Potty Training - Geneseo, IL

C., my favorite approach (given to me by the mother of three adult men) is to wait until the boy is good and ready (for my sons, it means around 3 years old) and then, on a warm spring day, let them run around the house without anything on. It will take a day or so for them to learn. My oldest never had an accident after that. I put pull-ups on him for naps and to sleep at night. He only needed them for naps for a few weeks and maybe a year for night time. The cheerios peeing game, bribery, new underwear, etc.--none of that ever worked for me. Good luck!

When my son turned 2, we started putting him on the potty at certain times during the day... when we got him dressed in the morning, when we put his pj's on, at bath time, when he asked, etc. just to get him used to it. Sometimes he would go, other times he wouldn't. At 31 months, he started going every time that we put him on, so we got rid of the diapers completely, put on underwear (only putting on pullups OVER the underwear at night), had to clean up a few messes, but within 3 days, our little boy was 100% potty-trained (well, for pee; poop took about a week longer). We didn't start having him stand up until he was trained for a few weeks, but I am sure that is all preference. Right now, I would just put him on the potty a few times throughout the day... maybe not every diaper change, or he's going to start hiding when he needs to be changed - that will take too much time out of play time! The point right now is to get him used to it and not be scared of it when the time comes. Good luck!

He is probably more willing to go at Daycare, because his friends all go too. It is also part of a routine that the teacher has. Most kids are trained (not really, just seems that they are because they are used to the routine of going) at daycare before they ever “get it” at home.
Just give him time, let him lead.
At home I let my 2.5G be butt necked, it didn’t take long, and it was kind of a pain, just get some carpet cleaner.

C.,
I didnt really didnt "push" with my boys, but rather made it fun.... Try keeping fruit loops on hand and a stool so he can stand rather than sit... put a few loops in the bowl and let him aim..boys love it lol if he wont stand and wants to sit put a cpl drops of food coloring in and let him change the color of the water with potty....
Good Luck...
T.

They say it's a little harder for some boys, because they have to learn the feeling of 2 jobs where girls perhaps it is a little more natural sensation.

My little boy was taught to stand watching daddy and we put a square of toilet tissue in the pot and had him sink the paper. When he did he got an M&M. He loved the game and it worked quickly. We tried at 18 months, because my MIL said he was "smart enough", well he wasn't ready, but at 2 he was. The Peds now say don't worry, there is no set age and often when we push too much it has an adverse affect. He won't want wet or poopy pants forever I promise.

Make it a fun game have a bowl of m&m's or something he likes and everytime he goes on the potty he gets some.Also make a potty traing sticker chart with his name on it and let him put the sticker on every time. It makes them feel important. I put cheerios in the toilet for my boys and had them try and pee on them it also teaches them AIM!! Hope this helps

I have four kids and each child is ready at their own time to potty. It is probably fine for daycare to have him sit on the potty and get familiar with it. Kids need to know there is no shame in being on or around the potty. It is a natural fact of life. My youngest is 2 1/2 and is not potty trained but he is sitting on the potty sometimes. I had two of my older children learn to potty at daycare (one at 2 yrs 7 mon & one at 2 yrs 3 mon) and they didn't want to potty at home right away and one that learned at home but had trouble learning at daycare (2 yrs 10 mon). When it is just our family at home we generally leave the bathroom door open so the toddler can come in and see there is no shame in the bathroom issue. If you feel that daycare is pushing the issue too much then have a talk with them. They may also be able to provide you with some insite on training. I would just make sure they aren't pushing him too much.

I work in an infants/toddlers daycare room and I have learned through potty training many children that it doesn't need to be an option for them to choose yes or no. At the center where I work we check and change every hour, and when its time to use the potty we just tell the children that its time for potty party. Usually if they know there isn't a choice in the matter they don't fight it at all. It just becomes part of the routine during the day. The key is consistency. You need to decide how frequently he needs to go on the potty and just make it a part of the routine. At the center where I work we offer them a choice of rewards, such as a sticker or a washable stamp on their hand. A toddler will always say no to change so if he is offered a choice you can plan on that for the answer.

Hi C.,

I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter and a 16 mo. old son. My daycare also started my daughter on the potty at about 18 months or so. All of the children sat on the potty and at least tried, which I think is great, as it familiarizes them with the whole thing. I was not very good at practicing at home as I was pregnant at the time and just not ready to "deal" with it. She wasn't completely potty trained until she was about 2 years and 9 months. But, what really helped was giving her some kind of treat when she was sucessful going. I used advent calendars! She loved popping open the paper and getting a piece of chocolate. I think I bought 10 calendars because they are obviously seasonal. I put the extras in the freezer. It certainly didn't happen overnight and she had issues with "#2" as well. She always wanted a diaper on for that. But my pediatrician, who has 5 kids, said that he just told them that there were "no more diapers". She had a few accidents and was constipated. But within two weeks she finally understood that she needed to go on the potty and there really were no more diapers. I think when the parents get serious (about whatever it is) then the kids get serious. They always take your lead! I remind myself of this "motto" all the time. Hope this helps.

Hi C.,
If he doesn't have any interest in it, don't push him. He will start to resent it and probably take longer to train. I have a 4 year old that was fully potty trained at 3. I was happy with that. If he is doing well in daycare that's great but don't push it. Personally I would ask him to sit on the potty when you change him but if he doesn't want to I wouldn't worry about it. Good luck.
Chris