Potty Training a Head Strong Girl

I would wait another 6-9 mos. She is very young to be ready. Most kids do not have the physical control, the muscle strength, to be potty trained until they are at least 33 mos. But, if SHE says she wants to go, or SHE initiates trying, I would let her, I just would not suggest it unless she does.
S.
mom of 3 and licensed daycare provider for 20 yrs.

My daughter turned 2 in August and I tried around her 2nd birthday to potty train... she was not intrested at all, plus she does not have the control just yet for it to really work. So I have put it on the back burner.

I still have the potty out and she loves to sit on it while I am going to the bathroom. She has the idea just not intrested. I hope to try again in a few months unless she says she wants to use the potty. I have been talking and reading books about the potty so she can think about it. Some day she will be ready but I would rather her be potty trained then me trained to tell her to use the potty every hour.

I think she is at the perfect age to potty train. My boys were both out of diapers (cloth) by age 2.

Put her in underwear, and if you don't want to deal with accidents, get some covers to go over the underwear. ANd remember that whether you train at 1 or 4, there WILL BE ACCIDENTS, so its not a setback, its part of the process.

Set a timer, help her get in the groove. If she has an accident, have her sit on the potty afterwards for a bit anyway. Being in underwear, it won't take her long to get it, you just have to be patient.

Also ,babies are born with the ability to control thier bladder. You'll never see a baby pee a dribble here or there, which is why when you change adiaper you get a shower, not a trickle. But over time, as babies spend years in ultra absorbant disposable diapers, they lose that feeling, and eventually never know they are peeing, and thier bladder becomes weak. When they potty train, they have to RELEARN how to use those muscles and control thier bladder. That is where the misconception comes from that babies/kids can't control themselves. THey CAN and are born with it, just lose it after not using it for so long, especially in the USA where parents think its ok to leave thier children in diapers until age 3+.

ANYWAY, my point is, go for it. Set a timer, kids will respond better to a timer to go potty than mom telling them its time. 'Race' her to the bathroom, like 'I'm going to get there and go potty first!!!!' PUt up a sticker chart, let her pick out a bunch of undies, and make them a reward too. IF she pees on the princess, then she has to wear plain white undies.

Make it fun, keep your patience,a nd remember that no matter her age, now or in 2yrs, she will have accidents, it comes with the territory adn it doesnt' mean she isn't ready. She's at the perfect age, she is willing to please and a big copycat. Good luck.

It is so great to have them potty trained but it takes time. I have a 3 year old daughter who just recently has been potty trained. We did pull ups for a while. She would stay dry everywhere but at home so finally i put panties on her and that was the trick. She now goes all the time on the potty and no more diapers or Pull ups. They will do it when they are ready. I started at 2 1/2 and now at 3 we have reached the goal.

Hi M.,

She may just not be ready. She's a little young yet. I would keep talking about the potty, read books about training ect. But I would also take a break for a while. Wait until she shows an interest and pick it up again.

We had to do this several times for my son. Finally one time when we tried, we had very quick success.