She Dances, She Sings, and She Poops on the Floor!

Potty training is great when you're the hypervigilant parent who is asking your kid if they have to go potty every hour.

But then you get really pregnant and tired and you want to eat your damn pumpkin pie/apple pie combo in peace.

Except no one else thinks to ask her if she has to go and so she pees on the floor.

And then she runs upstairs while you are enjoying your second round of your pumpkin pie/apple pie combo (really, it's very good) and takes a big crap on the floor of her bedroom.

Now I'm not fooled. I understand that for awhile she will not tell me she has to go and I will be notified post-facto. However, I'm just wondering exactly how long that's supposed to take and what kind of "gentle encouragement" (read: peer pressure like all your friends wear underpants) I can give her to get her to tell us when she has to go before she actually goes.

On.the.floor.

I know it's all about to change with the new baby's arrival and I'm ready with diapers in hand, however, until then, I'd sure love to give it a try.

You know - the whole "let me know prior to it actually flowing from your body" thing.

Any thoughts?

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Comments

[Robina]

My youngest of four, was the hardest of the four. She is smarter but way more stubborn. She always peed on the floor or the couch and when I asked her why she would shrug her shoulders and say, "I wanted to." I went to WalMart and got a potty that that plays music when pee or poop passes through it. I hung a chart on the wall next to the potty and bought a bunch of stickers. After she used the potty, she got to pick what sticker she wanted and she got to stick it on the chart. I swear to God, from that day on, she was so excited to use the potty! She does have an accident every now and then, but it was my savior! But, all kids are different, but it's worth a try, right?

[Kris H.]

I used a book called "Toilet Training in Less Than a Day" for both of my kids. It worked...for both!!! That one day is HELL, and then for a week or two after you have to remember to "remind" them every 2 - 3 hours, but then they pretty much do their thing without reminder.

Love It!

[Amy]

Oh dear!! Good luck! Each child is different, each strategy has it's cons and pros, what works one day doesn't work the next!! And in the end, you'll wonder wtf you were so furious about... when it's over...and it will be over sooner or later! I tried stickers with both children, and honestly they just did what they did, when THEY were ready to do it. Good Luck!!

[Michelle]

We are smack dab in the middle of potty training here too. I've been encouraging her with a sticker every time she pees on the potty and every time she poops on the potty she gets a little piece of chocolate (that is in a jar I keep on a shelf above the potty just for her). Now that she has the going in the potty thing down I am starting to give her a sticker or chocolate every time she tells me she has to go to the bathroom. Now we are working on the public restroom phobia she has…FUN!

[Country Mouse]

Potty chair, readily accessible to her? One she likes? Possibly the kind with music and funny voices, if that's what it takes to encourage her?

[Janet a.k.a Wonder Mom]

Well, I am no help here. SF (newly at three) is still in a Pamper. UGH....I just want to scream.