Learning how to use the Potty

**LovetoBeMommy** · 07-31-2008, 10:34 PM

Hello,
I'm looking for advice as to how to get my daughter to tell me when she needs to use the potty. When I get her on the potty she'll go, but she's not telling me when she's wet. I've sent a timer for myself for about every 45 minutes to an hour to remind me to get her back on the potty, but I'm not always catching it. Any Suggestions?

**Momto2Boyz** · 07-31-2008, 10:50 PM

Hey almost neighbor! (I'm in DeKalb, IL)

How old is she? I have only potty trained boys, but they say that girls are easier. My boys were both using the potty for #1 by the time they were two.

When I felt they were ready, we spent 2-3 straight days at home (or at least big chunks of the day at home) with no diaper or pants on. It really helped them to associate the association of the feeling of actually going with realizing WHEN they were going. After a couple of days of doing this (which, yes...it got messy...just keep her on hardwood or tile as much as possible

) they got the idea. For those couple of days, we also kept their little potty close at hand. It was pretty much in the same room as them. If we were in the living room, then it was in there, bedroom, there, etc.

When she starts to go, just point out to her that she is going pee, and move her over to the potty. She'll get it after a few tries!

I am a firm believer of underpants too. Once my boys did this and learned to use the potty pretty consistently, then we tossed the diapers...skipped the pull-ups and went straight to big kid underwear. Keeping them dry was a huge motivator for them!

Good luck!

**SHOPGIRL** · 07-31-2008, 11:03 PM

My twins are 20 months and I'm planning on starting potty training in the next week or two. I think I'm going to do it next week when I'll be home for several days. I bought pull-ups as I have carpet and I really don't want to be cleaning my carpet. I did buy big girl underwear so I might put that on them, but keep them outside.

I'm just going to make my girls my total focus next week, and I plan on taking them to the potty every hour all day long. I know that this will take a lot of time. I keep delaying it. I just opened the last package of diapers so now I need to get serious.

Good luck!

**LovetoBeMommy** · 08-01-2008, 10:31 PM

Thank you for the suggestions, and hello to Momto2Boyz we're not too far away huh! Funny. We'll my daughter is 27 months old. I wanted to do this sooner, but I was pregnant with my second with a lot of complications so I waited. We're in a good routine now in the house, she's been showing signs for quite awhile that she's ready, and I'm sick of paying for diapers dang it! It's funny that you mentioned the butt naked idea, because I had that in mind as well. We've had a semi-successful week and I was thinking starting next week perhaps we'll try that so she would see and feel what's going on. She doesn't like to be messy so I think it may work. Thanks again for the suggestions and I hope to have consistent success soon.

**mom2three** · 10-05-2008, 09:06 PM

How did the potty training go? My daughter is now 25 mos and has been potty trained for about a month. We used training pants, underwear, and panties. While she as wetting herself she was not allowed to wear her big girl panties - she was pretty motivated and verbal enough to say "pee" and "poop". She is basically nighttime trained now as well and chooses to wear panties to bed.