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August 23, 2005, 12:03 pm PDT

Potty Training

Quote From: summonadi

My 4 year old neice will not go to the potty!  She screams and throws fits when we take her pull ups away and put underwear on her.  She will sit on the toilet for 30 to 45 minutes at a time and will not do anything.  As soon as she gets off of the toilet she uses the restroom on herself.     

   

I have a 5 year old and we have let my neice go in the bathroom with my daughter while she uses the toilet and it doesn't work.  We try to explain that "big girls" wear underwear and "baby's" wear pull-ups.  My neice isn't even interested in going to the potty but has the nerve to tell someone when she is wet or has pooped.  She also will go get a pull up so she can be changed.  My neice might lose her placement in pre-school over this.  Anyone that has any advice on this please help!  

The first thing you need to do is to figure out why she's not going (as stated above.. ours was a "who's in charge here" issue.).  It could be any number of reasons. 

  

1. Attention 

2. Control- this is usually a big one just because small kids aren't really in charge of anything. 

3. Outside issues (abuse, divorce, etc.) 

4. Fear 

5. Etc. (meaning "I know there are more, but I can't think of any")  *smile* 

  

Then (as Dr. Phil says..) you need to find the child's "currency".  What do they like/not like? 

  

After that, introduce consistency.  Don't start to go without diapers for the day and then turn around and re-introduce them the next day.  It's very hard.  Some days you just don't feel like dealing with cleaning all of the wet/poopy spots around the house, but be tough.  Remember that you can get a steam cleaner for the carpets, the couch cusions are, in fact, washable... etc. 

  

Finally, patience.  Don't yell, or belittle the kid (it kind of bothered me a little that you told her that only babies use diapers..? But everyone has low points.  Try not to do that anymore.) 

  

And try, try try!  It might take a week, it might take six months, you may have to keep her home out of daycare for a week or two until she has it. 

  

Good luck! (and don't take anything I say as absolute gospel- just ideas.  I am not a doctor, psychologist, or a professional in any way!) 

 
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August 23, 2005, 1:10 pm PDT

Potty Training

Quote From: summonadi

My 4 year old neice will not go to the potty!  She screams and throws fits when we take her pull ups away and put underwear on her.  She will sit on the toilet for 30 to 45 minutes at a time and will not do anything.  As soon as she gets off of the toilet she uses the restroom on herself.     

   

I have a 5 year old and we have let my neice go in the bathroom with my daughter while she uses the toilet and it doesn't work.  We try to explain that "big girls" wear underwear and "baby's" wear pull-ups.  My neice isn't even interested in going to the potty but has the nerve to tell someone when she is wet or has pooped.  She also will go get a pull up so she can be changed.  My neice might lose her placement in pre-school over this.  Anyone that has any advice on this please help!  

I agree with the last persons suggestions. Consistency is defiently a must and also have her to help clean up her messy panties and to help clean herself up, Having her to take responsibility may help her to get a grip on it but belittleing a child is not a good thing, only will casue them to look down upon themselves. And if she is no longer aloud to go to preschool then maybe that too will help her to figure it out.
 


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