Is freaking hard! :lol:

Rory is great about using the potty...if she's naked (or, really, if she's not wearing anything on her bum). We get up in the morning, and if I just put a shirt on her, or nothing at all, she'll happily go to the potty whenever she has to go, and tell me afterwards so that we can dump it out and wash her hands. It's great, it's wonderful, so why am I complaining? Well, the minute we put anything on her bum - diaper, Pull-Up or underwear, she'll pee in them whenever she has to go. It's like she forgets that she can go in the potty, and does so all the time. It's so frustrating! Is this a sign that she isn't ready yet? I thought because she was doing so well, that she was ready, but I don't want to push her. She gets all excited when she sees this specific Pull-Up commercial, because she knows that the little boy goes on the potty, and she claps and everything for him. She sees him having to 'work around' the underwear/Pull-Up, so...what's the problem? I realize that she likely can't do it herself (the up and down part) just yet (and I've also read that this is a key factor in being ready to potty learn, but I've also heard that this isn't always necessary), but I'm more than willing to help her. She gets most of the concept, it's just that whatever is covering her bum confuses her! http://www.ultimatebaby.com/images/smilies/lol.gif

I think my problem is that I get frustrated the she gets it (to a certain degree, at least), but doesn't, so I go back to putting her in a diaper, which likely confuses her more. Should I *just* use underwear (this frightens me!) unless we're going out, or is it too early, and I'm pushing the issue? Tomorrow I'm planning to introduce some special 'potty candies' that she gets if she actually uses the potty/has a dry bum. We'll see!

Any thoughts/suggestions?

Thanks!

BTW, she is 27 months old, and has okay speech...she understands very, very well though.


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I have absolutely no experience with potty training - Joe isn't anywhere near ready - so take this for what it's worth. I'd say that since she has no problem using it when she has nothing on, just go all out and put underwear on her. What does she do if she wets herself when she has underwear on? Does it bother her or does she not care?

Dennis

I'd work with her on pulling up and down big girl underwear because it sounds like she has the basic concept down. (again, no real experience here yet)

Dennis, when she wets herself, she kind of whines, and knows she's made a mess, so obviously she's uncomfortable.

Nocona, yup, I guess I should, eh?

Okay, I'll bite the bullet and just do it! Thanks!

We're going through the same thing here too. It can be so frustrating. I still haven't figured out how to solve it though. :( I was thinking about trying underwear too. But then I think about the mess and think... am I crazy? :lol:

I don't have experience with my own child yet, but I did potty train quite a few kids at daycare...so I'll give you my two cents. Take it for whatever you want.

I think that since she is able to use the potty while naked, that she totally is ready. She understands the concept. That she is able to vocalize that she has/or needs to go is another readiness sign.
I agree with Nocona, have her work on pulling up and down her "big girl" underclothes. Another suggestion, if you are going to be home *I know it's cold where you are* put her in a dress. It's easier to just hike up a dress than actually pull down pants.
On to the diaper/pullup/underwear thing.....In my experience, children who wear underwear fulltime *only pullups when they are going out and about for a long period of time* tend to potty learn faster. A pullup is essentially, a diaper, which is super absorbant. The child doesn't get the "feeling" of wet pants. Like if they pee in a pullup it's no big deal since it pulls that wet feeling away. With underwear, it's not like that at all, and they are concious that they have actually wet themselves. If you are really wanting her to pottylearn, I say, bite the bullet and just use underwear. *I know, easy for me to say* And, I say, if you are going to do it, steer clear of diapers all together. You're right, it probably just does confuse her....stress that diapers are for Teagan, the baby, and big girl undies are for Rory.

Mandi, trust me, I wonder the same thing myself! :lol:

Brandi, that's WONDERFUL advice, thank you! I hadn't even thought of a dress, that's a great suggestion! I decided this morning that we're just going to go for it, and hope that come springtime, when we want to be outside more, that she'll be all done, and know the whole potty thing (and we won't have to worry about training her then, as she'll just want to be outside, and it'll be a fight to get her in), so the only time we're going to use pull-ups/diapers is when we're out/sleeping (I think?).

That's my next question...when we're out/sleeping, should we use pull-ups or diapers? Does it make a difference (although, I guess if we stress the whole "Diapers are for babies" concept, then it does...)?

Thanks guys, I wish it would just happen overnight! :rolleyes:

...just subscribing.. Need all the tips I can get! :crazy:

Same here. :lol:

Michelle

Well, I thought I'd update, in case anyone is interested!

Today I put her in her 'big girl underwear' as soon as she got up. Sweatshirt on top, and then just her underwear. We keep the house fairly warm, so she's okay, and this way, I can tell if she's had an accident right away. This morning she had two (wet and dirty), but both times, she came to me right away and told me, so she does know. This afternoon was great...we would ask her frequently, and if she needed to go, she went. We were amazed at how long she can go between needing to pee though! :lol: I had to go out this morning, and then she had an early nap, so both times she was in a pull-up, but that's not a usual morning (we're usually home all day). So, Day 1 went pretty well!