Potty Training - Folsom,CA

The way I potty trained my younger 2 kids was by taking them to the bathroom every 15 mintues for a few days, to help the get the feeling of having to go. Then after a few days I took them every 30 minutes and after a few more days I took them evert 45 minutes. Yes, I did all the work but it did get them use to going on the toilet. My daughter was potty trained in 2 weeks and it took a few months for my son to completely get the idea but he had very few accidents.

Yes, it's possible he doesn't know until he goes. Three isn't that old, esp for a boy. Give him a bit of space, and encourage him often to try to go - and ask periodically throughout the day. Use positive reinforcement only and see if that moves things along. My neice was over 3 when she trained - in about a week - when SHE was ready!

Is dry during naps or the night? IF not then he really is not ready. My current three old is also being difficult. You remind him through out the day to go to the potty and take him regardless of what he has to say about it.Also tell him to listen to his body when it has to pee or poop. For my little one now she uses pull ups that we still call diapers that she can change herself when she pees in them Good Luck!
J.

My Son is 2 1/2 and I been trying to figure out about his bodily cues as well. I find you can almost always tell when it is poop but pee was harder to deduce. I finally realized that my son (if he is able) will hold his pecker right before he needs to pee. I can see this because we let him in the the afternoon be free of clothes in the backyard. And so now I am timing his reaction to a drink. The times starts when he is finished drinking ( I remove it after a while) and ends when he pees ( usually he holds his pee-pee and hides). I will at the end of this week average the times and find out how long it takes him to pee after a drink and in doing so I will be able to (hopefully) have him in the restroom in time for his pee. I am probably getting to technical but like you need something radical to get over this hump. Preschool is coming in august/ September and I would like to be better prepared. I wish you both all the Luck in the World.

Like everything else in children's growth patterns, potty training is one that has 'stages'. Those stages don't always make sense to us and we tend to get frustrated and worried that we are not helping them learn correctly. This is something I know in my head very well, but I still let my emotions control me on occasion when dealing with a potty training child. We are currently working with a boy who will be three in a couple of months, as well as with a 3 1/2 year old boy. The older boy has not seemed to have any interest in potty training, nor any discomfort when he has wet or soiled his diapers. We're finally seeing some progress with him in just the last couple of weeks. The younger boy has been doing really well with potty training and has seemed to be totally trained for the last month. We've had him in "big boy underwear" for that time, except for putting a diaper on him, "just in case" during nap time. This morning, for some reason, he has gone through three sets of clothing within an hour. I'm assuming it has something to do with whatever he has eaten or drank at home or perhaps he just has a little something going on in his body that is making it more difficult for him to get to the toilet in time. Whatever it is, we are simply being patient and getting him clean clothing. I know this isn't really an answer for your particular situation, but I hope telling you my experiences will give you some hope and assurance that your son will get it in his own time too.

J.-
He's getting close! My son was 33-months old when he was potty trained. We worked on it for about 6+ months before he finally got it. And when he did, he REALLY did. Decided that he was done with diapers 100% and dry through the night too. However, even though he was in underware at 33-months (diapers were gone and the changing table left his room) he would still start to pee, stop peeing, announce that he had to go, and then run to the bathroom to finish. It wasn't enough to put him back into diapers. That lasted about 2 months. He was 'pooped' trained without any problems. Never had any accidents with that. It sounds like your son is getting really close to being potty trained. Just keep doing what you are doing. And give him time. Even though we may be ready as parents for our kids to be potty trained, this really is about our kids being ready. Good luck! :)

When the child is ready, training can happen almost by itself, just as learning to walk and talk are natural developments once a child is ready. You don't have to reward a baby to start walking, and when the child is physically and emotionally ready; rewards usually aren't needed for potty success, either. Though you can and should celebrate, just as with walking!

You can start the process earlier, but the child will seldom be truly trained until they can recognize the signals ahead of time – usually it's the parent who get trained, to take the initiative to get the child to the potty. For boys, training is often pointless before the age of 3.5 or sometimes 4 or so. Pushing a child will often make him resistant, and everything will take longer.

My suggestion is that you back off for awhile on requiring him to use the potty, put him back in diapers, and let him know you are confident that he'll do this big-boy step when he's ready. You can continue with positive messages, books and videos about using the potty and how the body works, puppets going potty, etc. Point out occasionally that any "big boy" your son shows admiration for uses the potty (don't overdo this, or your little guy will get rightfully sick of hearing it and tune you out).

And then trust the process. That's the hardest part, probably. But enter "potty training" in the box at the top of the page to read many stories by moms who did exactly this, and in a few weeks or months, their kids were suddenly ready to take the initiative themselves.

He will train himself when his body is ready. Just remind him where the potty is and tell him to let you know if and when he needs to go. Sounds like he just isnt quite ready yet.

The only advice I can give is to do the "timer" method (if he is willing)...you set a timer for every 15-20 mins and then tell him it is time to go "try" to go potty...I usually ran the water in the sink, sometimes that helps bring on the pee:)

Sometimes all the kids need is a few times of actually accomplishing the act of going potty...don't worry, it will click with him eventually...and remember, LOTS of praise and excitement...I always went with clapping while he/she was going, a high five when it was over, followed by a Dum-Dum sucker (if they succeeded). I know not everyone is into bribery but it worked wonders on all 7 of my kids/nephews that I personally potty-trained, I liked the Dum-Dum's because they are so very small!

Good Luck!