Mom Need Help Potty Training a 3 Yr Old

My son is 2 years and 8 months old and we've begun doing a reward system for potty training. He gets a piece of candy or a sticker if he peepees and a matchbox car if he does a poopoo. He has yet to poopoo but his peeing has gotten more frequent. I also bought him some underwear in the Cars characters (his favorite thing) and told him he can wear it if he uses the bathroom. He was so excited to wear them so it works to entice him. Best of luck!! Boys take longer. I have a 16 year old and he was 3 before he was potty trained. It'll happen.

I had a lot of trouble getting my son trained as well. # 2 was definately a challenge. After talking to other moms, I resorted to bribery. I bought a pack of Match Box cars (20 for $12 or something) and every time he went poopy in the toilet he got a car. It only took a week to make him see the benefits and soon he was telling everyone else they would get a car, too. I think I only had two accidents once he started to connect the reward to the action. Good luck

For us we just took him to the bathroom on a set schedule or close to set schedule as we could (for this we had to really look at his pattern to determine a reasonable schedule). We also provided him some reading materials and basic toys to occupy him while sitting on the commode. We always praised him for being such a big boy and gave him high fives for his success. LOL! I'm sure we looked like fools but what the heck he liked it and it worked.

If he went on his own we would give him a sticker on a chart in the bathroom. After so many stikers he could go to our treasure chest and pick something out. Things he helped to select. this way he had buy in. After a short bit he started going on his own because he really wanted the things in the treasure chest. Eventually we didn't need to bribe him. He just went on his own.

Just keep showing him and encouraging him on what to do. It can take a very long time and one day, he will do it on his own. It took us about a year of going over the same thing over and over. he might 3 1/2 to 4 before he is truly potty trained. Don't worry, you are doing everything that you can.

Hi G.. When I read your post I was like "hey that's EXACTLY what my son is doing too!" He is over 3 years old and he totally has the concept down, that if he needs to do poop or pee, we do it in the toilet. I know he has the concept down because at his Mother's Day Out program, he doesn't have any accidents. BUT on the way home or at home, he just simply doensn't care and goes in his underwear. Then he laughs about it. So I'm wondering if he's trying to MAKE me mad and if that is enjoying to him. SO what I did was, I searched a lot on the internet and found some free printable potty charts. Everytime he goes in the toilet he gets a sticker. When the chart is full, he gets to take it to the store and "cash" it in for any toy of his choice. (of course, we have a BIG influence on which toy he choices :-) This has totally worked but we are not to the point where he's telling us everytime he needs to go, sometimes he tells us and sometimes he doesn't. But overall it has given him something to look forward to. So I am hoping that one day it will just click in. Keep your head up and I'm glad to know I don't have a kid that refuses to do anything we say. :-)

Our son wasn't potty trained until he was four and the most important thing I learned from the experience was to be patient and never show anger or disappointment to my son. It was extremely hard not to show my disappointment when he had accidents, but it made the whole process much better for everyone involved. Just put him in underware(training pant are less messy) and have him sit on the potty often if he is willing. Have him help clean up any messes. Give lots of praise and even a small reward when he is successful. Good luck. I've been there!

The first week or so you have to (train) yourself, about every two or three hours just cheerfully say lets go potty. and if you think it is about time for them to poop, put on pot and sit there a minute with them, or give them a little book to look at, and they will (accidently) go. Then brag, or put a sticker on a chart, or I gave my kids a raisen or one chocolate chip, whatever yoiu think he would like. When they first start they won't go by their self, they may start of by saying go potty, and you have to take them. And of course after they are (trained) expect accidents.

Relax. My daughter REFUSED to go to the bathroom on the potty. She knew where to go, when to go, but if I sat her on the potty she would arch her back & scream. So I gave up trying for a bit because it was becoming a power struggle. He may very well be using this as power since he sees it is very important to you. Then, when my daughter was about 3 1/2, one day she said "I need to go potty" and basically never went in her pants again. (But she had decided- not me) I know it is frustrating, but I teach pre-kindergarten and I've never seen any of our 4-5 year olds not potty trained. It will happen!

Number 2 always takes longer. My boys are 3 1/2. I potty trained them in June. I dedicated an entire week to just potty training. We went to the store and let them pick out their undies. We read a potty book and all that. We said goodbye to the pull ups and/or diapers. It just confues them. As soon as he wakes up, sit him on the potty. Have you been using rewards? Stickers on a chart worked great for us. I even set up the potty in front of the tv once or twice. Set up a timer and explain to him that when the timer goes off, it is time to sit on the potty. It is hard and frustrating. But is you stick to it, it will pay off. But, you need to make it your first priority. Accidents will happen. But just think of the pay-off at the end. All I have ever heard and read is that it takes longer for #2. Do some research, I'm pretty sure that's how it goes. But, it does depend on the child, I guess.

He probably just doesn't want to take the time. Does he go #2 about the same time daily? They usually get #2 down first. Put him on the pot and when you have a success clap your hands and dance. Be sure you are making it a positive experience. Don't be upset with accidents, but be happy with successes......then be patient.

remove his diaper and make him walk around naked in the house. when he gets the urge to urinate or facate, he'll go to the potty. had a friend who's three year old son had surgery and could not wear his diaper... so the timing was right... she allowed him to run around the house naked and by the end of the first day, he would utilize the toliet.

good luck.

G.,

Since he knows what to DO now, just implement a reward system. If he goes when you take him give him an M&M or a Skittle. If HE tells YOU and he goes, give him TWO. If he does #2, give him something he REALLY likes.

I used a doll to teach my boys about going poop in the potty. Sneek some tootsie rolls under the doll on the potty when he is not looking and then get excited that the doll has gone. Then see if you can get HIM to do it.

Another trick to get kids to sit a little longer is to keep them occupied. Put a TV tray in the bathroom for playing with small toys (cars and stuff) and reading or doing little puzzles. Keep a collection of these things in a box or basket in the bathroom too.

I hope it helps. :o)

Blessings,

P. <><

The only thing that worked with the 3 year old I've been babysitting was both a big postive and negitive reinforcement. If you do go to the potty on your own (i.e. we don't put you on when we know you need to go, you have to tell us) then you get to go to Chuck E. Cheeze. If you don't start going by the time football season starts, then you don't get to go to the first game with grandpa. It was enough to finally get him to go on his own. About two weeks before the big game he finally got his Chuck E. Cheeze day and he kept going so he could get to go to the game. Little rewards like stickers, small toys, and candy never worked with him - it ended up taking something really big.

My own son was different. It just took constantly catching him in the act or when we knew he was about to go (he would hide from us), and putting him on the potty. Eventually he got tired of never getting to put stickers on his chart, and tired of mom making him sit on the potty that he started going himself. However, I did all this with the little boy I babysit and as I mentioned previously it didn't work, so it is different with each kid. Hang in there - he'll get it!

K.

I was in your same situation. I could not get my 3.5 daughter to go. I was at my wit's end! But one day she suddenly decided on her own that she wanted to go and then she started to tell me. So hang in there and just tell him to let you know when he's ready to use the potty on his own.

I have heard that boys take a bit longer than girls.
He should be on the verge of a breakthrough. Dont worry and remember that everyone learns to go in the toilet and he will too.
I used the potty chart. My daughter really liked it. It helped but she still needed to be reminded on a regular basis.
We did the Dr Phil thing which is: have a big party in the bathroom the first time she went poo poo in the toilet on her own. That worked but she also thought she would get a party everytime she went so that took some explaining. You have to keep reminding them on a regular basis like every hour or so until they get totally sick of you and they do it on their own. It will come just keep trudging along.

I have had 3 boys, They did not make pull ups when the first two were little and I did not buy them for me last one. I have always used the cotten training underware. He probably won't want it on him and will realize it would be better to use the potty. It will be a hastle for you but should work in no time. I teach mothers Day out and my ones not trained will start to use the potty at school like their friends do. Sounds like yours is on the way - he will make it.

Hi G.. Don't give up hope.
I received some advice for my son that worked like a charm-hope it does for you too.

Let him run buck naked and let his body get used to the feeling it has to go and there is no place for the 'business' to go but out. He will learn to run for the bathroom.

My neighbor and I had boys the same age. I shared the advice I was given. She chose not to do it, I chose to do it. My boy was potty trained in no time and she was still cleaning her boy's 'business' out of his cowboy boots! Yuck!

If you have other kids or people around just try some big cotton underwear (training pants) that are very loose - especially when inside. No more diapers except at night. Be prepared to toss these. He will figure things out you will see. :)

Good luck to you both. C.