Need Help with Potty Training - Louisville,KY

With my son we put cherios in the toilet. The great thing about this is every time he needed to go, it was a game .He would get points for hitting the the cherios .Every time he got a certain amount of points , he would get a pair of big boy pants (underwear). I know this sounds silly but it really worked well . He is 7 1/2 now and still remembers the cherio game.He now has a 4mo little sister and asked me the other day if I was going to teach her the cherio game . I simply told him girls don't have it as easy as boys and left the conversation there.Good Luck.

I just started training my 2 1/2 year old. I actually let him go around with no pants on and when he has to go he goes right over to the potty. NOw he nows what it feels like to go he is starting to let me know when he has on the pull ups. I bought him special charcter ones and told him he doesn't want to get him wet. We also do a potty calender he gets to put a special sticker on it when he goes potty and he gets to flush the toliet (which he loves) and also gets to wipe his hands with special wipes. If he poops on the potty he also gets a special treat M&M's which he picked out. Hope some of these suggestions helped. They have really been working for him so far. Good Luck

C.,

I used the video called "It's Potty Time" and it worked like a charm. Sit them on a child potty in front of the tv with the video on.
I trained all three boys in a week and a half.
Good Luck. L. R.

Another technique you might try is to take him to the bathroom first thing when he wakes up. Then set a timer and take him every time it goes off. If he potties, set the timer for 30 minutes. If he doesn't potty when you take him, set it for 15 minutes Gradually increase the times. I know it can be kind of complicated with a little one- I used this method with my oldest when she was 2.5 and my baby was 6 months and crawling. But my daughter was potty trained in about a week. I didn't use training pants at all but had her in panties. I picked a week when I had little I had to do outside the house so I could really focus on it. If we did leave the house, I used a pull-up (also at naptime0. There were several accidents the first couple of days. I think having an accident in panties actually helped her because she didn't like it running down her leg and on her feet.

Dear C.,

Hi! Becoming a big brother as I'm sure you've realized is a BIG DEAL! It's possible that you will be better off just not pushing this for a while. He WILL choose to use the potty eventually, I promise!

Meanwhile, I'll tell you our potty training "meathod" (and it's a good time of year for this!):
We let our children run around naked indoors and outdoors as much as possible when they were in this stage. It really seemed to build their awareness of what was happening. We spend a lot of time outside and it just seemed pretty stress free for them to "get it" while not having to worry about "accidents" in their pants or in the house. Pretty soon our little boy was peeing on a tree and then running outside to pee! With this much awareness, taking the next step was pretty easy.

My son (now age 6) hated diapers, so he was pretty motivated in this direction.

With my daughter (now 3.5) I remember putting her on the potty every time I had to go, and also carrying the potty chair with us everywhere we went, and using it parking lots, on the side of the road or where ever!

Lot's of kids are still not potty trained at 3, so most of all I would err on the side of keeping things non-stressful for you and your son (especially with the baby recently arrived). If keeping him in diapers (pull ups or whatever) for another spell would actually make life more fun and easier, maybe that's the best way to go!

Love, L.

My son didn't fully potty train until he was past 3. He would pee fairly well but pooping was another story. Once he decided to go on the potty it was a breeze...until then it was frustrating. My daughter will be 3 in June. She's the same way...pee's in the pot (unless she's having too much fun outside) but doesn't make the connection for poo-time.
Pull-ups have not worked for me and I've heard that from many other people. Underwear's the way to go for the quickest results but they are also the messiest.
I'm so ready to be rid of diapers myself, but the poo panties are a nightmare.
Routine, praise, repition, commitment and waiting until they're ready...I don't know which one's the biggest key but they all seem to go hand in hand.
If you find some fantastic secret out here please let me know!

I had the exact same problem with my now 5 year old, we started potty training at 30 months, and he would sit and sit and wouldn't go potty, but the minute he got up he'd pee and poop all over the floor. We tried pull-ups that got cold when wet, didn't bother him. We tried regular underwear with the plastic ones over top, he'd come and tell me he was wet, but by then he was literally dripping wet and it was running down his legs. He wouldn't even go pee in the potty till we moved to a new place, by then he was about to turn 4!! But within a month of us moving, he was completely trained during the day; within 6 months he would go pee at nite and stay dry all nite.
A lot of people told me that consistance is key; but that's not necessarily true. He has to be emotionally ready and feel in control of himself and his surroundings to be comfortable to go potty. If alot of things are changing around him, he may not feel like he has control over anything, and his bodily functions may be another challenge for him. Unless his daycare requires him be potty trained RIGHT NOW, I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the training, just let him go at his own pace and be consistent with him sitting on the potty; praise him with lots of love and kisses instead of rewards when he sits on the potty even if he doesn't go. I hope this advice has helped and Good Luck!!

My son loved to "water the plants." He also like making bubbles in the toile. It seems to me that kids will do anything if it is FUN.

My son was three and a half (okay, more like 3 and 3/4) before he was trained, and wet the bed for another couple of years, and now that he's 18 and going off to college soon, one of the things I sincerely regret about his childhood is how often I was mad at him for this issue. At the time, I felt like a bad mom because my kid wasn't dry when his friends were. Now I think I was more of a bad mom for making such a big deal of it, and probably contributed to the fact that he's somewhat obsessive/compulsive.

His sister is 18 months younger than him, and he was just starting to learn when she was born, and that set him back. He learned when she did. When she was ready, he didn't want her to be "bigger" than him, so he learned, too. The third one decided the week that she turned two that she wanted to go potty and was trained in less than a week. She did it herself. They're all different.

The more uptight you are about it, I swear I think the harder it is for them and you. I really believe, down deep, that kids should be trained between 18 months and 2 years, but I really know with my brain that it's not really that easy unless you spend your entire time for a month doing it. So the best advise is to relax and then follow all the other advise in a relaxed way.

Is it urgent that your son potty-train for schooling reasons? If not, just wait until your new baby is older. When your baby is on a better routine (4-hour cycles and then two naps a day), your child will be more willing to go on a routine.

My child was 29 months old when her twin sisters were born, and it wasn't until the twins were 7 months old that life was manageable enough for us to begin potty training. That same month my older daughter turned 3. She trained gradually over 3 months.

We used a blank calendar to mark successes, and she got "coupons" (vouchers) for candy or a movie time for successes with BMs and wetting in the potty. Expect only BMs at first, and then reward wetting in the potty as it happens. For every five successess (then 10, then 20, then a whole week clean), we would give a coupon for a toy from the dollar store, which was quickly paid for by the diapers we were not using! We also gave her a book of stickers from which she could choose one each time she was successful; we put a blank piece of construction paper next to her calendar. All of this was on a large poster, which had large pockets to hold the special "coupons." Finally, we would give her a "big-girl panty" coupon for each dry week. When she had seven, she left thick panties and went to regular thin panties.

This whole reward system was launched by having "Mommy time" for the project of making the poster and pockets. When there's a new baby in the house, the older child craves Mommy time for projects. Another benefit to using "coupons" is that the earned reward could be saved until the proper time: A child who is preparing for bed should not be immediately allowed to watch a movie or eat candy. These coupons could be redeemed the next day. This actually is like getting two rewards, because you have the coupon as a reward, then the redemption of it on another day as a second reward. What's more, the kid who wants multiple movies or sweets in a day can be given obvious limits. By the way, you have to keep raising the bar on coupon rewards, or the kid will earn more treats than you're willing to give.

Three years of age is not too old to start potty training. A few more months of adjustment with a new baby would be worth the wait. Good luck!

Since he's already three, he'll probably decide on his own really soon that he wants to quit 'pottying' like a baby. I don't know of many 4-yr. olds who still need diapers, unless it's only at night, and/or unless it's a physical or mental disorder. He'll get it. Probably just concentrate on being happy yourself (if you can), appreciate that you have 2 little miracles added to your life and enjoy interacting with and serving them. Don't put more demands on yourself than you can really meet! (And this is from a 50 yr old mom of 4 and grandma [me] who loves potty training who's usually telling everyone to BE FIRM! Whip them into shape! etc.) With all your extenuating circumstances, I think you need to relax a little and 'go with the flow' if-you-will (and hope that VERY SOON 'the flow' will go directly into the potty! LOL)

I feel your pain (I have a 4yo boy). I know not everything works for every child, but my guess is that your son is not ready yet. I am a firm believer that potty training will happen when it is going to happen and you can either struggle (as you are) to that magical date, or wait. When my son was "ready", it took only a week, but my sister wanted to start her child early and it took over 6 months.

Sounds like you have your hands full right now. Unless you have the time to take him to the potty every 45 minutes or so, I would wait a few more months.

Good luck!!

K. H in Huntington, WV

Personally I really don't like pull ups except to use when we leave the house. I am potty training my daughter (2 1/2) right now and it is going well as long as she is either nude or in panties. She will go 100% of the time unless she is wearing a diaper or a pull up. I know it's messy and you will be left cleaning many carpet spots for the first couple of days but if they're ready to be trained then they won't like the feel of it running down their legs. It means extra baths also but I think it helps them understand the feelings associated with going potty. First they will become aware of going peepee after they go, then during and then they will start to realize the feeling they get before they go peepee so if something unpleasant is attached (wet legs) they will start to try to figure out a way to avoid it and will let you know they need to go potty.

I tried lots of different things but at my wits end ordered an ebook. It was the only system that worked for me!

http://www.thepottytrainer.com/

My doctor reassured me that no one goes to college in diapers. It sounds like you have a lot going on and you may need to take a break from potty training for a little while. I let my son run around naked so that he could make the connection of something coming out of him. I would sit him on the potty chair, give him a dum dum sucker and read books to him. He would sit there and suck on it, he is not a sucker chomper like me. He would usually do something while sitting there. His interest would come and go. Boys are slower to potty train. He was 3 1/2 when he finally got it. I was a single mom so I know how hard it is to be all things to all people. I can't imagine have an infant also. Give yourself and your son a little extra time on this subject. There is a lot going on at your house. May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

We are in the exact same boat....I have a just-turned three year old and a four month old!
I think the other mom's advice on "they'll do it when they're ready" is spot on. We TRIED and TRIED before the baby was born, because we knew how difficult it would be after, but he was obviously NOT ready.
He is, I'd say, 90% trained for pee (we still have accidents!) but will NOT poop on the potty - he is scared to. We are not pushing it, because again, many moms have told me he'll do it when he is ready. Plus, with the new baby I know he's going thru a lot now as it is.
BTW, most moms of boys have told me their boys were PAST their 3rd birthday before they were trained, so yours is not late at all.

take a deep breath and relax. he will not go to college in a pamper. he may just not be ready. all children develop the ability to control there bladder at different ages. buys are slower than girls usually but not always. if it gets to the point that he can not go to school because he is still in a diaper, worry about it then. otherwise, just let him be. it will come. it always does. my daughter was three before she was really ready to potty train.

C., this is the first time I have responded to such an ad with mamasource but I felt I needed to share this with you. I felt somewhat the same way with my 2 1/2 year old daughter. Until I overheard some women share with me their secret for making it work. They advised me to start a rewards system for my daughter and every time that she would remember to go potty or would make the effort without having an accident I rewarded her with a piece of candy. My candy of choice was jellybeans because they came in every color, they were in a glass jar in the closet way up on the shelf. But she at least could see them and it gave her something to look forward to. She would get excited about getting to pick out her favorite color! It has worked for us and now we are at the point where she wears regular panties during the day and just pull-ups at night. Sometimes I think that giving them a place to "win" is what helps them remember and makes them feel important. I hope that helps - it worked for us and I hope it will work for you:)
Good Luck
H. W.

I just started training my 2 1/2 year old yesterday. I put the potty in the living room (wood floors for easy clean up) and have made him sit on it every 20-30 minutes or so. I saw an episode of Jon and Kate plus 8, where Kate was saying that it is essential to have them go pee before eating otherwise they will pee during the meal. I took that advice and I think I am doing well. He went 3 times by the evening and is excited to have a big boy potty.

My older son took forever to potty train. I got to the point that he was going to start pre-school and I was afraid he wouldn't be trained in time. I wasn't consistant with him though and I think it was that with the fact that he wasn't ready.
Some things to consider are: is your son telling you sometimes before he has to go or at least during? is he waking up with a dry diaper?
If those things are not happening, he might not be ready yet. Every kid is different and don't worry if he's not. Just try to make it fun and give him a lot of praise even if he hasn't done it, but is trying.
One more thing is that yesterday I told my son that if he went in the potty he would get a cookie and after that he tried hard and did it. Bribery does work :) and keeping no diaper at all on seems to work also. If he knows there is a diaper, he will probably do what he's used to.