Topic : Potty Training

I am currently trying to potty train my 2 1/2 year old little girl.  She has control and will take off her diaper as soon as she is wet.  She also comes to tell me when she is dirty.  I have the potty chair in the living room in hopes that she will "accidently go".  She has gone on it a few times and we have a big party.  She also gets a sucker (which she loves).  However, she just doesn't seem to care.  She will pick out panties and then when they are wet she will come tell me that the character on them is sad now.  "Elmo is sad now because he is all wet."  If she wets on the kitchen floor she will get a paper towel and try to clean it up.  I just am at a loss for what to do.  If you have any suggestions I will gladly take them. 

I think eventually it will just click for her. Once my daughter pooped on her potty it was all easy from there.

Sounds to me like you are doing well, doing things right. It's complicated for their little brains. You sound like you are doing it right, you really do. Just keep going how you are going. Explain to her that Elmo won't be sad if she pees in the potty.

It's also possible that she just isn't ready yet. My nephew is this age and I just don't think he's ready yet. It's just not his time yet. Maybe pack up the panties and potty for a month and then try again.

Ok, so everyone is raving about how Dr. Phils potty training really works. I'm excited to give it a go but I'm not sure if my son is ready.  My son is 17months just barely turned and from what I've been reading most kids don't start until 2 or 3.  However, my son already tells me when he's "poopy" and tries to take off his diaper. He also knows how to say potty and tries to sit on it. So do you think I should have a go at the potty training yet??? Please let me know what you think.

The only way to tell is TRY IT, if after a couple of day's he shows no intress or progress, he's not ready, if he does, keep on going!! But no pressur and if he can't don't show disapointement! if you do, he might take longer because of fear of disapointing again!"!!

To make her feel as if she is not failling, have her help you with her accidents, buy alot of undies, and make a small load of laundry with her! that way she will learn that you have to clean up after your mess, how to help and do laundy!! don't forget to have her clean up the puddle also! lol ( and have her empty the poopie unddies in the toilette) she will learn "responsabilaties" never too early for that!!!

I would say you have a normal 4 year old learning about things she has control over. In the last 23 years ive done this four times, each time was unique and special for the individual child. There are clues..and yes you can punish and force them eventually, but children will do it when thier ready.. my oldest had potty down pat except at night, so before i went to bed i picked her up warm and asleep and put her down on a cold potty..she woke just enough to go and went right back to sleep. my second three years younger wouldnt go unless i woke her up all the way and then wouldnt go back to sleep so she stayed in training pants longer but eventually her bladder was big enough to make it through the night, right about the time i had her in preschool and all her friends were doing *it right* then ten years later my son still wet the bed at night till he was ten.. he just couldnt feel it and was a sound sleeper.... when his father hollered and ridiculed him it got worse so i dont recommend that route, when i taught him he made a mess no biggie but he had to take a bath in the mornings and wash his laundry he felt better about himself and when he grew out of it he didnt have any residual shame about it.. now my three year old did it all by himself,  i had an open door policy with him, he watches me no matter what im doingin the bathroom and we talk, then i babysat an other older child when my youngest  was two and he would watch him go and not wanting to be left out of the good boy potty party he decided he would go like daddy too. we put a port a potty in the livingroom and ever 15 minutes or so during the day i would remind him its potty time, he would go and in two weeks that was it. he now wears a diaper to bed till his bladder is big enough to hold all night. we will know because the diaper will be dry in the morning and by doing this have eliminated any of the shame or guilt the three older babies went through... my best advice..remember this too shall pass...and children are far more valuable than a few soiled undies. make it no big deal and it will be over before you know it.  good luck and god bless

is it possible that the frustration comes from your expectations orperhaps the pressure of others expectations of what should happen when and not the fact your little one is perfectly normal and a unique individual.  so often we want to be able to say my johnny was walking before he was 1 and just because the neighbors kid can ride a bike by three think ours should surely be able to as well... but that isnt the case. my three year old can perfectly run every electronic device in the house ..computer and digital camera playstation2 etc..... he also only has adults for friends and these are normal activities to him.. add in he is a visual learner and we have super stardom...not ! we have a kid learning in his own way..  watch your child and see his learning style discover that and then use those things that compliment your child... remind everyone else he isnt living on thier expectations he is living the unique beautiful life the creator gave him. yep diapers are so expensive  and the smell of peed house is so gross.. but your baby is more valuable than any of that.. so buy some more diapers change them more often get thick trainers use em during the day, set a potty party timer, reward any effort with lots of hugs and you will be much happier over the whole issue.

AMEN!  My son is 3 1/2 and I am having the opposite problem - he urinates in the potty every time but won't poop in it.  I have been consistent and tried everything I can think of and I'm still fighting this battle.  Kids ARE all different and you can't accuse a parent of not inconsistency just because the child won't cooperate!