I am in the process of potty training my 4 year old son. Just a few months ago, he was afraid to sit on the potty at all. Now he will sit for a small treat-2 jellybeans or M&M's. I decided that he would start wearing training pants and on Monday we started. I let him know ahead of time that we were going to do this and he didn't object. I, also, set the timer in my kitchen to go off every 30 minutes and take him to the potty for a small treat and have him sit. He is fine with this. Yesterday we ended up having 1 accident which I cleaned up and told him it was ok and 1 success which we got a reward for and a sticker on our bathroom chart. Today, he has had an accident and I cleaned it up without being negetive about it at all. Please let me know if I'm on the right track, so I don't get discouraged. I'm trying to stay positive and focused, but it is hard because I have a demanding 8 month old, too. How long did it take for your child to be trained if you did something like this. I guess it will be easier if I know when to expect that light at the end of the tunnel even though I do realize all kids are different. Thanks for your advice in advance. I know he will eventually be trained and hopefully won't end up with a sugar addiction in the process!!
You are on the right track. My oldest was about 4 when he potty trained. It took over a month and he still had accidents. It is hard with the baby, but keep it low key. Each child seems to have their own time table of when they are ready. We just help and encourage them along.
I used an Ebook called Potty Training in 3 days. It worked beautifully. You have to have the FULL 3 days though. You'll understand what I'm saying if you decide to buy this book. I trained my son using this process. Another great thing my son loved to do was pee of the back porch. I know it probably sounds gross, but he got a kick out of it. We have a fenced back yard so it didn't matter to me one bit...whatever works, right? :)
Blessings to you and your son!
L.
Yes - you're doing great!! My son will be 4 in July - and I have resorted to the same types of rewards...even dimes!!! One day he just "got it" and is pretty regular about going. It's actually cute to see him stop everything and run to the bathroom! Sometimes we still have accidents - but it's only been the past 3-4 weeks that he's been good about it!
Good luck - and hang in there!!
I think you are certainly on the right track! My two younger children were both 3 and very strong willed when I first attempted potty training. A friend told me about a book and I bought it and they were both trained in one day! No accidents at all! My son was the first and hardest. He just loved pull-ups. But it did work on both (a year apart). The name of the book is "Potty-training in one day" it is a paperback. I bought it at a bookstop I think. Not sure who the author is but that seemed to be the only one with that title. I have since recomended it to 4 other people and they all say it worked for them also in one day! It is just all about positve reinforcement. Good luck and take care.
T.
You are SOOOOOOOOOOOO on the right track! Hang in there mom!
It sounds like you are doing GREAT, you are on the right track BUT...you have a long ways to go! It could take weeks, months, or with a boy even a couple of years before you are totally accident free. I bet with the positive rewards and the patience you have with accidents he will be using the potty more often than not by summertime.
One thing you could try is cheerios in the potty for him to aim at. Boys love that. I got that from someone I know who was giving me advice on potty training my son. It helps keep it cleaner too. If you get him some fun underwear and encourage him to keep his Lightening McQueen or Spiderman or whatever dry, that helps too. BMs are much harder, but with my son, we would give him a special treat if he did BM's in the potty - a trip to the mall to ride on one of those little kid rides that cost 25-50 cents or bubble gum. We gave him the choice of which one he wanted, and he loved getting to "pick" his reward. My son was 3 when we did it (I had just had a new baby) and control was a big issue for him. Going potty was something he could control (cause let's face it, unless we sit the kid on the potty all day long and don't let them off, we can't make them go.) If you can help him feel like it is something he is choosing to do not something you are "making" him do, it will be easier on you. Sounds like you are on the right track.
You are doing great!! I, too, am potty training my 3.5 year old girl. This is my 5th! Just don't get upset with him, always give positive reinforcement. For the four that I've been through this already, it took 3 months to be completely potty trained. Don't get discouraged, esp hearing about kids doing it in one day. They are all different. We are on week two and my daughter hasn't peed on the potty ONCE!! She seems to be my toughest. I know it can be frustrating. Hang in there. It will happen.
