Friday, March 6, 2009

Potty Training Blues

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. My camera has been broken, and I usually blog around my photos. In the meantime I will have to just work with what I have.

I have been trying to potty train Nyah, and I have to say things aren't going so well. I decided to start training a few months ago when she told me she had to poop and I put her on the potty just in time. I figured she was telling me she was ready... I guess I was wrong!


This is what I have tried so far:


1. I took her to the store to choose her own big girl undies.

2. I bought candy to give her each time she sits on the potty (one piece only).

3. I purchased 3 big things she wanted (barbie, pink dress, necklace) and told her she could earn them by putting her pee and poop in the potty.

4. I have filled her with her favorite beverages and set the timer for 30 minute increments. Every time the timer went off I out her on the potty. (She never peed in the potty that day. She decided she had to pee during the time she was playing.)

5. Pull-ups mixed with bribery and praise about being a big girl.



NONE OF THIS WORKED!!!!!! Any Ideas? I know she is capable, she just doesn't WANT to! Isn't there a way to get her to want to? I am open for any and all ideas. As a matter of fact, I am BEGGING for ideas!


P.S. I remember having a bit of a tough time training Zane, but back then I was in much better health and was able to devote all day for several days to training. Now that I need rest and exercise every day to be healthy, it seems impossible. What do you guys think?

17 comments:

Ashley said...

Potty training it so hard. I think I started too soon with Graysen, we had quite an ordeal. How old is Nyah? Maybe you could wait a little longer, but just keep encouraging mention and explaining it to her. Get her excited about it, with out you having to work so hard for it. Wait a bit more before starting and then when you think her mind and body are prepped enough go full on panties. I never did pull ups. Then she will hopefully not want to be wet and you will only have a week or so of wet panties. Just some thoughts, I always love hearing what others think.

Chrystal said...

I'm so sorry! IT IS ROUGH! We always check out the "Potty Power" video at the library, and every potty book possible. I think just non-pressure reminders and environment help it happen more naturally. Just keep telling yourself you can relax because it WILL happen in her own time - she will not end up in Kindergarten not trained - - she's smart enough. Have other friends over who are potty-trained show her how big they are - the peer pressure worked for Clarissa. GOOD LUCK!

Our Loved-up Family said...

Sorry Tara, I have no ideas AT ALL... Sarah Bennett just trained Andie I think, and it seemed to go well, you could ask her? In a ciuple of years I'll be asking you for advice!

Liz Laudie said...

I remember with Kate being frustrated with Kate during that stage. I knew she was capable if she wanted to be, but she didn't really care and I couldn't find a way to make her care. It was the same way with learning her alphabet and riding her bike. She is strong-willed (which I love about her . . . except when I have to fight against her will). I have since discovered that because Kate is very social I can apply the right pressure through her friends and siblings. For example, she will follow her big brother anywhere, so I use him a lot to get her to do what I want (I'm really not as manipulative as that sounds). She also loves Jordyn Whitaker so much that Jordyn was able to magically "teach" her to ride her bike in about 5 minutes after I had repeatedly tried and failed.

Liz Laudie said...

Sorry, I really didn't give you anything brilliant or all that helpful . . . but I understand to some degree your frustration. Maybe an understanding ear is about all I can offer.

Amyhop said...

I would say just back off for a while and try again in a few months. Sometimes it's just a power struggle and if you pretend like you don't care she may warm up to the idea...when she's ready it should only take a week or so. My kids have ranged from 2 1/2 to almost 4 for training but none of them took more than a week because they wanted to do it. Just buy some more diapers and let peer pressure inspire her. Good luck!

Amyhop said...

Oh yeah...and I agree..."Potty Power" is a great video...all my kids L.O.V.E.D. it--go check it out!

Jill said...

Thank you for the cute comment. If it was not for blog we would not be able to keep udated and I was in a bit of a funk. I look at your blog and others a couple times a week and don't leave comments very often so I should not complain. Maybe I was just testing everyone... LOL no just kidding. You have a beautiful familiy... Hugggggggggggs JILL

Kaybee said...

Okay, are you ready? I recommend the book "Potty Training in Less than a Day". Read it , and stick to it! It worked with both my girls. Not in one day, but it lays down some great rules and works off your child feeling that they want to go in the potty for themselves not because you want them to. Do not back off!!!!!!!!!! That is the worst thing you can do. It will only make it harder the next time around!!!!! Also, don't do the pullups!!! It confuses them, and undermines the process of them becoming a "Big Girl". Even at night! Stopping the wetting during the night is really hard, but you have to endure it to help them see and train their body not to. Otherwise they become a 7 year old that still wears pullups at night because their body has the habit. Anyway, email me if you want more info. I'm very opinionated in this matter. :)

Kaybee said...

I told you I was opinionated about this. I want to add a couple things. You should give treats for them having dry pants not for going in the toilet. Her choosing her own panties was a great idea, and her choosing the treats is good as well. You need to make a huge deal when she goes in the toilet on her own. The biggest thing for me was I had to stop anticipating the accident and let it happen. They don't have a chance to "learn" if they don't have the ability to make their own choice to go in to toilet. If she has already told you when she needs to go poop, now is the time to potty train her. Don't wait. The longer you wait, the harder it will be.

Trish said...

Has she seen any of her little friends go on the big potty? That seemed to motivate Emma and Andie both. They saw how "big" the other one was and didn't want to be left out! Emma also REALLY wants to go to pre-shcool. I told her she couldn't go until she pooped in the potty. She hardly ever has an accident now! Good luck! Oh - and if she's not ready, she's not ready. She won't go to kindergarten in a diaper :)

Jill said...

Oh and I have no potty training experiance lately except with my puppy, and I don't think you want to put your daughter on a wee wee pad. Good luck.

tatum said...

only one thing works.....a video called, "potty power"....you can get it from the library. i swear so many moms told me it was the only way they got their kids to be potty trained....and then it was the one thing that helped me with cole. i will call you tomorrow, i need to get signed up for the race.

Sarah said...

gooooood luck!!! i say if it's frustrating just let her go back to diapers & enjoy not having to 'race' to the bathroom everytime she has to go?!?! lots of love your way!

Jenne said...

Hang in there girlfriend! I have to agree that I think potty training is the hardest parenting thing! My so not favorite.
Bribery was all that worked for us. I seriously sat in the bathroom for days with Shaylie, one of the longest weeks of my life!
Hang in there, she'll get it!

carrie said...

Hi Tara! I am so glad you have a blog, and so is Lola! Potty training is so not fun, I tried rewards with Lola to and that didn't work. I actually took away things she liked (chocolate milk, dress-ups and cartoons is what worked for her) and would only let her have them after she went on the potty, so if she only went once a day she only got one cup of Chocolate milk (kinda nice to limit it) or one cartoon etc. Each kid is so different, it's so hard. Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Oh, man! I feel your pain. My least favorite stage of motherhood thus far! Madelin was a lot like Liz's little Kate. She was ready once she saw that others were doing it and getting the privilage of big girl panties. Feel free to come ver and have her watch Madelin be a big girl! Also maybe try a different potty. You can borrow mine if you like! Best of luck.