months old.  I actually waited until he was about 2 to really start trying because I was pg with my daughter at the time.

Well my daughter is 2 1/2 now and neither one are potty trained.  They know when they've gone because they take their pants off bring them to me and my daughter will tell me mommy i poopy.  My son doesn't talk much but he has his ways of saying it too.  Once in a while he will do really good.  He goes to school and his teacher checks him every hour and puts him on the potty  and at first he was doing good. He would stay dry all day and cry and his teacher couldnt figure out why.  When I told her to put him on the potty he was much happier.  Once in a while they will both wake up dry so of course I put them on the potty right away, but it doesnt last long.

What else can I do???  I want to get the kids out of diapers soon.  It's getting expensive especially for my son.  We have to have diapers at school and home.  I need help!

well, here we go...

my 6 year old little boy potty trained  when he was about 28months old. almost over night! at the time, he was an only child, no daycare, and dad spent plenty of time at home. it was a no-brainer and I thought "this is easy!"

 

my 2 year old little boy now is ripping off every diaper that I put on him. he's been doing this for 3-4 days now. I tried getting a larger size diaper, thinking maybe thay are just uncomfortable. no luck. at first he would pull off wet, or soiled diapers. now he's pulling off even the dry ones. when I look at him, I can tell he's not quite ready to be introduced to the potty, but how do I keep those diapers on him? he's starting to leave little puddles on the floor...

 

frustrated!!!  help!!! 

Well garrett has done it, he is potty trained, i really thought i was not going to be able to do it. I am so proud of him, at night i would put a diaper on him but it was always dry so now he wears his undies to bed and no ops in the middle of the night. so all of you still tring to potty train my advice to u is don't give up it will happen.

YAY!! Congratulations. I know it's so nice not ever to have to worry about diapers again!

CONGRATULATIONS on reaching that milestone!