Potty Training--crying??

I am in Day 1 of trying to potty train my 2 yr old and it is hell. I don't know if I should stick with it or call it quits. I am afraid I am causing more harm than good...

We have been doing just underwear and have had accidents all day long. When she starts to go, I have been picking her up and putting her on the potty but she will stop and gets so scared. She just keeps saying no potty, no potty.

Now when she has to go she starts crying and clinging to me and yelling mommy. You can tell she has to go and then when she goes, she says she is sorry. She hasn't gone poop either and I think she has a stomach ache from it.

I have been doing rewards, praising her when even a tiny bit goes in and she does seem happy once she gets her treat but I feel awful for her.

How long does it usually take before she stops getting so upset/scared?? How do I know if I am just traumatizing her??

Potty Training--crying??

I tried at around 2 and the second day was hell and she was so upset crying etc just like you describe. I stopped right then and put her back in diapers. At 2 1/2 just 3 weeks ago I tried again starting one fri afternoon and we have been diaper free with no accidents day or night. In just 21/2 days she got it and has been good since. She was just ready. She had a little fear and didn't want to go onte Sunday but I was term and said sit down you will feel better and she did. She went and no problems.
I believe thy have to be ready. You can't force it. If it were me I would stop if she's that upset and revisit in a few months. It was torture whne we first tried

Potty Training--crying??

If she is crying, she sounds like she isn't ready. 2 is young, I wouldn't push it. I would also ditch the underwear if you are adamant about continuing. If you are doing 3 day potty training, no pants or undies is the method that seems to work the best. Lots of salty snacks, potty in the living area, plastic on your furniture, put her on the potty every 15 minutes, regardless if she says she has to go or not. Good luck.

Potty Training--crying??

I would agree that she is not ready or you can try getting a potty for kids

Re: Potty Training--crying??

If she is crying like that I would let it go. I don't think she's ready.

Re: Potty Training--crying??

She might not be ready. I have the 3 day potty training program, I can email it to you if you want to FM your email address.

Re: Potty Training--crying??

Re: Potty Training--crying??

I think you hit the nail on the head...you were going for your timeline not hers! While it would be great to have her trained before the baby, it does not seem like she is ready. Also, a lot of kids when their siblings arrive have set backs, regression, etc. Probably better to wait until she starts showing the signs of asking to go, being aware she went, etc.

Re: Potty Training--crying??

I tried training DS with the 3 day method at like 2 1/2 and he totally shut down. So I gave up and waited until his 3rd birthday. He was accident free in 4 days. however he isnt pooping on the potty yet as he has a huge fear of poop. but we are almost there.

I'd give it a break and try again in a few months.

Re: Potty Training--crying??

Thanks everyone...It is good to hear that there are so many with similar experiences! I feel like all I have ever heard of are people who did the 3 day training with no issues and I felt like we were big failures!

I think you're right too that it won't be the end of the world if she isn't ready before the baby comes. She won't even be 2 1/2 by then.

Thanks again!

Re: Potty Training--crying??

IMO - DEFINITELY not ready! I really believe when a child is ready - they are ready - and there is no training involved. Both of my DC potty trained by 2.5 - my DS a little before (pee pee only but day and night)), my DD right at 2.5 (completely day and night). They both seemed ready at 2 or even before (telling me when they had to go etc.) but, when I started potty training them it was a project. Right around 2.5 they both told me they were ready and low and behold - it was easy - less than a handful of accidents - they were ready and got it. I started to wonder with my DD because up to 2.5 she didn't seem ready and I was thinking I would actually have to "train" her but, no, at 2.5 she was ready and it was easy. It's funny because she was begging to use the potty from 18 months on but, she didn't completely "get" it. Once she did - that was all it took.

All of my friends that wait have simialr experiences - whereas the ones that push too soon it takes FOREVER. HTH!

Message edited 2/17/2013 9:18:40 AM.

Re: Potty Training--crying??

If she is reacting like that it definitely sounds like she is not ready. She's only 2, why rush it? I would stop and try again at a later point.

ETA: I waited until 2 weeks before my DS was 3 and he trained in 1 day. No accidents. Straight to undies. I was in no rush.

Message edited 2/17/2013 9:29:05 AM.

Re: Potty Training--crying??

Don't push it. To me it sounds like she isn't ready and holding it is sooooooo much worse for them mentally and physically. Each kid has their own timeline.

I tried with ds1 at 2.5 and it just didn't work. 1 month before he turned 3 we did it again and he was pee pee trained in 1 day.

Also when you do try again, try bare bottom, in the early stages, especially with younger kids they can get confused BC they feel the underwear nd think they can use it like a diaper.

Gl