She's happy going on the floor... what to do?

[Lily Bea]

My 15 month old daughter is able to identify and communicate a need to pee (looks down, says "pee"), and will almost always tell me if she has already peed. She also knows poop (which she calls "peep" ). So she understand the concepts, and can identify a need to go.

We very often let her roam around the house diaper free, since we have tile floors, and clean-up is easy. We have 2 little potties available and easily accessible to her.

She seems to be happy just to pee and poop on the floor... she will say "pee" right before going or while peeing, but if I take her to the potty she stops going. Also, if she goes on the floor, she wants to wipe it up herself (since she sees me do this). I do offer the potty on occasion, and she will sit there a few minutes if she has a toy or book, but she won't pee.

She knows what the potty is, can sign and verbally say it, and does associate it with peeing (will say "pee" when on the potty, and will say "pa" (meaning potty) after peeing on the floor).

What is the best thing for me to do when she goes on the floor? Try to scoop her up and move her to the potty (which seems to "stall" her), let her finish and then tell her "Pee goes in the potty."? I am not sure.

Maybe she'll just get it in time?

Should I not let her run around diaper free, as this encourages going on the floor?

Thoughts, please!!!!

[sapphire_chan]

Well if it doesn't freak her out and you can catch it, I'd scoop her up mid-pee. She's working out what's going on and you taking her to the potty to finish up helps her make better connections between her sensations and what needs to happen. Even if she gets right of the potty and pees on a different part of the floor at least she's in the bathroom, right?

Maybe experiment with undies and see if they help?

[hrsmom]

That sounds about right! You could move her mid-pee if that was a good thing for her, and you'll soon know if that's something you should never do again! Some little ones do tend to hold it longer if they're wearing something on their bottom, so you could try undies or trainers and see if that makes a different. She will for sure get it!

[theboysmama]

sounds like she doesn't want to be moved mid pee can you have a container (tupperware or bblp) near by and try to catch what you can. If you are able to catch it in the bblp then you can show her and say "this is where our pee/poo goes".

[Lily Bea]

Thanks. I will definately try undies/trainers. That will also help since it's geting a bit cold sitting bare on the tiles! Any recommendations on good ones?

I will also try harder to catch her mid-pee and use the BBLP or container to catch it. However, what is the best way to respond if I miss? I have been saying "pee/poop goes in the potty." and she will repeat potty and even sometimes go to it.

Funny, because after I posted my question yesterday, she actually peed on the BBLP on her own instead of the floor! And we didn't even notice... my husband was watching her, not that closely obviously. I picked her up later and noticed her Baby Legs were damp, so we went on pee search and found it in the BBLP! She never even said anything. Maybe she doesn't like an audience...