My daughter turned 3 in October and I have been working forever to get her potty trained. My neice will be 4 next month and she has been using the bathroom by herself for 2 years. I know all kids are different, but it's so frustrating. It's like she know she not suppose to go in her clothes, because sometimes she will try to go and hide. I had her in panties, but put her back in pull-ups, because I got tired of washing all of them everyday. Was that a mistake, should I have kept her in the panties. I just really want her to be potty trained before she turns 4, but it doesn't look good. And I have to keep taking the fabric off the sofa cushions and wash them, because she pees on the sofa. Everyone in my family keeps saying she should be potty trained by now. In a couple of years she will be starting kindergarden, will she be potty trained by then. Any advice will be appreciated, thanks. :confused:

I had the same problem. I can't remember how i solved it though (it was 8 years ago)

heres some suggestions though:

Say to her that it's bad to do it in her pants.
Give her treats if she goes to the bathroom and pulls her pants down and does her pee.
Give her small punishment for peeing in her pants, such as taking a way a toy for a little time or something.
She might hide because she forgot to take her pants off and is scared you will be very angry (just a thought)
And yes, kids are different and master potty training at different times, so keep trying, because you don't want her peeing on a chair or something in kindergarten...
Hang in there!

Soph.

Hi Shantae~
I myself am going through this right now with my 3 year old, also turned 3 in october. He will go in the potty but also goes in the Pull ups. He can't just do the potty! I agree, it's very frustrating, but they will get it eventually. I even went so far as to buy him regular undies just to see what would happen. Big mistake. He peed on my couch, peed on the floor. I'm sorry but I'm not going to ruin my furniture just because someone says he must be potty trained cause he's 3. My 7 year old daughter was 3 years and 2 months before she got it.

Sorry, but I must disagree with Chef about punishing her or telling her it's bad. If you do that, she will be scared and if she goes pee in her pants, she might be too scared to tell you. You don't want to frighten her when really she isn't doing anything wrong!! Rewards are good though. One idea is to have a bowl of skittles or whatever near the potty. When she pees, she gets a piece or two. It has sort of worked for my son. When people tell you that she should be potty trained by now (trust me, I hear that too) all you can do is say you're working with her and she is getting it, just slowly. Really it's nobody's business. Have faith that our kids will be out of PullUps anyday now!!

I have also read that it is not good to punish for accidents.

That is true rogue, but she says that her child knows that it's wrong to pee in their pants and im assuming that it means she's doing it deliberatly

But you've got a point there...
I only punished my kids if they didn't wash their hands or something, only a small punishment not like hitting or anything just like they don't get their sweet. You know how kids love sweets they'll do anything for one, then they'll get into the habbit that they won't need a reward anymore and will just do it regularly. (i recommend, skittles or smarties , they love those, or maltesers (asuming you live in england))

A 3-year-old child isn't necessarily physically capable of being perfectly toilet trained. Many times parents will assume that by 36 months a child must use the toilet and have no accidents, but it really is best to have the child take the lead and offer gentle encouragement, positive reinforcement (i.e., sticker chart or similar rewards for success) and definitely no punishment for accidents.

My little girl turned 3 in late November and went from 100% diapers to not wearing them at all in the space of a few days. In fact, prior to this, she insisted that diapers were for pooping in, not the toilet, so I'm mystified at this wonderful turn of events. My eldest was 3 1/2 when he decided to use the bathroom, and middle son was 2 1/2.

Take heart, it will happen! I would advise to not react strongly to accidents and to back off if the child shows any resistance at all.

:)
Monica

I had the same problem with my son he was almost 4 when he was finally potty trained and then started school 4 months after he was trained...Never ever punish a child for having an accident it can emotional and mentally scar them and give them fear of using the potty...With my son I gave him sticker rewards everytime he went to the potty...And also made a game out of it by placing stickers or cereal in the potty for him to get(pee on not pick them up) I think the hardest part was getting him to have a #2 the potty...I was very worried and took him to the doc. And my doc said have you ever seen a kindergartener in diapers and I said no the he said then don't worry it will come when he is ready...And it did and he has never had an accident...So don't worry you child will do it when they are ready...Don't stress out :bouncing: :jester: :D