Potty Training - feel like a total failure!!
Mollie has been potty training for just over a week now and things have got progressively worse rather than better. Since Friday she has only managed to use the potty twice although she did 'try' on a few occassions. If I'm honest I got sick of my own voice asking her if she wanted to wee only to be told 'No I'm fine Mummy'! Felt like a nagging Mummy.
She goes to childminders during the week and today she has used the potty four times and tried on two more occassions. Now I know it's all about peer pressure as there's a little boy at childmnders potty training too and its as if they compete with each other. And I do know when she is at childminders she tries because 'Mummy & Daddy will be sooo happy' but just feeling like a lazy mummy and a bit of a failure that she won't do it for me. Probably feeling bit upset as its the 1st time she's done something for childminder and not for me as well!
If anyone can suggest a way of encouraging her to use the potty at home as well as at childminders I'd be grateful.
Thanks, Liz
She goes to childminders during the week and today she has used the potty four times and tried on two more occassions. Now I know it's all about peer pressure as there's a little boy at childmnders potty training too and its as if they compete with each other. And I do know when she is at childminders she tries because 'Mummy & Daddy will be sooo happy' but just feeling like a lazy mummy and a bit of a failure that she won't do it for me. Probably feeling bit upset as its the 1st time she's done something for childminder and not for me as well!
If anyone can suggest a way of encouraging her to use the potty at home as well as at childminders I'd be grateful.
Thanks, Liz
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But My first thought when reading the first paragraph was "she's not ready" If after a week she is not progressing and it's becoming stressful, I would advise stopping. I first tried potty training DD approx 26months, and found the same as you, a week later we were no further forward. I stopped, and gave it 2months then tried again and the difference in her was amazing. She took to it like a duck to water the second time, and I realised that for each child there obviously does come a time when it just "clicks" and their brain connects with their bowel/bladder.
It's great that she's going at her childminders, If you were to keep going with it, like Louise&Kara mentioned a sticker chart or similar might help.
From my experience and that of many friends, I truely believe for most children it's best to leave it later, and the "training" can be acheieved within just days, that to start early and have a difficult few weeks or even months of teaching them what to do.
xxx
Childminder insists she wears pull ups whilst there and although I would prefer to just put her in 'proper' knickers and let her experience wet pants (!) as I've heard it works better I don't want to confuse her.
Think what's really pushing me to get her potty trained is that we have another baby on the way in Nov and the thought of two of them in nappies isn't a nice one!
Might see how we go this weekend - with added incentive of stickers.
Thanks again, Liz
Finally....at LO 2 yr check HV was surprised that at 2yr4mnths Lo was in pants. I told her that I disagreed with the attitude of leave it and they'll do it in a couple of days, I think it's the nappy companies in developed countries pushing this attitude, in developing countries PT happens sooo much earlier. Finally (and I don't meant o be disrepectful to other parents as you are the ones that know your children best and it is ultimately up to you how you choose to parent) but I think that SOME - not ALL but SOME parents are lazy.
My friend did it around the age of 2 and her child frequently (more ofthen than not, daily) has accidents. That to me is not toilet training, it's remembering to remind them to go all the time.
If she's capable of being dry at the childminders then she should be able to with you too so perhaps some sort of reward chart would be benificial in this case.
I tried again a few weeks ago when lo was 32months and we cracked it within 5 days, he's been dry during day and for naps for 3 weeks now. okay he'll still have occasional accident when he's too busy and not concentrating.
Don't stress about it honey, it will come for her eventually
xx
A month ago I thought I would have another go because she kept getting the stuff to change her nappy and setting it up whenever she had a dirty bum. I got a nice sticker chart with her name on and told her that she would get 1 sticker for a wee and 2 for a poo. She never got a sticker for just sitting on the potty. The minute I told her what was happening she toddled off and did a wee on the potty.
When the chart was complete she got a trip to the zoo. She would have got this day out anyway before we started potty training but it gave her an extra incentive!
We have had our fair share of 'accidents' but that is only really when she is engrossed in something or tired.
Plus this morning she woke up with a dry nappy having asked for the loo at 3am this morning.
Gotta say I took a very relaxed approach this time and really didnt worry as I also have a 10 week old baby at home.
Serena