CIO, potty training, " crying wolf"

DD will be three in April.
Her new trick at bedtime is to say she has to go potty. But she doesn't go. Last night we she sat on the potty for an hour. :(
We try to encourage going before she gets tucked in. All was good until two days ago. I went back in her room 9 times the other day and she didn't pee.
She has a pull up on.
My DH says she is crying wolf for us to go back in. And just leave her in her crib. CIO
But I feel like I am ignoring her need.
Even though the past few nights produced nothing.
How should I handle this?
Part of me feels like the fool being played, and part of me feels like the bad mom.

Re: CIO, potty training, " crying wolf"

Bumping for day time crew

Re: CIO, potty training, " crying wolf"

This is just my opinion but I don't ever ignore my DD at night when she asks to go potty. I know full well that 90% of the time she doesn't have to go but I don't want to miss the occasion where she has to. I'd rather keep running in there and letting her know the potty is always available to her as opposed to ignoring her and making her stay in bed on principle.

I just feel like there shouldn't be any negative association with potty training and ignoring your LO and making them feel like they don't have the ability to go to the bathroom if they need to will do more harm then good. It's annoying having to go back and forth to the bathroom with them but I just suck it up.

I also think that it's a learning process, I actually feel like it's probably less "crying wolf" and more them having that feeling that they need to pee but then getting to the potty and nothing comes out.

When DD asks for drinks and books and any other silly little things at night I ignore it because that kind of thing will have me in and out of her room a thousand times at night. But when she asks for the potty, I really never ignore it because I know that the one time I do and she pees in her pull up because I didn't come in she will be SOOOOOO upset with herself. She is completely trained (except for pull ups at night) and I know my DD, she would be really devastated if she had an "accident".

I think you should continue to go in and let her use the potty BUUUUT I would NOT let her sit there for an hour! That's crazy!! When I bring my DD in she gets maybe 5 minutes at most and then it's right back into bed. I might have to do that 3 times but I would not let her sit for an hour. When she has to go she pees/poops right away so there is no point sitting there for more than a few minutes. At that point, your DD is just playing you. Bring her in, don't engage her......simply encourage her to go potty, and if nothing happens after a few minutes you put her right back to bed.

Good luck!

Message edited 2/17/2012 10:54:37 AM.

Re: CIO, potty training, " crying wolf"

kids are smart my 2 yr old says " poo poo potty" the minute i put him in bed 80 percent of the time i had put him on potty it was a no show. Now i let him CIO and he goes to sleep just fine, no accidents

Re: CIO, potty training, " crying wolf"

Re: CIO, potty training, " crying wolf"

Re: CIO, potty training, " crying wolf"

I agree with PP a few minutes and that’s it. I also wouldn’t ignore the call. AJ used to use that trick to avoid bedtime or something else and then she’d sit there waving her feet and humming a tune. I called BS on that early. Sh!t or get off the pot (there’s a reason that’s a term ya know? Get it out on Wiki LOL).

Now I don’t SAY that word but I make it clear. If we’re in here lady you will go. I make it clear I am disappointed when she doesn’t go and it’s a false cry. She pulls that out in public and I’m very unhappy. “Mama you mad?” .. “no honey I’m sad” “Why you sad” “because you didn’t go pee like you said you were” “oh”.

I am not sure she’s calling wolf so much as just figuring it out. But sitting on the toilet for an hour is just stubbornness at that point. Can’t say which side though. For AJ to sit that long would be the equivalent of time out. I made night time boring bathroom time. Just do your business kiddo.

I agree (again) with PP that it may take a few times going back but its better than an accident or an hour on the can.

Re: CIO, potty training, " crying wolf"

So tough! My DD did this for a month or two right after training. Some night up to 8 trips to the potty at least! I would take her b/c I didn't want to ignore. Then, I put a clock in the bathroom and said "when it says 8:05 etc. we're done" That worked great!! I think it was just a phase until it all clicked. Took about 3 months for us to train from start to completely trained and undies at night. Good Luck!!!

Re: CIO, potty training, " crying wolf"

Thanks everyone.
I'm praying tonight isn't a repeat of the last few.
I have tried to explain in simple terms that the potty is not a game, we don't just hangout in the bathroom.
But she always pulls the "I DO need to go" card.
I like the timer idea. I will have to find a kitchen timer or something.
Thanks again