Exhausted Mom Seeking Ways to Get 3 Year Old Potty Trained

Please don't stress yourself out so much! Your 3 year old boy will potty train when HE'S ready -- not when you're ready! Give him space and make it fun for him -- don't make it a stressed out chore or he'll never do it -- take it from one who potty trained 2 boys!

I know you're stressed with a 9 month old at home as well -- relax and enjoy your time with both of them. It'll happen when it happens and if it doesn't for a while -- who cares?! It won't be the end of the world. Boys have their own agendas that don't usually include Mom's plans! :)

First, I'd get some Tylenol or Hilands for the baby and get a good night's sleep. I've even (in sheer desperation) let the baby sleep with us for one night. Never more. Next I'd check out "Potty Training in a Day". I don't remember who it's by. Dr. Phil recommends it. I use a similar method. I've read the book and it sounds like a good way to go. I understand the frustration. My little one has a stomach bug, and it seems like everything he knew about the potty is gone. I hope you get some sleep soon!

At this point what is more important: partially potty trained kid with stressed out mom and siblings OR kid that is gradually potty training with happy mom and siblings?

Buy some diapers and call it good and when he's ready he'll come around. Or buy some pull-ups and remind him to go in the potty but don't make it your life's work to remind him.

Personally I'd just focus on baby #2 for now and let kid #1 come around on his own when he's ready. Quit making it a monumental power struggle and you will all feel better.

My 2.5 yr old was almost potty trained . . and then we had number 2 . . . good bye potty hello diapers. I tried for a while and then couldn't handle all of the dirty underwear and messes. So we went back to diapers for awhile. It was too hard with both of them worring about potty training. After a few months she was ready .. no accidents . . no problem. She was 3.5. Don't worry about his age, he'll potty train when he's ready and I figured dirty diapers were easier to clean up than dirty undies.
Good luck!

Leave him alone. Let it go, put him back into pullups and let it go. Figure out something that he wants, his currency, does he like Transformers, legos, super heroes?
Make him earn it!
Get a poster chart, put up a happy face for every time he tries, two for every time he goes.
I don't believe at all in putting kids in underwear until they are 100% done, it is a mess, unsanitary and causes us moms way more stress then we need.
I say, tell him he is a not a big boy yet and when he is ready he needs to put on his underwear. Period.

Be matter of fact, take a few big boy priviledges away and just don't say a word about it.
PUT him on the potty every hour to hour and a half, don't ask do tell just do it. Be nice about it and just say happily "we are going to try and if you try you get a smiley" tell him if he gets 40 smileys or something he can get a little surprise. Reward him once he is in underwear with whatever toy he has really been wanting (within reason).
You won't win this power struggle, take off the underwear until he is ready mentally too along with all the other signs of readiness. All it took for my son at 3 was wanting a Transformer which I told him was a big boy toy, for my daughter it was Santa calling her before Christmas, so all kids have currency that will help get them over the stubborn hurdle.