Mother Desperatly Needs Potty Training Help

You're doing what you can, we had success in the second half of her 2 year. My daughter's very strong willed, and nothing worked until her daddy brought home a toy that dispensed candy, but she was not allowed to have candy unless she used the potty. It worked. I told her we were all of out diapers and I dealt with a lot of accidents--everywhere. Some say candy isn't a good way to woo them but she doesn't even ask for the candy now. Hope this helps. :) When he's ready, he will.

Hi A.,

I am by no means the potty training exert. In fact my daughter just turned three and we are still struggling with it. Part of the reason we are still dealing with this is because I tried to potty train her too early. I started right after she turned two and it has become a major power struggle. Please don't do what I did or it could blow up in your face as it has for me. If he's not doing it and he is only two then take a break. And when you come back to it, when he shows signs of interest, then stand your ground and don't give up. Hope this helps.

I agree....it is very early for you to be so concerned. My son did it in one day at 39 months old. We had introduced the idea but when he was ready...he just did it. On his own. I was on the phone at the time and watched him with pride....from a distance. He did #1 and #2, and called for me to help wipe. When they are ready...they are ready. Boys tend to take more time than girls. Is the homecare pushing this? Is there an older boy to mimic? That has helped the younger boys I watch....Best of luck and don't sweat it. :)

Quite simply... your son isn't ready. He's not even 2 and I hear about some boys who are almost 4 before they are fully potty trained. Don't push him. When he is ready, potty training will be easier than you think. Make sure he knows the potty is there, if you can get him to go on it once in a while, great. But you can't compare him to the other kids. Each one is unique.

As for the big/small potty, my daughter always hated her "baby" potty and has gone on the big one from the very beginning.

one thing i've learned watching my godbaby is boys are harder to potty train and not quite being 2 yet i would put it on hold for a month or two and not pressure him my god son was almost 3 before he was fully potty trained and still not at night boys are differnt so dont push he be ready soon!! and good luck H.

I think your son has already answered you. He is not ready yet. There are many different views of potty learning/training. Mine is very laid back. I don't train, they learn when they are ready. Diapers are easy and I don't see the stress over when a child decides they want to use the potty. They all eventually do just fine and so far I have never trained a child and they all use the potty except for the 18 month old. I don't see the big deal really. Some kids are ready early, some are ready later. Learning to use a toilet should not cause stress for anyone. My pediatrician told me once that he has yet to meet a child who did not learn to use the toilet before kindergarten and the ones that struggle most are the ones with parents who make a big deal over it. Those who let it be and let the kids show they want to use it are the ones who do the best. My mom swore I needed to have my first child trained by one year and I was so stressed about it. Sure enough, I stopped worrying and let her tell me when she was ready and she was done in a day. After that, I never worried again. When my kids were old enough to say "Mommy, I do not want a diaper anymore." I said fine, use the toilet and you can wear big girl pants/big boy pants and guess what...no accidents either. The average age was two and a half. One of my twins totally climbed on the potty herself one day and never wore a diaper again all by herself. Go figure.

Everyone agrees he is not ready, but why is he taking off the dirty diapers??? My 1st child was potty trained by 2, the last 3 (out of 6) much later!!! Both boys were 4 and my girl was 3, she is the youngest. Some may be due to my lack of consistancy. Too busy homeschooling other kids, etc.

But I wondered if you had tried any rewards? There are cute targets for boys to aim at, fun game! Boys typically pee in the potty 1st and poopy is later. I did a chart with my last and it worked real well. She got a small candy for going and a big smiley face on the chart. She is now 6 and still wears a pull-up at night b/c she sleeps so soundly. If she gives me grief about going the last pee-pee b4 bed, (which she will do maybe once or twice a month) I bet her (a quarter or 2) that she can go, and if she does, she gets the money. Guess what, she tinkles everytime!!! She is very strong willed, but has not figured out I am tricking her. Lots of things can be motivators. You just have to find what works since you don't want poopoos on your floor.

Hope this helped!

Hi A.,

My first advice (which is what someone told me) is not to push it. He will learn when he is ready. My son was 3 when he finally decided it was time. I was like you and tried EVERYTHING! If he's not ready it won't happen. Boys are difficult. They get easily distracted and unless they have an older brother around that they idolize, they really have no desire learn (at least that's been my experience with this issue). My son would pee on his own from the time he was 2, but would not poop until he was three. One thing that somewhat worked for us was bribery. I lined up between 10 and 20 matchbox cars (or anything cheap that he likes) on the bathroom sink and everytime he used the potty we gave him one. This seemed to be the only thing he even remotely responded to. I hope this works. Again, he's not even two yet. I would give him some time, he'll let you know if and when he's ready. Like my mother told me... you never see any 5 or 6 year olds out there that aren't potty trained.. they will learn sooner or later.

Try getting a bag of toys and offering suprises everytime he goes.... It works!!!!

K.

I just think he is not ready. My son is going to be three in May and he is just now potty training. He is pretty much trained, only a couple accidents each week. My other son was also almost three. Of course, I had the potty available for them from about 18 months on, but I did not pressure them. If they went they went but I didn't make a big deal out of it. I have always heard boys take longer than girls, not sure if it is true or not. I just think males tend to be lazier anyway, lol! They just want us to wait on them! Don't fret, when he is ready you will know it.

I used the Dr. Phil potty train in 24hours method. It worked so well. It may still be on his website under parenting. You have to totally dedicate YOUR whole day to it, but very well worth it!! Good Luck!!!

A.,
Don't sweat it! Your son is still very young and his body doesn't have the control yet. I agree with the other advice you were given- just let your son tell you when he is ready.
My daughter showed interest at 15 months, and for a short time would urinate in her new potty. the charts and rewards didn't interest her, and we relaxed about it. She knew where it was.
at that point too she wanted to sit on the big potty, and her potty chair was convertable to just fit the toilet seat too.
at about 20 months she wanted to buy big girl panties, not interested in the training pants we had.
she chose to give up the pullups, and use her princess panties, and never looked back. I think in the last 2 1/2 years she has only had 2 bedtime accidents (and that was when she was sick) they say boys bodies are slower, so don't push it or you set yourself up for anxiety and fear of using the potty for your son, and accidents.
both my nephew and neice were pushed early to potty train as they were in daycare, and both of them as older children continue to have night time accidents.

Good luck! and enjoy these wonderful days with your son!

S.

HE is just not ready. Every child is different and I know from when I potty trained my twins that the more of an issue it is, the harder it will be. My daughter potty trained in one day and never used a diaper again and I can count on one hand the number of "accidents" she had. My son we rushed to potty train him so that he could be in the same preschool class with her and he had accidents everyday and was just not ready. Within six months of his potty training. He stopped the daily wetting but would have an occasional accident. They were definately few and far between. It just took him to chose for himself that he was ready.. Have you tried using onesies or rubber pants on your son to get you through the transition. My daughter loves taking off her diaper. She will even take it off from under her onesie, but just from her other behavior I know she is not ready to train. She will be 2 in June. Not sure if any of that rambling will help but as with anything with kids. Good Luck!

I agree with most of the postings........he's just not ready yet. Not quite 2 is pretty young for a child to be potty trained. Don't worry about what "the other kids" in his day care are doing. No child ever went to college in diapers.