How do I know when she's got it?

Catherine has been peeing in the potty and wearing panties for almost 2 weeks now. She's only had a few pee pee accidents. I take her to the potty every 45 minutes or so and she wears a diaper for nap and bedtime. When do I stop taking her every so often and rely on her to tell me that she needs to go? Or do I just ask her if she needs to go and trust her answer?

Now poopy is another story. She waits for her diaper at naptime or does it in her panties. Gross!!! Fortunately she only has about one a day now! One time she almost told me in time. How do I get her to poop on the potty? I've told her that she can pick anything she wants from the toy store when she does it and she knows what she wants (a big stuffed dog), but still hasn't done it!

Any advice is appreciated

Thanks!!!

 

I can't speak to the poop thing because Annie was telling me she had to poop way before she would pee on the potty. Jo might be the same way because she will tell us when her pull-up is poopy.

When to "let go" and rely on her to tell you is difficuly to answer. For about a year with Annie it was hit or miss. Sometimes she would say she had to go, sometimes she wet her pants. The hard part was that she didn't care--she'd just go change her clothes. I'd still always ask. Especially when she's playing and having too much fun she might not want to stop playing to pee. For Annie I had to promise we would "stop the fun" when she had to go. She'd yell out, "STOP THE FUN!" and I'd stop and assure her there would be no more fun until she came back.

Finally at 4 1/2 she's got it! She's been doing it since about 2, but with lots of upheavel in our lives (DH on midnights, her and I staying with my parents, birth of Jo/loss of Olivia/DH laid off, me back to work, moved in with my parents, birth of Ellie, DH new job/family move--all from Feb 2005-June 2006) it's no wonder she took awhile to be consistent, though she stll wears pull-ups at night!

 

Melissa, I would just leave her in her panties and tell her that when she needs to use the potty, to just go. If she has some accidents, then 1) she will learn to go on her own or 2) you will know that you need to keep reminding her to go. Either way, you can't lose (although you may have a few accidents in between). The first day I did this, Hannah had one accident. I still remind her occasionally, but it is rare.

As for the pooping, I don't know what to tell you. When Hannah pooped in her panties, I was VERY firm with her. I told her that poop goes in the potty, we walked to the toilet together, and together we dumped it into the water. That was the last accident we had. (I am sure you have already tried that though.

 

It's really hard to say when they actually 'have' it. To me, the accidents just kept getting further and further apart. Hours, days, weeks, months and then years! My daughter went for 2 years with no accident and then in grade one she had one at school. I think it is trial and error. Try not reminding her and see what happens and if an accident happens just be nonchalant about it and start reminding her again.

 

QUOTE
It's really hard to say when they actually 'have' it. To me, the accidents just kept getting further and further apart. Hours, days, weeks, months and then years! My daughter went for 2 years with no accident and then in grade one she had one at school. I think it is trial and error. Try not reminding her and see what happens and if an accident happens just be nonchalant about it and start reminding her again.


Ditto!!

 

In the beginning we had issues with poop in the panties. I, like Kate was very firm and said "Poop goes in the potty" and made them repeat it. They also would help clean up the mess. I would place the soiled panties in a plastic bag and tell the girls that poopy panties go in the garbage. They were not very happy about their beautiful princess panties going in the garbage. (I actually would just tell them this and do the dirty cleaning in the laundry room!!) It will come, soon she will tell you...

 

QUOTE(avaoliviamom @ Aug 15 2007, 08:35 AM) [snapback]369083[/snapback]
I would place the soiled panties in a plastic bag and tell the girls that poopy panties go in the garbage. They were not very happy about their beautiful princess panties going in the garbage. (I actually would just tell them this and do the dirty cleaning in the laundry room!!) It will come, soon she will tell you...


Thanks for the tip! Katelyn would respond to this well as she LOVES her Dora and Princess panties!