How to potty train your child when they don't want to

My youngest girl is a bit delayed with her motor skills and development. One of the areas she was having trouble with was potty training. After searching the web and talking to other parents and still not getting any results I was beginning to despair of ever getting her completely potty trained. I tried everything, timers, rewards, multiple potty chairs to choose from, peeing dolls, you name it I probably tried it.

This is how I got her potty trained in 3 days flat

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• stickers
• small rewards
• potty chair(s)

1. First make sure that you have a potty seat that your child will accept in each bathroom. There are a lot of choices out there these days, from potty seats, rings, musical chairs, and ones that attach to the toilet. Take your child shopping with you and let him or her pick out the potty seats.

2. Pick out some small rewards. A package of stickers works nicely but you’ll also want to pick up a few bigger items, bouncy balls, matchbox cars, a box of crayons to name a few ideas. Each time the child willing gets on the potty reward them with a sticker regardless of whether they go. At the end of the day reward your child with one of the bigger items for no accidents.

3. Remove all diapers, training pants, wipes and changing pads from sight. The idea is to let your child think that wearing a diaper and getting changed is no longer an option. Let your child see you as you remove any bigger items that are used for diaper changes such as diaper pails or a changing table.

4. If your child is a self-dresser empty the drawers of all pants, shorts, footed pj's, or tights.
   Pack them up and stash them out of sight for a few days

5. The fun part! As soon as your child gets up in the morning, take him or her to the bathroom. Remove their diaper or training pants and offer them the toilet. Let them know that you will not be putting a fresh diaper on them and that if they pee there will be nothing to catch it.

6. Dress them in a t-shirt, for girls a dress is fine, but leave their bottom half bare. If it’s a cool day just make it a long t-shirt so that they aren’t chilled. You want to remind your child to use the bathroom about every 30 minutes. If they have an accident, talk to them again about the fact that they are not wearing anything to catch the pee.

7. The reason for not putting even pants or tights on the child is to let them feel that there is absolutely nothing against their private areas to absorb the pee. I had previously tried simply switching my daughter to regular panties and taking her to the potty every 30 minutes or so but she was still going in her pants.

8. It took three days of not wearing any clothing on her lower body for my daughter to be completely potty trained. She now goes when she needs to and over the last 3 months has had only 2 accidents.

9. If it’s nice weather outside and your child asks to go out and play, explain that because they are not fully dressed that playing outside is not an option that day.
   Talk to your child about how great it will be when they are using the toilet all the time and wearing big kid underwear and pants. Not being able to play outside because they are not dressed does not need to be a negative thing; turn it into a goal for your child.

Tips & Warnings

• This is aimed more at older children who have a better grasp of what you are doing and saying but simply haven't clicked with using the toilet on a regular basis. A younger child of 2 may not understand what you’re doing. My daughter was just over 4 when I did this with her. A typical four year old has already been potty trained for awhile but in some cases the child still has not grasped it as in the case of my daughter.
• I hope that if you are having difficulties potty training an older child that this gives you some ideas

[dianewl]

on 11/16/2009 My son is almost FIVE years old. Basically we've been at step 8 for about 6 months now. He's a potty trained champ when he's naked from the waist down; put anything on his lower half, anything at all, and even after all this time he will pee in it. I am at my wit's end and don't know how to make the leap from potty trained naked to potty trained clothed.

[heather65]

on 3/27/2009 great tips. i think they should work with my 3 year old daughter.

[anixon84]

on 1/7/2009 Great tips, I am about to give potty training a go with my 3 year old daughter. Thanks!

[csajewski]

on 9/16/2008 I have a 2yr old girl, when i go to the restroom she always follows. There are times when she will say poo-poo mommy, i tell her yes, sit down and do it. when she takes off the diaper she has already done it. i would like to know if anyone can help me. She always tells me after she goes. I dont know what else to do about it. if you can help please email me at [e-mail] thanks

[momoftwingirls]

on 4/12/2008 My grandma taught my aunts to potty train the same way, naked in the backyard. When my twins were only 1.5 years old, I tried this. It did not work. I do plan to try again this spring/summer when they will be 2.5 years old. What age did your daughter learn? I keep hearing if you keep trying to teach them, they refuse,but once they are three, there is no problem. Well, I shall try again! Happy potty training!!