Giving up diapers

I have a friend who adopted a little girl from china a couple of years ago. Sharpest little girl, loves learning new things and has a fear of nothing..except..

mom has tried everything she can imagine to get the girl into big girl pants... nothing seems to work..

she's done:
musical potties, pottie seats, bribery, videos about the subject, you name it, moms tried it.

I told her I knew some folks to ask for ideas...so here i am..

[Bryn Mawr]

Originally Posted by flopstock

I have a friend who adopted a little girl from china a couple of years ago. Sharpest little girl, loves learning new things and has a fear of nothing..except..

mom has tried everything she can imagine to get the girl into big girl pants... nothing seems to work..

she's done:
musical potties, pottie seats, bribery, videos about the subject, you name it, moms tried it.

I told her I knew some folks to ask for ideas...so here i am..

Drop the subject completely for a couple of months?

May be too much pressure and a digging in of heals.


Suggesting that her friends will laugh at her if they find out?


Starching the nappies?

[chonsigirl]

Well, maybe little girl is getting unsure about this whole potty thing. Take the stress off of her about it.

Give her a week or two off, then start a new technique if the others do not work. Usually, it is timing that works for this. You just put her on at specific times, every day, the same time, etc. Every 2 hours, or what you think it appropriate.

Verbal praise should be enough, no negative comments for lapses. If it is a girl, it was easy for my two. What is her age? If she is 24 months+ then this should work, if under that, she is probably too young to be potty trained, although many can be under 2 years old.

I like what Chonsi said. How old is the baby? When I potty train kids here at my house I give them tons of praises and rewards!! They love that..

[cherandbuster]

Originally Posted by tmbsgrl

I like what Chonsi said. How old is the baby? When I potty train kids here at my house I give them tons of praises and rewards!! They love that..

TGirl, do you do day care?

And you have one daughter of your own?

She's over 3 now and just gets hysterical if she doesn't get a diaper put on.

And I gotta tell ya, this is the gentlest mom you'd ever meet. I know she doesn't try to pressure her.. but the littleone is supposed to start preschool in a month and can't if she's not potty trained. Very excited about school but willing to not go if it means she can't wear her diapers..

She lets mom know the moment she needs a new one..and waiting awhile to change her hasn't helped entice her..

[chonsigirl]

Oh, that is tricky then.

I would do the timing schedule, and tell mom to get a good book to read while she waits for results. (don't stay in there for hours, but give her a long time)


She is definitely old enough to be potty trained. But, children do have their own mind about things.

I am being specific now-put her on after breakfast. 20-30 minutes after she eats.

Once mid-morning-about 9-10. Again after lunch, etc.

I would just keep doing it until she knows she is going to be there, whether she has already wet ot not.

I can see all the men avoiding this thread now...............

[Mystery]

Boy is this a subject I can relate to right now. My son is in the process of potty training as we speak, and while he started out flawlessly, and did wonderfully, he's started having minor setbacks and more frequent accidents lately. He even has those times when he erm, "poo poo's" in his undies on purpose (twice he's smeared it...UGH). THe key for me is total patience. He gets clapping and singing and the potty dance, and "Oh my look at momma's big boy" and on and on and on when he's successful, which is most of the time, and then when he fails, it's oh well, better luck next time, and basically assuring him that it's not the end of the world and that mistakes and accidents happen, but whew, it's a roller coaster ride!

Now, more on the actual topic, as I"ve basically vented my own LOL, I remember when my son first started a few months ago, reading as much on potty training as I could find, and one thing that stuck with me is that the average age goes all the way up to 4. It depends on the individual child, and when they're ready for it. Another suggestion was that the child needs to have periods of at least 2 hours between potty times (i.e. can keep a dry diaper for that long consistentlY).

[Betty Boop]

I personally would say back off and leave it for a couple of months.
My ex was a great one for putting pressure on me that a child should be dry at such and such an age. I disagree, a child will be dry when they are ready to be.
I tried four times with my little girl, each time after a week of repeated wetting I gave up for a couple of months before trying again, at the fourth attempt she actually instigated it, wanted to wear big girls pants like her friends, no accidents at all.

Originally Posted by cherandbuster

TGirl, do you do day care?

And you have one daughter of your own?

Yeah i have daycare in my house.. I have done it for about 8 years now.. on and off of course. I do have a daughter she is 5 gonna be 6 in December.

Floppy you have tons of good advice here. Tell her what they say. I have read books about it & I even have a book i read to the kids about potty training. She will get it when she wants to just make sure mom is patient. That is the key.. Give lots of praise and whoo hoos and stuff! I make little rewards for them and like I said they love it! Makes them feel special.