Potty Training - Raleigh, NC

Hi K.,

We had the same problem. My husband started to take him into the public potty and would let him stand on the seat to pee. It made him feel like a "Big boy" because now he can pee like Daddy, standing up. This got him over his fear totally and now he will also sit on a public potty (if we hold on to his hands). Before my husband did this, my son would not go to the potty in public with me.

The only other problem is the self-flushing toilets. Cover up the sensors on those.

Good luck!
S.

K., try training him with a potty seat that you place on top of the big one. This way you can carry it and place it on the public one and he will become use to sitting on HIS seat and maybe will not effect him as it has been.
Paula

If it just peeing, teach him to stand up. My son was an expert by the time he was three. If its pooping that's the problem though trying holding to make him feel secure. I would locked my hands together and put my forearms under his armpits like a harness. He always looked nervous until I started doing this and I would always talk to him the whole time and tell him that I had him and wouldn't let him fall. What do you use at home though? By 3yrs, my son was using a seat on top of the big toilet. If you're still using a floor potty that probably increases his anxiety. Get him comfortable at home being on top of the potty, maybe even practice at home without a kid seat. I know people who never used the kid seat and went straight for a floor potty to the regular seat, but they would put their kid facing the tank of the toilet. This helps them feel more secure. Another idea I know of is (if your fairly slim) you can sit on the seat with him. Not to use the potty or anything, just sit down leaving as much room for him over the bowl as possible. Then he can sit in front of you. This makes the seat not feel so big to him and you can hold him too.

I found a fold up potty seat at walmart.(it has diego on it) If you have a big purse or kids bag, you keep it with you. It folds in 1/4ths and it is plastic, so it is easy to wash off in sink after they go. It came with a ziplock type bag to keep it in. Just be careful of not pinching his legs. My 3 year old is just starting to pee in the potty and this helps.

http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com/Potette-Plus-z.html
This is cool b/c it provides a potty if the bathroom is disgusting, but can also sit on top of a regular potty, so it may make him feel more comfy using a "big" potty.

Hi K.

Here is what I have to use with my 3 year old b/c he has the same fear.

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

It is the Cushie Traveler from OneStepAhead if the link doesn't work.

My son stands to pee with the "peter potty"

Look those up as well.

Both of those items REALLY helped us.
Good Luck.
J.

Hi, my son was harder to potty train than my baby girl. Have you thought of buying one of the pottyseat top thingys Walmart and places have? You put it on the toilet seat and it makes the hole or seat child size. Does that make sense?

My children's preschool took kids who were not potty trained, as long as they were in pull-ups by 4yrs old.

Not sure if that helps or not.

Sorry, but it will happen.

hugs,
Wendyk

Turn him around backwards, with his belly facing the wall so he has more balance. Also, if you go to self-flushing toilets, keep a pack of post-it-notes with you and cover the red sensor so it won't self-flush when you take him off.

That self flushing thing really scared my kids for the longest time.

I used to have this nifty fold up potty seat I would bring with me out in public. I could fold it up put it in a gallon ziplock bag and it fit in my purse. I am sure you can get it at walmart. Here is a website so you know what you are looking for. http://www.webehave.com/BCpseat.htm (I couldn't find them on the walmart site)
Don't forget daycares have little toliets for little bottoms so he might not be so afraid. My child was the same way she is four now and does really good in public.

I have used portable potty seats that fold for my children. It has helped continue the process when we are away from home. Target and other stores carry them in the store or google portable potty seats and you can order online. I don't know what I would do without them with the amount of travel we do and the condition of public restooms are not always the greatest.

I have a girl, but I always set her on the side of the bowl, so the "gap" isn't under her.. I hold her hands so she doesn't have to balance (or touch the toilet seat!) Also, I try to use the handicapped stall and let her hold on to the bar attached to the wall. She thinks this is so fun!
Good luck with this.. maybe it's time for a urinal!

Travel potty seat. There is a fold up one at one step ahead and a different one at Toys r Us for around $8. My son is five and he still uses it for public bathrooms. I keep it in a large zip loc bag in my purse. I like the one from Toys r Us because it folds flat and very easy to clean. The cushion in the One step ahead seat isn't as easy to clean.

When my son was four he began preschool, 2 days a week, and he would NEVER go to the bathroom for a sit down. The only panicked call I have ever recieved from school was about him crying because it hurt so bad and he refused to go. He is a tough kids who never cried so the teachers were more worried than normal. I reminded him anout the seat in his backpack and he went. My sons preschool had no problem letting him use his seat. They understood his anxiety. Anytime he had to go he would get his seat, unfold it and do his business. No problem.

Good luck. J.