Booty Camp or a Professional to Help with Potty Training

Is he working with an OT? My son also had/has sensory issues (although not about the potty) and his OT was very helpful in making suggestions because she had a better understanding of his needs - and also, a good rapport with him. I think you need to first figure out what about the potty is freaking him out before a non-therapeutic professional will be able to help him. Just a thought. And if he's not seeing an OT, look into it - we had a wonderful experience with ours.

Editing to add a PS after seeing your followup. My boys potty-trained at ages 2 and 11 months, and age 3 and 1 month, pretty much painlessly when they got to that age. So you may be pleasantly surprised!

Hi Momma,
I used the book "Potty training in less than a day" for my daughter and it completely worked. You need to devote a whole day with your child but you make it relaxed and non-threatening for the kid. You basically take off their diaper and stay int he kitchen (or a tiled room) all day and have them eat and drink a lot. During the day, you play with your potty doll, color, play games, draw, paint, ect while staying in that room. They are going to have a few accidents before actually making it to the potty so that's why you need to be away from carpet. But my daughter actually urinated on the potty within 5 hours. The next day she made poop on the potty and since that first day, we never needed diapers again. And I didn't fight with her or threaten her with taking away toys ect... I never heard of Booty Camp but it sounds scary for a child. Do it at home by yourself and make it fun and educational... I'm about to potty train my 2 year old son with the same method so I truly believe in the book and what it teaches.
Best Wishes!
E.

My biggest advice is to not push it. My guess is that he knows you want him to do it so much. Isn't that the way it goes with kids? Seriously, let it go for a while and try again later, he is obviously not ready. Just a bit of statistics: 90% of boys are physically unable to tell when they have to poo at age 2. By age 3 90% of boys ARE able to tell. With my 3 year old he would not poop in the potty and we got so frustrated and guess what, when I told him that it was okay just let us know when you're ready a few days later HE brought it up and asked to go on the potty and he actually did it! Go to the library get some potty training books or ask your pediatrician. Don't worry, it will happen.

Booty Camp was the most UN-helpful, UN-flexible place ever. And it really takes a lot for me to be negative about something. All of my son's teachers have told me you can't force this issue because they may rebel or regress. If you need professional help I would NOT suggest Booty Camp. Good luck to you.

I thought Booty Camp was terrible!! Here is a description of the method.

There are no toys, tv, or outings allowed for the first 3+ days until they use the potty. After first successful use of the potty, they get 1 toy or 15 minutes of outside or TV. If they have an accident, the toy gets taken away.

There is no regular schedule of breakfast, lunch and dinner. If they ask for it, then they can have it, but they have to ask for what they want to eat. Instead, you load them up with chips, pretzels and sugary drinks, but they have to choose their food and drinks including actually opening the fridge to pick their drink, the bag of chips, and putting the straw in the drink if it's a juice box or they have to ask for help to do all these things.

Every few minutes, you hold their hand and have them feel their underpants (no pants or shorts are allowed), and you say "your underpants are dry in the front, no poop in the back. Great job listening to your body and keeping your pants clean and dry" then you give them a treat.

You have to force them in the morning, before nap, and before bedtime to sit on the potty - and they only wear pullups at night and bedtime. And until they pee or poop on the potty for the first time, they get no nap because they will just hold it until you put that pull-up on.

If they have an accident, you tell them that it is not acceptable to have wet or poopy pants and that it is their fault for not listening to their body. Then, they have to clean up the mess even if you have to force them.

Basically, all the emphasis is on the child doing everything for themselves which I think is great, but I feel it should be done in more of a fun way like "let's put your shoes on" (if they don't know how) instead of "you need to put your shoes on" and force them hand over hand to do it.

I also really did not like the "it's your fault" stuff. My son's speech therapist is also a psychologist and she was horrified and my description of the class. The only good thing that came out of this is that the lady recommended that I get my son evaluated by early intervention for possible sensory issues - turns out, he has asperger's syndrome.

Save your money!! Oh, and since your son has sensory issues, he should qualify for free preschool through the school district, and he does not have to be potty trained for that. I understand not wanting 3 in diapers, but I have just resolved that he will be ready when he's ready. Being around other kids is helping. He sits on the potty, but doesn't "go".

I don't know if this will since there is a sensory issue. Definitely look into Jen's suggestion. My kids hatesd the potty and refused to use it. But they didn't mind the "big potty" as they called it. I used one of the seats that fit on the toilet and they were fine. Just something to try.