Name: Misty

Mesa, AZ

Number of kids: 2

Ages of kids: 2 & 4

Problem: My 2 year old, who will be three in May, won't go to the potty. I can manage to keep him dry, but the b.m. that's a whole different story. When I know he's dirty I ask him did he poop, and his response is always no. I've tried just about everything, but nothing seems to work. Any suggestions?

Solution submitted by "Simlife" from Northstreet, MI: You are all making to big of a deal over the whole thing. Like another woman my daughter trained herself. They are to young yet. If they are to young they will have a lot of accidents and feel like they are failures, you are upset because of the mess and so are they, is that good? NOT!!! Some of my friends tried the bribing method, the stay there until you go method etc. I had read a couple books that said when the child is presented with the stuff (pants and potty chair) when they are ready they will use it. I also bought a book about using the potty that was gender friendly. I would read her the book, showed her the big girl pants and showed her what mom and dad did in the toilet. One day she comes to me and says "me want big girl pants" I told her she had to use the toilet if she wore them she said ok, and that was literally the end of it. She never had a accident. She asked to go to the bathroom a lot and I took her everywhere we went, she would go. I had a thing I would put over the toilet to make the hole smaller. That was that really. If you have to fight with the child they are not ready!!!! Don't make a big issue of it. I know people can make stupid comments like, oh so and so isn't potty trained yet? How old is he? Oh my so an so was potty trained at one year, yeah right, that's why they always soiled their cloths and bed, had a lot of accidents. Don't let it bug you!!!!