Any Advice on How to Make Potty Training Easier or to Break the Pacifer Habit?

What my sister in law did with the pacifier thing was, when it was time to take it away she told her baby that they were going to send all of his pacifiers to his cousin. that worked for them and they did mail off a box of pacifiers to his little cousin. Another thing you could try is tell her that you are going to mail all of her pacifiers to the pacifier fairy who will give then to all of the other babies in the world who need them. Put them in the mail box and then the next day have a envelope full of confetti or something glittery and fun and have the fairy tell her thank you for the pacifiers. Just a few ideas.

Hi! what I did with my daughter is that the "nukie" fairy came and took her nukie away. It's all gone-I told her. Believe it or not, she was completely fine with it. As far as potty training, you can do exactly what you have been doing. She will catch on when she's ready. Good Luck. Maria

I found that the pull-ups and event he feel n' Learns didn't really work in helping my 2 1/2 year old daughter learn to go on the potty. What I did find to be helpfull was putting actual underwear on her - although she had 1 or 2 accidents, she really didn't like the feel of it on her skin and she then began telling me she had to go potty, along with me, when I was home with her, and the sitter continually asking her if she had to go. Hope this is helpful, but be certain that she'll get the hang of it.

We cut the tip of the last binkie off and when our son picked it up he was crushed. He wanted to "go tell somebody my sucky-sucky was gone!" It really went much easier than we anticipated. We told him it was coming when he turned 3. Here is my advice:
BE STRONG (this will be harder on you than your daughter)
FOLLOW THROUGH (she needs to have consistency)
STAY POSITIVE (focus on the good things about being a big girl)
Again - DON'T GIVE IN! I can attest that it only took 3 nights of whimpering and he was completely over it. Now at 3 and 1/2 years old he jokes about it. :)

JUST DO IT!!!! Your daughter's teeth and speech will benefit from it! Supplement with hugs!

GOOD Luck!

My husband trained our daughter - he's a stay-at-home Dad. He had her potty trained in about 1 month. He gave her a gummy lifesaver every time she used the potty. Bribery? Yes, but it worked.

Hi K.,

My name is K. and I know the frustration of potty training, but when its done its done. Anyway my 3year old son would do great going on the potty every once in awhile until I told him when he went potty on a regular basis he would get a potty party, this made it so exciting for him and within 2 weeks he was potty trained. As for the party we simply had ice cream and i bought some balloons and had the grandparents over. Hope this helps and good luck.

My brother-in-law came up with a cook trick. He cut a small hole in the end of the pacifier and when his son asked what was wrong with the pacifier, he explained that it was broken and they had to throw it away. That worked like a charm for them. My neighbor talked my 2 year old into throwing hers away and she whined a few times, but I reminded her that she threw it away and she was fine.

I trained both my girls at 2 1/2 and my neighbors daughter at 20 months. The first step is to get them use to the potty...you have done that. The next step is to teach them what pee pee is. I strip them naked and hang out somewhere with a lineleom (spelling) floor...easy clean up. When they pee pee on themselves I hurry and sit them on the potty. It takes two or three times and then they usually get it. It takes a few hours hanging out with books, lots of juice, and a potty chair...but they typically get it after two or three times.

Then we do the thick diaper like panties with a potty chair always close by. I keep reminding them to pee pee in the potty. I watch them like a hawk and try to catch them if they start to go in the panties.

We cheer like crazy if they make it. I usually give a little tiny treat if they make it too. Like a chocolate chip or an m&m.

The 20 month old has been doing this for a month or more. She has some relapses from time to time...I have to remember she's young and always remind her daily from time to time to pee pee on the potty.

The poopies are harder. But if you can catch them or determine a schedule that they poop, you can sit them on the potty at the right time.

I've found that pull-ups are the worst thing to use when trying to train. Most kids just see them as diapers you can pull on and off. And I also have found from experience through the years that the whole psycho-babble that you shouldn't push them or force them because it will traumatize them is a bunch of spineless "we don't want to be the bad guy" bologna. Forgive my terminology please. It just bothers me so much that adults don't want to be parents and put their foot down anymore...they are so afraid to expect anything from their kids....Okay I'm babbling. I'm old school. I just expect that I'm the parent, I know what is best and my children will do what I tell them to do. I don't have to beat them or yell at them or even punish them all the time...I just have to explain that I'm the parent and you will do what I told you to do....even if you cry and pitch a temper tantrum. I'm just not one that is all that affected by tears...I know what's best and that's that.

So anyway...when it comes to the poops they may be a little apprehensive at first or even try to fight you. I've found that if they can tell you when they need to poop, then they can sit on the potty and go...even if they cry. I just hold them and hug them and try to reassure them until they go and then we cheer and jump up and down...then they realize it's not all that bad and are fine. No residual trauma. No psychological damage from being made to poop on the potty.

Hope some of that helps...take or leave what you need. I'm about 32 weeks pregnant with child number three and my hubby says I've had my dukes up the whole pregnancy...(he's kidding but I am a little more opinionated and quick to defend myself) so that's why I seem a little harsh.

Good luck!! You and your little one will make it through even if there is a little drama.

I worked in a daycare for 3 years and I was lead teacher of 12-2 year olds. and I have personally gone through both with my daughter... from my experience cold turkey is the quickest painfree method. for both you and your daughter. The kids who used pull ups were not potty trained at all, and all we did all day was change those nasty diapers. Which is all they are diapers with no tabs which makes changing a nightmare because you have to completely undress them from the waist down...no easy task with 12 children.In those 3 years I had probably 5 kids whose parents refused to put the pull ups on them and they wore the underwear and plastic pants. within a week they were completely potty trained where the other kids were not potty trained for months. some kids were held back in my class because they were not potty trained. I did the same thing with my daughter... she was about 18 months and was staying dry through the night. so we tried it. once she wet her pants I took her to the potty and told her pee pee goes in here. the next time she had to pee she ran in there but didnt make it. the third time she did. and she was completely trained within a week. it makes a messy week for you but better than several months of it. let her pick ot some big girl panties and she will not want to pee in those. make a really big deal. let her call the grandparents and tell them about her big girl panties. the pacifier is the same I told my dughter that the paci-fairy was coming and taking her paci and was going to leave something for her so she left her paci that night and the fairy left a doll for her and she never asked for it again....just to let you know she was border line obsessed with the paci one in each hand and one in her mouth...I didnt think it would work but it did. I hope this helps.

little pin holes in her pacifier - soon she's tell you it doesn't work. girls usually do the potty right around 3 yrs of age - so don't stress. she'll find more interest in it seeing you do it all the time, as well as other kids.

A friend of mine told me she cut the tip off of the pacifier and her daughter never wanted it again. I plan to give this a shot myself.

Good luck!

With both my children and all my nieces, we pretended a pet "ate" the pacifiers. There were a few rough nights, but eventually the kids accepted it. They didn't get mad at us and who can get mad at a puppy or kitten?? :)

I took the pacifier away from my son shortly after he was a year old. I cut the tips off of the pacifier, so when he went to suck it there was nothing to suck. I have also heard of parents having a goodbye party for the pacifiers. They throw them all away and get a cake and celebrate. Good luck!

On the pacifier habit, my dentist recommended that you cut a small slice off the end of the nipple. I did this with my daughter and she threw it away after the very first slice! However, if she still uses it, continue to cut away at it.
On the potty, if there is something that she really wants, tell her that when she is wearing big girl pants, that she can get it (if it is reasonable)...Have her pick out cute panties at the store and let her start to wear them. Unfortunately, diapers allow her no discomfort, the liquid is quickly absorbed. Try to have a calm disposition with her, as they pick up on your frustration with this and can lead to a control thing. Hope this helps! At her age when she she gets the idea, she could be trained in one day!!

D.

For several days we talked up a big parade that was coming to our house. Also, we mentioned casually whenever tossing something into the garbage that we don't ever take things out of the garbage because they would be very dirty and yucky. We then had a 'lolly' (pacifier) parade. Each family member had lollies and we marched around the livingroom/diningroom/foyer circle several times while singing whatever. The trash can magically appeared in the kitchen during the last couple rounds. When passing the trash can during the final circle, in went a lolly. When something goes into the garbage, it never can be taken out. This worked out very well for us and she never asked for one after the parade. Never.

Hi K. W,

MY Name is S. and i have two wonderful grand daugthers how my daugther and i got them to used the potty we made a game out of it we placed the potty in the bathroom using the musical one of course and when we went to potty we took the grand babies and they loved it soon they wanted to go on their even when they did'nt potty nwe aplaused them for their effort soon it happened but remember alway's keep using the word potty and make it sound fun.And as far as breaking the pacifer it's simple start using the sipping cup more find one that won't spill,you would'nt believe my grandbabies was off the pacifers at 6 months they learned how to use a cup at91/2 months and by the time they truned 1 year they was completely off the bottle.Be bless and continue to be a good mom Love S.

I'm a mother of 4 kids. Potty training was the easiest with my son. For my girls, I brought them in and put them on the potty when I needed to go then we sang songs. LOL My youngest girl was the hardest. She tinkled just fine, but had problems with the other. It literally scared her to see it in the pot. Singing and MUCH praised helped. I would say to her when she went," HOW COOL!!!! Now let's say goodbye". Then flush! Within a month, she was doing GREAT! As far as the pacifier. Mine were all off at an early age. My oldest daughter was the hardest to rid. I would start takiing it away at nap times. Within I'd say 20 minutes she would fall asleep after crying a bit. I wouldn't let her have it at all during the day. We then moved to nights which turned out to actually be a breeze. :-) Good luck!

I did the paci thing where they can only have it in their bed and in the car (car so i can have some peace and drive with out getting in an accicent from their screameing etc.
as for the potty, i put movies and books and I ahve practice pottys all in the house the kitchen and hall and her room etc. they play on it sit on it ue it as a stool and they got comfortable. My daughter will go pretty reguraly just not poop and my son we ahve to force and it is he is just not ready and mine just turned 3 in feb. just play with it until she is really ready and you need her out of diapers for school ect. I know it will come for my son that is why i do not push it. I also make him watch daddy. MY daughter though tath back fireda nd she wanted to stand up! so she watches me and her big sister. I also this might sond gross i sit on the potty at stores with my clothes on first towards the back and then she sits in front so she is not worried about falling in. she is very tiny 25 punds at 3 and she did fall in once at musice class. long sotry, my son was trying to get in the garbage and antoerh child was trying to walk into the bathroom, so I was holdig the door shut with my foot and trying to pull my son out fo the dirty garbage and hold ehr on the toilet when i slipped and so did she. that was a set back for a while hence now i sit and hold ehr so she knows she cant fall in backwards. hope tis helps
J.
good luck!

I have a girl who turned 3 this month. She really had no desire to go potty until she was 2 3/4 years old. We tried everything to get her to go sooner, but she just didn't care to. I stopped pressing the issue with her and one day she just decided she wanted to be a big girl and that was the end of diapers. I guess my advice is just don't stress over it. You don't see many 5 year olds in diapers. When she's ready she'll do it. Let it be on her time schedule, not yours.
As for the binky, we pulled hers at 2 cold turkey. We limited her binky time at 6 months to naps and bedtime. So it really wasn't that difficult. About 3 nights of fussing for it at bedtime was all we had to endure. Hope this helps

There is some good advice for both here, but it may be easier to do one at a time. Potty training and eliminating the plug at the same time might be a little much!
Good Luck!

Get "regular" "BIG GIRL" panties. Just like______!

You'll have extra laundry for only a few days. She won't like the feeling of being wet.

Pull-ups delay potty training drastically. They really don't notice a difference between them and the diapers, and they "suffer" no real consequences when they have an accident.

I notice you work full time. Do it on the weekends and at night when you get home. Little girls "usually" don't like that feeling, and if she as smart as you say she is, you'll have her trained in 1-2 weeks.

First of all, I wouldn't try to do both at the same time. Those are two MAJOR changes for a little girl! Not knowing your daughter, it's hard to suggest what might work. But, here's what worked for us: We decided to go cold turkey with the binki. We talked alot about it beforehand and picked a date on the calendar. We also talked about how once our daughter decided to give up the binki, we would have a big party and do "big girl" things. One day (before the date that we had chosen), she decided she wanted to go to Chuck E. Cheese and have our "no more binki" party. So, apparently, that was to be the day. I didn't know if I was ready for her to give it up (long nights? no more naps?), but she was! So, we boxed up all the binkis, pretended to send the box to the other side of the world to babies that needed binkis, and then headed out to Chuck E. Cheese. It marked the end of the naps, but at this time she was just around 3 years old. Make sure you don't have any travel plans around the time of getting rid of the binki. Make it easier on yourself!
As far as potty training goes, I'd just play it cool. Make the potty available to her. Suggest it, but don't force it. Sounds like your daughter is smart. If she feels you are forcing it on her, she'll most likely resist. Don't worry...it will happen. For me, it took me getting over the idea of her having accidents...and being okay with it. We put her in underpants and let her run around the house. Spring/summer is great because you can put a dress on her with nothing underneath and let her run around outside. Give her a ton to drink so she has lots of opportunities to try going potty. Then, go somewhere and let your daughter wear underpants. Be prepared for an accident, but don't shame or discipline. Watch for the "potty cue" (I swear they get a look on their faces) and try to help them be successful. Good luck!

K.,
We had good luck breaking our oldest daughter of the pacifier habit when she was about 18 months old. First, I cut a small hole in the side of the pacifier, and after sterilizing it, gave it back to her. She took a day of asking for it, pulling it back out of her mouth, and announcing that it was "broke". She was pacifier-broken in that day! (she did occassionally find one that she had stashed away that wasn't "broke", and that would meet it's sad end, too.)
With our second daughter we went through the same routine, but she started to stick her fingers in her mouth. I didn't think thumb-sucking was a good trade off, so I gave the pacifier back. Six months later we tried again... this time successfully.
Good luck to you!

Hello

When I was a kid my parents made me give my pacifer to Santa and my cousins daughter had to give it to the Easter Bunny. For potty training I drew up a chart and everytime my son went to the bathroom in the toilet (#1 or #2)I would put a star (or sticker) and everytime he got 5 stars we would go to the store and buy a reward or I would bake him a treat or we would go for an extra walk or something. We only did this for about 5 lines of 5 stars, because he started using the bathroom all the time. Also this may sound dumb but I would say "Ok make it rain" and I would act like I was listening real hard and if he peed I would make a huge deal about it. Claping, hopping up and down, and telling him he was such a big boy. Hope this helps.
D.

We had our daughter put the plug in a safe place at bedtime. She would still use it during the day but at night she "keep it safe". After a while we started having her put it in a safe place again during the day. Lettin gher choose where it would be at, helped her know that she could get it during times of crying or drama. After a while whe would put it in asafe place and leave it there. Once she got over having to have it all the time. We told her that big girls don't use plugs. We told her that it was time to give it to another girl who needed it. She then gave us her "plugs" . We held onto one or two for times of crisis. But eventually she got comfortable without it. Then we said it was time to say goodbye to them, and had her throw them away, or "donate them" to other little kids. By giving her the authority of putting it somewhere safe, and then choosing to give them away to help others. We got rid of all of them. The whole process took about 2 months. Hope this helps.

my son is just 2yrs and still has his bb(binki). he has seen a speech therapist for some issues and she said the best thing to do is just take it away and deal w/ it!! she said it might be a rough day or 2 but by day 3 he should be over it, since he saw the speech therapist, he also had to have an eval w/ the developmental therapist and she said the same thing, but she added "When you are ready to deal w/ it, just take it away" she said i'd have to be strong and not give it!!that going back and forth makes it worse!!!]
we are trying to potty train too, he loves to go on the potty and knows what to do every time he sits on it but when he wears his undies he gets busy and forgets, so if i don't take him every 45min or so he'll pee in them and not tell anyone!! good luck!!!

my daughter is 2, and i took her to a water park (you could do anything fun) and we "accidentally left" the pipe (pacifer) there. i actually took it in my pocket but she never saw it b/c she too is too smart for her own good!
and she asked for it at the normal times for nap and night night and i told her "i'm sorry mommy left it at the waterpark, you're a big girl i bet you dont need it" and that last a few days. she hasnt asked for it since and its been about 2 months!!! good luck!!!!!

This might help with the pacifier. First, you need to decide that it's really over and not waver. I work with kids and this has worked with some - tell your child that there is a pacifier (or whatever you call it) fairy that needs her pacifier. I'm just going to tell the basic story and you can embellish it :-) Anyway, she should put her pacifier under her pillow and the fairy will come and get it and you can leave a little present for her. I tell kids that the fairy is going to make the pacifier into a star in the sky and you can get a picture of a star from the internt and tape it to her window so that when she wants it back you can remind her that her pacifier is now up in the sky. Usually it just takes a few days. Good luck!

K.,
The pacifier, I just took it from my son, it was harsh I know but after few sleepless nights, it was done deal. He is pacifier free. He still likes to suck on things but is not too bad. I tied nicer methods earlier but they didn't work so...
He is not potty train yet, I believe that he will when he is ready, just one thing at the time. With my other one I just told her that if she has the diaper on, she can't go swimming and it work like charm...she was potty train over night, but I don't think this will be us easy with my son hee hee
good luck

One bit of advice is not to attempt both at once! Both are major life changes for your kiddo.

For potty training, I've had absolute success with the nakey method. Wait until it's warm out, then make no plans for at least a weekend, a whole week if you can. Let your dd run around the house naked on the bottom. The first day, keep the Resolve handy, but after that, the accidents go down considerably. The week after, I've let my kids go commando--no diaper, pull up or underpants (because they feel like a diaper to them)--and made plans outside of the house. Gets them used to clothes on the bottom, and gets them used to potties outside the house. Usually, that's all it takes.

I would work on 1 thing at a time. I potty trained both my children as soon as they turned 2. I went cold turkey and used underwear for both of them and was armed with alot of patience. try it on a long weekend it took both of them like 2-3 days to learn. If they have an accident don't scold them just remind her she needs to use the potty and that your their to help her. It worked fine for me and most of my friends have tried it after struggling with training diapers and and going back and forth with night diapers. Yeah! I also didn't use diapers at night. As for the pacifier I took it away when they turned 3 @ 2 years old they started using it at night only. They're smart they understand. When they turned 3 I let the pacifier fall by a dog and told them the dog ate it. My son was fine with it right away and it took my daughter about 3-4 days to get over it. Hope this helps.

One question are you using a small potty chair or one that sits on top of the toilet?
I found that using one that sits on top of the toilet works the best. It gives the feeling of feeling bigger.
Have you tried offering to get her fancy panties if she can keep them dry? One with lace or a fancy pattern. I guess some call them big girl panties, I just like fancy panties because they would have to be very special. Hope these two suggestions help.
Can't help you with the pacifier mine never used one.

Many blessings...

I've heard of (from "Super Nanny") to gather all of the child's pacifiers (in the house, car - wherever you keep them) and put them in a "decorative" bag - or one you can decorate yourself and have the child put the pacifiers/ binkie's in the bag and tell your child that "We have to give all the pacifiers/ binkies to the babies who need them" and that "an angel will come down & get them to give them to the babies." You then hang the bag in a tree/ bush in your yard. And then, of course - after your child goes to sleep for the night, go & get the bag & throw the pacifiers away. (Or do whatever you like with them). Just an idea I had seen once on the t.v. show - Super Nanny.

Good Luck!

With both my kids, they potty trained when they were ready. My daughter was fully trained by 2 1/2 but my son wasn't until after the age of 3. My daughter never had to wear pull-ups, not even at night. My son still wears them at night (he is 3 1/2). My recommendation is just to NOT push her. She will go when she is ready.

What you can do it make a sticker sheet and get some stickers from the dollar store or Michaels and give her a sticker every time she goes on the potty. This might encourage her to go more often, thereby making a habit. Every child is different. But it might work.

As for the pacifier... we gave ours to Santa. If you had asked this a wee bit earlier, I would have suggested giving it to the Easter Bunny. We told our children that there were other kids/babies that needed them and that they did not any more. My son was 2 1/2, I don't remember how old my daughter was.

It worked well. They asked for it for about a week after Christmas, I just reminded them that Santa took them for other kids. They were like "oh, I remember".

Finally they stopped asking.

When my brother was a baby - 27 years ago. He got mad at my mom and he threw the pacifier across the room. She "looked and looked for it" - when she found it she cut the top off and then kept "looking". When she "found" it she gave it to him. He sucked for like a second pulled it out, looked at it like "what" and my Mom said "oh look you broke it!!" That was the end of his pacifier.

If you go to church maybe she can pop into the infant room and give them to the other babies. Just a thought.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Hi K.,
I have to tell you that I have a VERY sensitive daughter that was ADDICTED to her paci. What we did was start mentioning that she was getting to be a big girl and no longer needed the paci. We needed to send the paci up to the angels for them to give to all the new babies that are going to be born and need them. We talked about it for a few weeks, everyday and asked her what would happen if she a new baby didn't get a paci. It also helps if you know someone who is going to have a baby b/c then you can say....."Don't you want baby so and so to have your paci?" Then I took her to the party store, got 4-5 big helium balloons blown up, tied the paci to the end of the balloons with a note to the angels, went outside and had HER let the balloons/paci and note go. We watched it until we couldn't see it anymore and that was the end of it. She still asked for it for the first 2 days but after reminding her where it went and telling her how proud we were, it was done. If you use this, make sure you have them watch it go into the clouds and as soon as you can't see it say "LOOK, the angels took it!"

As for the letter.....very simple...."Dear angels, I am a big boy now and no longer need my paci. Could you please give mine to one of the new babies about to be born? Thank you! That's it! It worked like a charm! I don't suggest just going cold turkey. My peditrician said that it can cause more harm then good just taking it away.

If you have any questions, please email me.
Good Luck!
K. :~)

i am new to this K. but I have the same problems my daughter is 2 and loves her binky now the potty..got this advice from her doc..put your baby on some pretty panties one or two days if you can take 2days off back 2 back and have her sit on her potty the biggest of the day and when she is not on the potty have her wear her panties and if she messes them up she more or less start to go potty.. I got my daugher dora panties and she does not want to mess them up I am still potty training and I work full time also but when she has her panties on she does a great potty day..so see what happens but the binky just let your baby hold on until their tired we all have our comfort maybe thats your babys comfort..sorry such a late response new to the site..

take care

I am trying to do both with my now 3 year old. But as for the passy...we are also going to try the Binky Fairy...the fairy was gonna come and take all the passy's to other babies they need them and that the fairy would leave a big girl toy instead.

I seen on nanny 911 were Jo mailed mailed the binkys and the next day the there was a package in the mail from the fairy with a big girl\boy toy.

We are gonna try this and see.

As for potty...we are using a timer every 20 min's. Rather she has to go or not...we at least try. And if she does go she gets a sticker and after so many stickers we get to go shopping for new big girl undies, a new book, coloring book etc. For my oldest daughter we bought her a bank and called it her potty bank..and if she went #1 she got a coin and if she went #2 she got 3 coins...and when she was out of diapers we took the potty bank to the bank and got the money out of it (my daughter went with me) and we put half into her savings account and the other half she got to buy something with.

My daughter would chew on hers and she made a hole. I told her the pacifier was broken and we needed to put it in the garbage. She walked right over and dropped it in. No more pacifier. I am sure yours does not have a hole, but someone told me of an idea in case mine did not work. Tell her that a new baby was born somewhere and needed a pacifier. You have her put it in an envelope and you pretend to mail it to the new baby. Then mail a little toy and thank you note from the new baby to your daughter for the pacifier. She will be excited she got a package. Good luck!

We decided to take the pacifier away except for the car trips and in bed. We put a pretty basket on her pillow, and told her to leave it in "it's bed." We kept a separate one in the car, and it stayed there, too. Then if she needed to soothe herself, she would go to her bed and use it, but when she got up, it went into its "bed." After a while she gave up the car paci, and then one night she lost the other and we were free, a few tears, but slept without it.

As for potty training, buy her really pretty panties, and help her put them on. Take her to the potty often, and if she wets them, make her take them off and rinse them. You can act disappointed, but do not holler. If she can't or won't keep them dry, have some plain trainers, and make her wear them. Soon she will be dry.