Potty Training - Belleville,MI

I would wait until he is more willing to try. With my daughter I waited until she was talking about going on the potty. Have you tried reading books about going potty? If you push him too hard it might make it even harder on both of you. I have heard that boys usually potty train later than girls, so don't worry if he isn't ready yet. Good luck.

My daughter was 3 when she became intrested in the potty. The boys I've known were all late 3 to 4's when they got it. I found when I pushed to hard she was less into it.
Good luck, it will happen some time.
A.

Hi L.,

I'm a grandmother. I've heard that the "potty Power" video is motivating to kids. you can get it through KDL library.

For my kids, six, i just waited until they were ready and it was so easy. K.

Quit pushing it!! You're ready for this but he's not and the more you force the issue, the tougher it will get. When he's ready he'll let you know. In the meantime, praise him when he does use the potty. Take him shopping for some "big boy" underwear and let him pick them out. Use a chart with stickers to mark his progress.

When training finally does start, be consistant and don't be afraid to ask for help from family. Maybe Grandpa or an Uncle can help when it's time for him to use the men's room. Relax and give your son a little more time.

L.,
I had a son that basically took his time with it too. I was way off base with my oldest son, nearly forced him to potty train. But I was inexperienced and taking in advice on the subject that was off.
My second son was just behind in development. We tried those semi electric pads you put in their bed so that they'll wake up if they start to leak. Failure.
What finally did it was that Reuben wanted to go to Preschool. And ultimately kindergarten. I explained he'd have to learn to use the potty if he wanted to go to them. And by golly he did.
Be patient. You may have a year or two to have to wait for this to happen. Your child may be just underdeveloped. My second was. Not only in that respect but dentally as well. About 3 years slow. But give him something to want to stay dry for, a goal. And don't push it. That's the worst method.

Hi L. my son was 3 1/2 before he was potty trained, but when he learned he learned fast. Have you tryed maybe doing something special after every time he goes? That worked well for my son. Try to take him when you have to go, or right after a big cup of milk after dinner. I went from asking to telling him I had all day until he went also that worked to.

Try making some colored ice cubes with food coloring and put them in the toilet for him to aim at. This makes it a fun game. Probly wont help much with the BM's but it is a start. Good luck!

I know it is frustrating, but try to really let him take the lead. We had a routine of having to sit on the potty for a few minutes at bath time, whenever we were coming or going from the house, and when we go to bed and wake up. We didn't get very far for a long time; then one day just before he was four he did it all by himself and we were done and have never had an accident since. Another thing we had to key in on was that he didn't like to be celebrated. He was fine with getting a candy or a sticker if it was a in a dish he picked from, but no big "celebration" was wanted. Try to key in on your son's personality and just let him lead you down this path - he will do it!

L.,
My daughter was very stubborn too...I think we handled it the wrong way looking back. She is 4 now and is potty trained, but we had the most miserable time doing it. I guess I would try to keep it light hearted. Who cares if other kids his age are already potty trained? He might be against it just because he knows you are for it. I would give him more time and try not to push him about it. Maybe you could buy some really cool underwear and put them on his favorite stuffed animal and take him to the potty sometimes, but not push your son to. Maybe if he sees his favorite little guy wearing cool underwear and going potty and it looks easy, he might want to do it too, but I would expect at first he would just continue to be resistant. I think the best thing for you is not to worry about what other people say, and to try not to get emotional when dealing with your son about it. If you remain calm, it will probably seem less stressful for your son too. Good luck! I hope it helps a little!
T.

Hey L.,

My son was the same way for a long time. I finally gave up in asking him and just make it "time to potty" every hour, on the hour. We would read a book and keep that and a few other books in the potty just for that time. We also had a few songs we may sing to get him to relax and not be so tense about fighting me on it. When he started to become resistant to "potty time" then I let him to it himself. He had a lot of accidents and after a few weeks to a month they were fewer and farther between because he felt more in control of when he went and telling me when "potty time" was. He turned 3 in Oct. and has been been trained for a good 4-6 months now. We still have a few accidents from time to time when he waits too long but overall he did it in his own time.

Plan on staying home for a week and go cold turkey!!! NO PULL UPS!!! First thing in the morning take him to the potty and reward with suckers or stickers and put cool little themed underwear on from morning to night. He will probably pee his pants all day for a couple days. My sons could not stand the wet feeling so they were trained in 1-2 days at 2 1/2 years old. Take him to the potty and make him sit on it every 1/2 hour or hour and reward whether he goes or not. Reward for just tring. Pull ups are no better than diapers!! If you work full time than start Fri night when you get home. A Monday and Tues off to make it a long weekend would be good. Good Luck!!!

Sorry to hear about your loss!!! I have 2 boys and I found if they were totally against using the potty I would wait a while. If I forced them they would be even more against using it. I would wait a while and try again. Both of my boys were over 3 when they did potty train. Good luck!

Mine is 3 too and I'm having trouble as well. I can get mine to pee sometimes on the potty but pooping not a chance. He will not even consistantly tell me if he's poopy in his diaper. I tried that underware with the vinyl outer and I tell him now tell me if you need to pee or poopy so we can keep your underware dry. No such luck. I'll take any help along with L..

My son is 28 now, but when he was small, he had a hard time getting used to the idea of using the potty, too. He didn't care for the "potty chair" and threw a fit if I tried to put him on the big toilet. He seemed to be afraid that he would "fall in". Sometimes, when small children witness the "flush", they think they will get sucked away with the water. I did find a solution, however. I placed one of his favorite toys on the back of the toilet tank and allowed him to sit BACKWARDS, straddling the seat. He felt more secure, since he knew he couldn't fall in and got interested in the toy, making him forget that he was sitting on the toilet. That did the trick. Strange, I know, but it worked like a charm. Whatever works, right? :) P.S. As far as I know, this had no lasting effects and he now takes care of his business in the normal way. haha

I have been trying to potty train our daughter, whom is 21 months for a little while now. I have found the most luck with putting her on the potty as soon as she wakes up. Also, we do a sort of pee-pee dance and she gets a small reward after going. Good luck, I've heard boys are way tougher!

I had the same problem with my son, my pediatrician advised me to let someone else do it. so I sent him to spend the weekend with my dad, and I had 2 brothers who still lived at home. Everytime one of them went to the bathroom they took my son with them. After a Friday night, all day saturday and sunday, my son came home potty trained! If you have any friends or relatives who can help you out it's worth trying.

My doctor gave me great advise when I potty trained my 3 kids (2 boys and a girl). They are 3,4,5 years now.
1. Find a tee shirt that is way to big on them - hangs past their knees.
2. Have them wear it and nothing on their bottom - no underpants or anything and no pants.
3. Since you have removed the since of "saftey" that they have pants on they start to focus more in on the sensation of what it feels like to have to go.
4. The first few times he pees he will probley go on his shirt - the good things about boys is it shots straight out forward and usually just hits the long shirt.
5. It took both of my sons one long day inside the house and they had it. after theat they were going on the potty everytime. We kept up the long shirt no underwear method for a week to solidly train them and not regress. After a week we intoduced underpants and they had it.
6. We did the same thing with my daughter and she had it very quikly to.
It sounds like a crazy methond but it works - remove the safety factor of underpants and they use the potty - no one wants to pee opn themselves.

Hope it helps

My first two daughters were quite easy to train. We lived out in the sticks and I just let them run around with no pants. It was summer, each was about 2 1/2, they were outside alot so I wasn't cleaning up any messes. They could experience exactly what happens when you "go". It worked great. Then came the third daughter. She was quite the challenge. Having two older sisters didn't have any effect, a new potty chair with pretty panties didn't help and she had been dry all night for months. I was at a loss! Finally, we had a big snowstorm and I lied...I told her I had no more diapers and she would just have to wear these panties because I couldn't go to the store to buy more diapers. Granted, she was 3 1/2 and could certainly understand this bodily function. It was amazing...she just looked up at me and reluctantly said "ok". The only reminder I gave her was not to "go" on the pretty panties. Even at 3 1/2, I got the rolling eyes like a teenager. By the end of the day I found out what the other issue was with the potty. She wouldn't sit on the little potty and was afraid she would fall in the big one, and she didn't like the flushing noise. In fact, she probably continued with the "flush and run" routine until she was 10 or 11. It took ONE DAY. I was amazed. Hope this helps...good luck!

I have a friend whose son was the exact same way.... a couple months before he turned four he just started wearing underwear and started going like it was no big deal. Who knows what clicked with him, but hang in there, he'll get it one day!!

I have a same problem with my 4 year old. He pees in the potty but will not go for potty at all. He knows that he has to use the potty but everytimes he fails to use it. He is going to preschool also where he just holds it for about 5 hours.I don't know what to do. Please help. I have tried all kinds of incentives found on the web.

I know how frustrating that can be, but I think you just have to know that he'll do it once he's ready. My second son was 3 years 10 months before he was finally potty trained. Good luck!

Hey, honey, don't sweat it. They take their own time. My oldest daughter was closing in on 4 years old before she'd do it, and she's an intelligent little girl. The one thing she did love is a little movie called "Potty Power"! She now talks about her little sister getting potty power. We watched that movie quite a few times. Cute songs, just their level. We borrowed it from the library.

Hi L. - My kids are 21 and 17 years old, but I do remember the potty training days!! I put the potty chair in front of the tv when they were watching cartoons, or read them a book while they sat on the potty. Then of course make a happy big deal about it when they do go. That made it a little more relaxing and fun. This worked for both of my kids and it was pretty stress free. I always promised them a pair of really pretty underware after they stayed dry for a while. Hope this helps.

Good luck!! K.

I have found if you give a child a choice " Do you want to go potty" you give them power over the situration, and you so instead have a consitant daily routine and work the toliet use into the day so it just seems like part of the day He won't have the choice to say NO

Hi L.. Don't be so hard on yourself. They will do it when they are good and ready. A few months can make all the difference too. If he has friends that are potty trained that he spends time with, that can be a big help. Just casually talking about how they are doing. But with my first daughter, I almost made myself crazy trying to get her potty trained! I look back and almost feel a tinge of guilt for pressuring her so much. I remember someone saying, they won't go to school in diapers so don't worry. I do remember though, that among other moms, this was a very frequently discussed topic and it's easy to get caught up in the, "Oh, well maybe I should be trying harder." Don't get caught up in it! There are some moms who want everyone to know how young their child was when they potty trained! In the end, it is not that important! Good luck! But give him some more time. I hear that boys can take longer and especially if he doesn't have his Daddy to show him how it's done...I'm so sorry for your loss. God bess you.

L.--they will do it when they are ready and unfortunately, that's not usually when YOU are ready! LOL! First off, I agree with pull-ups are useless!! Second, alot of it seems to be how well they can communicate their needs with words. Third, there is a "magic point" of potty training you just have to not miss that 2 hour window when it's open! LOL!! For my oldest (now 11) what worked best was just flat out telling him we were done with diapers/pull-ups and that he had to wear underwear. The straw that broke the camel's back was he was in our unfinished basement with DH and he peed. Came up to the kitchen and it was running down his leg etc. Took one step on the slippery tile and fell. Completely potty trained after that (with an occasional accident, of course). Second son, at about age 3, much easier because he was following 1st son's footsteps and let's face it, he's just a completely different child. Daughter potty trained 2 weeks after she turned 2. Again, a completely different child. She spoke in full sentences at 15 months (what a hoot!) but didn't walk till 16 months. #2 & #3 both tried and reverted back to diapers for about 2 weeks before totally liking the idea.

Hi L.

I've been struggling with my daughter almost 3 also. We've kinda made it a game. We have a candy basket (she is motivated by chocolate) that is her potty candy and we have a treasure chest. I made a game board and she has a dolphin that moves along the starfish till it gets to the beach with the treasure chest. When she gets the treasure chest she gets to pick a treasure out of the bag. So, for every successful potty she gets a small piece of candy (my friend used stickers) and then there are 8 moves on the board for a successful #1 she gets to move 1 space and a successful #2 she gets to move 2. I keep her bag stocked with small toys, books, etc. Most everything is a $1 or less. She's doing great and rarely has an accident.

The other thing we do when she's in stubborn mode is give a 2 minute warning. If she says no and we feel it's time we say "ok" but in 2 minutes it will be time ok. Usually she goes for this. Her doc suggested using a timer also. It takes the push/pull between us away and puts the timing on something else.

I am sorry about your loss. My daughter is almost 19 months old probably in two months I will begin potty training. Everything I read is pretty saying lose the pants cold turkey for a few days and they will not be comfortable going to the bathroom on themselves or anything else for that matter. It should take less than 4 days to have them completely potty trained. My girlfriend potty trained her son at 2 1/2 doing it that way and never had a problem.

Good Luck

L.

Leave it?

After 18 years of full-time parenting, the one thing I have completely learned is that there are no benefits to anyone to hurry the early years.

If you are seriously concerned that he is neurologically delayed or mentally handicapped or is physically deformed, see a doctor... but he really will not be going to college in diapers.

Do you know anyone your age who you can tell when and how they potty trained?

It will happen, with a determined little one like yours, probably really suddenly, with no fuss and no tears. Since it is his body and his control over it, you really don't have anything you must do about that...

L.

Hi L.,
I, too, had trouble getting my daughter interested in potty training when she was that age. I installed the "jelly bean" reward system for her. Every time she went potty on the toilet, she got two jelly beans. To her, that was a very big deal since we do not, normally, have candy in the house. Also, her pediatrician told me that she had never seen a four year old who wasn't potty trained and it is the one thing that the child has absolute control over. That reassured me, to a degree!

When she had a basic handle on the whole potty issue, we made a big deal out of buying "big girl" underwear and went out to lunch to celebrate.

It will happen...try not to get frustrated since the child will pick up on it and try not to force the issue. Keep up the asking and he will, eventually, surprise you and say "yes"!

I hope this helps. Good luck and keep smiling!

There's as much advice as there are moms! Be patient - boys are little men who like to do things their own way. If he has the personality that likes order, he'll probably train earlier. If he is happy go lucky, you'll probably be waiting a while. I love his response - "Nope." That's a little man that knows his mind! It IS frustrating wanting to get past diaper days. He'll get there - and you will too! Praying for you today, L.!

My son was fully potty trained and then all of a sudden he started having fits when I told him to go to the potty. He just kept going in his pants. I put him on the couch and told him he could not get off the couch until he at least tried to go. That lasted a couple of days and we were back on track. I have done the same with my daughter who is learning right now. It worked for me.

The simple answer is he is just not ready. You do not have to listen to those who say I had such n such potty trained by one. If he is fighting it than he is just not ready. You can try the big boy training pants thing too. He might think it's cool to be a big boy. My son did not fully train til he was four and my daughter at age five (day and night). Good luck. And you are not the only mom out there that fights with this.....

I have a 6yr old girl and a 3 1/2 yr old boy (and a 10 month old boy). Our daughter was 2 when she was totally trained... Our oldest son on the other hand... I think it finally clicked with him last week.( I am doing the happy happy joy Joy dance) Everyone i talked to about it always told me that boys take longer and its usually around 3 1/2 that they "get it". My hubby was trying to force it on him, and we did the whole sending him to grandpas. But, in the end i didn't push him, let him get a bit older and tried again. He still dosn't tell me unless he's REALLY gotta go. Most of the time i ask /tell him to go. I don't know what all you've tried, but stickers were always a hit with my kids so we handed out pee pee stickers (little ones) and Poopy stickers (bigger ones). I refused to use food as a motivator, But you have to figure out what motivates him. Then last week I took tommy to the store and he picked out new unders. (all the other ones we had were handme downs from friends so it was a thrill for him to pick his own out)Ever since, all unders all the time!! NO accidents!! Guess he dosn't want to poop on 'mater. lol
Also, bragging makes them proud. When he does go potty on the potty let him hear you bragging about it to someone on the phone. Be sensitive to what makes him uniquely him. If he embarasses easily, just make a little deal of his success, if he doesn't embarass, make a big deal of it. Dance around the house, make the reward be fun and not just "oh, yea, go play" hugs and kisses. Just remember. He's a small version of a big man.

Good morning, L.!
My son was kind of the same... he didn't always throw a fit about the potty he just didn't want to have a thing to do with it. I got this advice from a friend of mine who had 3 boys and it worked like a charm!

I started telling William that he was my baby. I loved my baby sooo much!! "Come here, William, let me put a diaper on you because you're my baby." I would go on like that sometime and sometimes i would say things like, 'No, no only big boys go to the potty, you are mommy's baby, let's put a diaper on..." when my friend 1st suggested it, i wasn't sure it was a good idea. I didn't even think my son would care if he was my baby or a big boy... it took about 3 days and he was done with diapers...

Hi L.. I just got thru potty training my 3 year old. He is doing great now but potty training is always a rocky road. The best advice I can give is don't ask, tell him its time to sit on the potty. The biggest mistake I made with my older son was we did not get him a little potty chair. When it is there size it is so much easyer. My 3 yr old can go all by himself now. And the other mistake I made with my first son was we got frustrated and mad when he had an accident and that got him frustrated and mad also. When your son has an accident tell him you are very sad and disapointed but don't get mad. When he goes on the potty have a party! Bring him to McDonald and promise him something really big when he has a day that he has no accidents at all. Make it exciting and fun. Hang in there, and exspenct days were he has nothing left to wear because he has pottyed in all of his clothes. He will turn that corner. It will take some time and it will surprize you when he does. Hang in there, it hard! Write if you have any questions. I have two boys and have seen it all when it comes to potty training.

Hi!

My son krish is 2years and 5 months and i just finished potty training him. i must say its a difficult task and takes time

Maybe somethgings i did might help you.
The first thing is did was i put him on in a underpant one. i got those really soft and thick cloth underpants from target. he really loved it. i told him he can wear them when he becomes a big boy and uses the potty. then i started showing him videos about potty training and he started to catch on.he wanted to be a big boy.. so then i let him wear the underpants and sat him on the potty every 15-20 mins. after a few days and few accidents he started telling me when he wants to go. but i did change him into diapers at naptime
soon he didn't want aything to do with diapers. now he tells me every time he wants to go. even before bedtime though he goes many times every few mins but he wakes up dry in the morn. u might try reading him stories or singing his favourite rhymes or playing some ispy games or something there with him while he sits on the potty. try rewards too when he does go.

hope it helps

PG

Hi L.,

Well with my eldest son I had the same problem for a while, Saun was about 3.5 when it finally happened. What worked with him was taking him to the store and having the big boy talk. And while we were having that talk I showed him some Spidey underware (Spidey was awesome and had final say as far as he was concerned), I told him that if he started using the potty like a big boy he got to wear the undies. It took three days.

My youngest was more sensitive, it took a lot of coaching, really cool underware and alot of patience. Go with the first example! lol

Good luck and God Bless,
W.

You need a "treasurer box", fill it with trinkets that he would be interested in and when he tells you he has to go and does it he can pick anything he wants out of the box. When he does this correct you can than start to back off on the box.-----J.

My sister-in-law suggested cherrios in the potty to one of her friends and it worked. She said her son thought it to be fun to try and hit the cherrios.

Hi L. from L.! lol.

Well, one tip I'd suggest is that this is just something "we do" every day. Don't ask him, cause you're always gonna get a no. Especially from a 3 year old, they are so stubborn. Make it just like brushing his teeth or bed time. It's time to potty. Positive response and little things like snacks or stickers for the times when he goes. Lots and lots of praise. We had a song when our daughter went. "Pee pee in the PotTAY..." lol.

Are you home with him all day? Much easier for you. Every 30 minutes or so, I'd say, "Okay, come on, let's go potty." Maybe give him a book or something? This would be a great time to get a few from the library that he's never seen!

And it might get messy. But I didn't use pull ups. When we decided it was time, she wore panties during the day. And made quite a mess. Peed and pooped in several pairs. The floor. But it was over more quickly, I think, because we took it all on at once. She wore rubber pants at night for a bit, and then there were no accidents at night either.

Good luck!

Good Morning L.-

My son Grant has been potty training since last August but he just turned two last month, so he's not 100% yet but here are a couple of my tricks:)
We got a book from the local library called Potty Time with baby Grover. The book is interactive so they get to see the pee pee get flushed down and say bye bye to it, and we have a Bear in the big blue house moive about potty training. We also do the potty dance ( Super Nanny gave me this one)and Grant loves it. We sing pee pee in the potty or poo poo and dance silly so it makes it a fun time. We also give him potty treats, like 5 M & M's or smarties. I work at a small toy store and we have alot of parents who reward with toys but I think a small treat is better and cheaper!. On Chuckie Cheese's web sight you can print out token coupons for potty rewards but Grant is too young to think that's fun. We also let him pick out the potty seat, it just sits ontop of the regular toilet seat with the cup on the front.
I hope something out of this helps! Good luck

I had the same issue with my 3 y/o, Madeline. She would just say, "No" or "I want to play", so one day about 2 weeks ago, we sat her on the toilet and waited for her to go and made a HUGE deal when she did. She is pretty much potty trained now, except for poopy, she can't seem to make it in time. Our pediatrician said not to push her, she will do it when she's ready, well I was ready 2 weeks ago, so I have just been telling her every so often to go potty and she gets a treat for it which helps, 1 m&m for pee pee and 2 m&m's for poopy, you can always try this :-)

Good Luck
G.

Hey L.
Stop fretting. I have 2 boys who are teenagers now and the truth is, boys like to stay babies longer AND they're very stubborn. Both my boys were a good 3 1/2 before they got interested in the potty. It seemed the more I pushed the more they dug in their heels. Try letting them know it's not so important to you, a little reverse psychology. Good Luck!
-T. E.