potty training girls

So, here's the scoop. Emily hates for us to try to put diapers on her now. Every now and then she doesn't fight us but for the most part, she wants to do everything herself now even though she's not successful yet, i.e. dress herself, shoes on, etc. Amber, she's pretty "easy like Sunday morning". She doesn't really care so much one way or the other yet. They both let us know now, most of the time, when they've pooped their diaper. "I poop" is the response that I get as they place a hand behind them. Now, Emily is sometimes saying that and she hasn't pooped, but I'm wondering if she's feeling the urge and therefore is letting us know. We do have a little potty and both girls like to try and be "big kids" and take their pants down, diapers off, and sit on the potty but neither has done anything in the potty yet. So, I'm wondering about pull ups? Start using them? Try to encourage them to want to sit on the potty at certain times? TIA for the input.

Alexa

 

Hi Alexa,
About six months ago, I could have written your post. I have B/G twins. My DD showed signs at about 24-25 mos. We started putting her on the potty, and she was doing great. We used training pants, and I thought she was all but night trained. Well, she had a relapse. She started going in the training pants. Whenever I suggested that we go to the potty, she would run and scream. So, I put her back in diapers, and she seemed better about it. Over the past six months, I sometimes ask her if she wants to go to the potty? She sometimes says "no", and sometimes "yes". When she says "yes, she goes in the potty, and I put her back in a training pant. Well, a couple days later, we have another relapse. She starts refusing to go again. So, back in diapers we go. I have tried everything: candy, stickers, etc...
She still doesn't want to go. So, currently, we are still in diapers. Honestly, training pants are a joke. I wish I never bought them. they are merely a diaper to her which allows her to freely go when she wants.

Well, now both DD and DS come up to me several times a day saying "poopoo" while holding their diaper. I have started putting them both on the potty. They both have gone on the potty, but not everytime. I just don't make a big issue of it. I was too exhausted by the last couple of attempts.

I just wanted to let you know my experience. I am probably not really going to take it seriously until they are three.

good luck,
Tamra

 

I know. It's so confusing. I always tell my mom "man, this parenting gig is tough"

 

I am pretty much anti-pull up when it comes to potty training. In my mind, they are no different than diapers, especially if they are still having accidents. I prefer the thick Gerber training underwear. By your ticker, it looks like your girls are at the age where they are becoming interested, but maybe not quite 100% ready. I do not know if you work or are a SAHM, but if you are home during the day I would take them 1st thing in the am, after meals, before/after nap, right before bed. If they have accidents in between, don't worry about it. The older they get, the fewer accidents they will have.

 

QUOTE(heathernd @ Jul 6 2007, 11:40 PM) [snapback]320260[/snapback]
I am pretty much anti-pull up when it comes to potty training. In my mind, they are no different than diapers, especially if they are still having accidents. I prefer the thick Gerber training underwear. By your ticker, it looks like your girls are at the age where they are becoming interested, but maybe not quite 100% ready. I do not know if you work or are a SAHM, but if you are home during the day I would take them 1st thing in the am, after meals, before/after nap, right before bed. If they have accidents in between, don't worry about it. The older they get, the fewer accidents they will have.


I've never heard of any training underwear. I'll have to look it up and see if I can find some. We had decided actually to do pull ups just to get into the habit of trying at day school because they are encouraging them there and I figure it'll be easier if they are in something that they can pull up and down. I'd love to not have to buy anymore pull ups. I can't wait. Even the store brands are super expensive for the quantity. Thank you for the schedule too. That gives me a much better idea of how to fit it in when we're all at home at night and on the weekends.

 

I'm anti- pull-up too. I favor the dramatic, take away the diapers and put them in underwear routine. 2years 3 months is a great time to train girls...in my experience anyway. My first dd trained at 26 months in a week. My second dd started it herself at 18 months, then I tried out the dramatic approach with her at 22 months (she had already been doing all her pooping in the potty...and occasional peeing.) and she was trained in a week as well. All I did was to have 5 days of intense potty training. Give them some warning...a day or two ahead let them know that you aren't going to have any more diapers anymore. "No more diapers..." was a phrase I would say again and again. Then put the potty in an easy place...in my case we camped out in the living room. lots of towels on the floor... you do more laundry, but it really saves on clean up... and lots of underwear on hand. And I let them run around in just undies and a shirt. No outings or special playdates for at least five days of this.... and pull-up or diaper at naptime and nighttime... Focus just on daytime and they will do the naptime and nighttime on their own. As far as pooping...in my experience with my first dd, she would hold her poop until naptime, and then go.. she figured out the peeing thing in 5 days..and finally the following week, she just "had" to poop..she couldn't hold it, so after lots of coaxing, and hugging from me, and reassurance that "everyone poops on the potty"...she finally did it. Make sure you are super vigilant about their diet while you do this. The last thing you want is for them to get constipated while potty training...it can set off a very vicious cycle of holding in poop and causing constipation regardless of diet. So lots of fiber, but not enough to cause the runs!! And both my girls went through a phase maybe a month or so after being fully potty trained where they would start to hold their poops until naptime again. I didn't make a big deal out of it, and in both their cases after a few weeks of that they would go back to pooping on the potty. Books are great for getting them to sit for longer.. or even a timer after meals... make them sit for 5-10 mintutes after each meal. If the potty is in the living room you can let them watch a little tv to keep them from getting too ancy. And if you try to train them both at the same time, which I think would be a great thing... I really think g/g twins might be good at giving each other positive peer pressure to go... then I would have two potty chairs, so they can sit down together.

okay those are my ideas... oh I would put my older dd on the potty for 5-10 minutes every hour if she peed previously.. every half hour if she didn't... and load up on water, salty snacks, and juices.... making lots of pee will encourage more learning opportunites!! lol!!