My Son Doesn't Care About Potty Training

Updated on January 18, 2008
A.B. asks from Mansfield, TX
9 answers

My son is 2 1/2 and he doesn't care about potty training. He acts like he understands that the potty is important and he needs to learn but he doesn't care about peeing on himself or anything. We tried the cool touch pull ups (which don't turn cool by the way) and he just peed in them like a regular diaper and didn't tell me when he was wet at all. Then we tried putting underwear on him and letting him wet himself but he didn't care about that either. I took him to the potty every 15-20 minutes and nothing. He just wet himself and let me clean him up like it was no big deal. He only tells me when he is wet after he has peed about 4 times or he's not busy playing. How do i get him to focus on potty training? Please help.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all the great feedback. I ended up taking him to the doc for an ear infection so while i was there i asked him about the potty training. He said, "2 1/2, good luck. You need to wait until he's three and even then it will probably take him until he is four." So, I told the doc okay and now i don't have to worry about it. Really the reason i was pushing it was because my son can't move up into the next class at preschool until he is potty trained but whatever he won't know anyway. Again thanks for all the help and i hope this helps others of you trying to potty train.

Another "So What Happened":
Shortly after I gave up with the blessing from the doc to wait on the potty training, his teacher at daycare told my husband that he has been using the potty at school. GO FIGURE!!! Hahaha, little sneak.

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L.S.

answers from Dallas on

How do you get him to focus on potty training? You drop the whole potty thing and let it become his idea. He will come around. He is young and has made great progress. I don't think there's a kindergartener out there who went to school in diapers. I would just give the potty thing a rest for a while. The more you push, the more he'll push back. When he's really ready, it will happen very quickly.

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M.Y.

answers from Dallas on

As much as you may want him to be ready he may not be. My 5 year old son was like that. But the more I pushed the more he wet. He may not be mature enough to understand what he is to do. Boys train much slower then girls. I might back off for a few months and then start again. With my son we started at 2 1/2 then picked up at 3..he was open to it and by 3 1/2 we were finished. By age 3 my son was upset if he wet himself. I know it is a long process. Now, my 2 1/2 year old will only go when he wants to or if he wants candy. I will wait until the summer. You will know when it clicks for him because he will care! Hope this helps.

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S.M.

answers from Dallas on

I may not be much help, but from what I know, 2 1/2 is still pretty young for a boy. You may just have to wait a little longer. He won't go to Kindergarten in diapers!

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D.O.

answers from Dallas on

My twins turned 4 in November and just started really getting interested in potty training about 6 months ago. They still have accidents every so often. Now their brother who is 2 1/2 is almost as far along with potty training as they are. Every child is different. On average, boys potty train much later than girls. Don't pressure or force. It will happen!

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

A., I can so relate to your potty training issue with your son, and I so feel for you as I can understand. My son is 4 yrs old at this time & he is wearing pull ups due to he won't use the toilet hardly at all now. (At three he was wearing underwear and was doing well then all of sudden he decided he just wanted to pee and poop in them all the time.) He has always NEVER gone #2 in the toilet but now he wont pee in the toilet either, I do believe its laziness. I am so frustrated I just don't know what to do. I have talked with my son's pediatrician and he said all children are different. But I will say it's aggravating when you have to change a pull up all the time and they aren't cheap either. I feel as if I have done something wrong as a mother but then I have heard some other mothers are going this also as well. It's a phase they go thru I have also been told. My son is very hard headed and this is just one struggle I am going thru with him out of many more. Good Luck A. and I understand what your going thru keep your head up and one day our kids will be in school before we know it, and out of this stage that we so dread.
I hope this helps out somewhat, I am here for you if you want to talk.

A.

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C.S.

answers from Amarillo on

2 1/2 yrs is a little early to panic about it. Just give him some time. He will surprise you and one day will decide he's ready to try. Good Luck!!

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J.E.

answers from Dallas on

Hey, A. -
I am by no means an expert on parenting or potty training, so take this with a grain of salt! :) When my husband and I were working with my niece (whom we had custody of after her parents died), we used rewards. We initially started off with jelly beans - she got one every time she used the potty. After a couple of weeks, we saw a big improvement and decided maybe the extra sugar wasn't the best idea. So, we switched to sugar-free jelly beans for peeing in the potty and a pickle for pooping in the potty (she loved pickles, but you can sub any food or snack there!). She was pretty easy to potty train, so there's no guarantee that this will motivate your son... but who knows, maybe some candy will do the trick. :) Good luck!

J.

answers from Dallas on

My son is also 2 1/2 and could care less about potty training. He knows what it is and how to do it, but it just isn't important to him right now. I guess he's just not ready yet. I don't have any advice but I am in the same situation. I decided he would do it when he wanted to and I'm not going to stress over it.

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T.W.

answers from Dallas on

Hi there. I know exactly how you feel that was me a year ago... My son who will be 4 in Feb. was the same way... It seemed like when he turned 3 he grasp the concept of peeing then we had to teach about the poop. He got that concept about 4 months later. This is really normal for boys or this is what I experienced with my son. I know your frustration I was there.. Just give him time and when he turns 3 it will click like a light switch. But still keep trying now because you never know when he will get it..

GOOD LUCK!!!

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