Potty Training - Brooklyn, NY

T., I potty trained my son when he was 3 over a weekend. I bought boy underwears for him but with characters that he liked such as Elmo and some superheros. I had him walk around the house in just his underwear and a top all weekend long. this is so he can get used to it. I also played the Elmo goes to potty video over and over for him to watch. It's a great, easy and fun way for the kids to understand that they are getting older and should now use the potty. it also makes it less scary for them. I would ask him about every 10 minutes whether he had to "go". Most of the time he said no and of course there were accidents. When he wet himself I would just clean him up and put on another clean underwear and tell him nicely, that next time he should do it in his potty. After a few more accidents, he actually peed in the potty! For the 2nd day he was better. At night time he slept in pull-ups but the day was for underwear. This is like a cold turkey method but it worked for me and I read from the Internet that it works for a lot others as well. The trick is to stay with it and not switch too many methods.

hi T.;

all i can offer is that my son who is 3 yr 5 mos DETESTS the potty and he is so insistent and inclined to tantrums and power struggles that i am just waiting it out. which is all to say that if your son won't use the potty now, try not to worry too much even though you'd like things to be different. every parent that's at home w kids this age who's opinion i respect on a variety of issues, has assured me that boys are often not trained till 4 and even a bit later. it's annoying, but with some kids who won't be coerced, bought, or threatened, there's nothing you can do.

i have also found that underpants are a waste at this point; my son poops in them and they are too cheap and then too gross to bother washing so they go in the garbage. a waste. literally.

anyway try not to stress him out, or yourself. and ask your mom, maybe you were resistive, too.

as my mom would have said, "I never saw a bride in diapers."

as i always add, "Or a groom for that matter."

j

Dear T.

Don't give up!! Do not go back and forth between diapers, pull ups and underwear. I am not a fan of pull-up they are a glorified diaper. Purchase cloth training underwear they are thick so when there are accidents it will not be to messy. I think Target sells them. Only use diapers at night. Make a commitment to stay home on the weekend let him run around in the cloth training underwear and just keep taking him to the potty. When he has an accident just change him and go about your business do not engage him in any conversation. He could just be looking for the attention. Just put the cloth underwear underwear and say your a big boy remember you have to use the potty. Do not wait for him to tell you try to take him every hour or after he drinks liquids. If you go back and forth he will be very confused and forget what he is wearing and what he needs to do. Unfortunately you have to stay on him, but do not yell just keep reminding him. I know its a pain but it does work if you are consistent. Try a reward system, something that is favorite thing to do with you go to the park, read a story etc. maybe it will be incentive to go. Good luck!

Maybe you can try purchasing peter potty urinal

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5301812

My son is 23 months, and have been using his urinal since 19 months. My nephews came over and he watched them use the urinal and now he tells me peepee all day. So maybe when you go to the bathroom he can stand at his urinal and to him it's a game. I even let my son add the water to flush the urinal.

Well you can go either way. You can force them into a very rigid routine of every 20 minutes on the potty whether they have to go or not.

Or the other alternitive is just wait until he's ready. Showing some sort of interest again.

Hi T. - I had great success with an e-book at www.3daypottytraining.com. $26 very well spent. It worked perfectly with my 3-year-old son.

Good luck to you.

Get (from the library if you can, you'll need it only one day) Toilet Training in Less Than a Day:

http://www.amazon.com/Toilet-Training-Less-Than-Day/dp/06...

I used it with my son, recommended to friends who all used it with great success. It was written in the 70's England, so the language is sometimes a little dated and sexist, but the method is incredibly sound.

K.
www.dailymastery.com