To Train or Not To Train? That is The Question!

My daughter, Makaylah, is now two and a half years old and showing some of the telltale signs of readiness for potty training. As a working mom this is difficult since I'm not home with her all day to do it. But nonetheless it's something that has to be done. So I looked around and did some research on how other mothers successfully potty trained their children. I decided to create a "Potty Prize Chart.

And since my daughter is obsessed with anything princess we went out and got her a princess potty and "big girl underwear".

But now what? There are so many different ways to potty train your child that so many people claim to be the best way. Do I let her go bare bottom? Set a timer and make her take potty breaks? Do I try to bribe her with candy? My head is spinning with all the suggestions.

I decide to try the timer method. So I set a timer for 15 minutes and then when the timer goes off I tell her it's time for a potty break. This results in tantrums most of the time since I'm pretty certain she feels like I'm disrupting her fun. Once the tantrum is done and I get her to go into the bathroom she sat there for maybe two minutes and tells me she's done. When she stands up I look in the potty and see... NOTHING! This happens for the next three hours. I'm thinking "There's no way this girl doesn't have to pee maybe she needs more fluid. Since it's bed time I put her in a diaper and decide to try again the next day once I'm home from work.

The next day comes and I try the same timer method but give her a cup of water as well. We just have a repeat of the previous day. More tantrums and nothing in the potty. After about two hours she's standing in the living room and starts screaming and crying, "I pooped again! I pooped again!" I look up and see she's had her first accident but what do I do? She's so embarrassed and I'm lost as to how to help her.

I'm guessing the timer method isn't good for Makaylah and I decided to try waiting for her to tell me she has to go and if/when she does have an accident taking her to the potty so she can learn that's where she should go. Wish us luck!