I'm looking for some help?

[hkc]

Hi,

I have a strong willed 15 month old who is incredibly active. We have been doing EC part-time with her since she was born and have used cloth diapers all the time. Sometime around nine months she started to get upset and push away from the potty so I slowed down quite a bit, but we still try now and then. She is really good at sitting on the potty at her Grandparents house (she has actually taken them to the potty a few times when she had to go) and will now sit on the little seat on the toilet for me sometimes. We usually have a really good run of two days where she is willing to sit for me. Then she starts to get upset again. She is definitely VERY aware of her eliminations, often takes her diaper off to go, but on the floor! Can anyone give me advice on how to get her to go in an appropriate place? I'm getting tired of cleaning up poop messes (she sometimes manages to step in it and leave a trail) and pee puddles.

[hkc]

Okay, so I'm really new to this whole online thing and as soon as I posted my question I noticed "Haven't had a catch in FOREVER!" and realized it was the answers I was looking for. Don't know how I missed it before! Sorry about that, I didn't mean to be repeating!

[hrsmom]

Hi, welcome to MDC and the EC forum! I'm glad you found the other thread! Our dd's have a lot in common, it sounds like!

[sgmom]

Your child sounds just as independent as mine! It sounds to me like she needs motivation to use her potty. SHE needs to make the decision to use it. And at 15 months, you're looking more at potty training than EC (in my opinion). Especially since she's already aware of what's going on.

Is she able to take her diaper off and go sit on the potty by herself? She might also like some privacy. What about making a "potty fort" using furniture and a bed sheet?

I'm VERY against using bribes (chocolates, etc) for general potty training, but if it works for you, a reward system might be something to consider offering. Maybe not chocolate, but if she has a really good "potty day", you could take her to the park, or out for ice cream or something. Stickers also are kind of neat (as are marbles). The more they pee, the more stickers they collect. And once the page is full, you up the reward to something different (stickers get boring when the numbers get high), or give her a really BIG reward for collecting a certain amount.

With older kids, money works miracles. A penny per pee, and she can buy her own reward. Imagine trading a handful of pennies in for a quarter! WOW! And they learn the value of working towards something. I'm not sure I would agree with this method for potty training, but I know parents who have used it.

Just remember that you're dealing with a 15 month old (not a 6 year old who has to finish his/her chores). The key here is motivation.

Good luck!!