Here are some usual questions about the method. Most of the
answers are very short, because most of it doesn’t really matter. The details of the method are not as important as the supportive environment, the modeling, the emotional response, and your attitude as the trainer.
Should I use a wetting doll?
don’t. Teddy bears work fine. Girls are great at pretend and it doesn’t matter to them if the doll really goes pee-pee. lt’s only the adults who have to have things just right. Your girl has plenty of imagination for both of you!
Do I have to use the timer?
No, it just helps keep you on track. If your girl is getting plenty of repetition and is sitting on the potty 12 t0 20 times per hour, that’s the important part.
Is rewarding my girls with food OK?
I heard it isn’t good. Your two year old girl most likely already has the food reward connection. What you do during these five hours isn’t going to make a big difference. If it’s really an issue for you, you can use the emotional response as a reward along with some small toys and games. The small snacks work well because they are satisfying and immediate.
Can I train my girl using the full size toilet?
You can if they are able to climb on and off by themselves, and get their training pants back on after. It may be a little more difficult because you will have to follow them into the bathroom every five minutes during training. lt’s best to have everything centralized so that all the action and focus is in one location. Some girls are frightened by the toilet – it’s too big for them.
How do I know if my girl is ready for potty training?
Girls are different. Most are ready by 2.5 years old. Some are ready earlier, and a few a little later. Some of the clues to watch for are when your child:
Wakes up from sleep dry.
o. Has messy diapers about the same time each day.
o. Copies behaviors of parents and brothers and sisters.
o. Seems interested when others sit on the toilet.
o. Wants to do things by himself or herself.
o. Is approval seeking and attention seeking.
o. Tells you when he or she has a wet diaper.
o. Is able to pull their pants up and down by themselves.
o. Can listen and follow simple directions.
Does the child have to empty the potty?
This is totally up to you. It isn’t a necessary part of the training. We usually let the child help, and ceremoniously let the child flush the toilet and say “bye bye” to the “poo-poo”. transition my children to the real toilet as soon as they can climb on. This prevents anyone from having to empty the little potty into the toilet! But the little potty is super for training.
What if my girl sits on the potty just for a treat?
Let her do it! The more she practices the more of a habit it will become. You can give smaller and smaller treats if you want, but I would never discourage a child from potty practice and repetition. You will be phasing out the treats over a couple of weeks anyway.
What if they still wet during the night?
You may want to limit liquids for the last hour or two before going to bed. You don’t want your child to be dehydrated, so let them drink plenty before dinner and at other times during the day.
Our children go to bed around 9:30 and we generally don’t let the little ones drink a lot right before bed. We find this helps.
What if my child still wets when playing outside?
This is just a matter of awareness. We live in the country and our kids are outside a lot. The risk of accidents is higher when our little ones are playing outside. They were trained inside, and the cues to remember to go potty
are inside. Also, outside activities can be so engaging that they just forget. Sometimes, they can’t get into the house on their own.
Be patient, and remind them about where they go potty. Have them come in at intervals to go potty. They just need a bit more training to extend their skills into the new environment.
Tags: potty training girls