Potty Training HELP!! - Simpsonville,SC

It could be because of the younger child. Sometimes the older ones resort back to wetting when they think (and not that you are guilty of this) the younger child is getting more attention.

Hi! I too have been dealing with potty training issues with my twins for about 6 months.
I'll give you this advice from recent experience - if your son was basically potty trained before your vacation and refuses to use the potty now, it's a behavior issue. That happened with one of my girls, who wanted to poop in her pull up instead of the potty.
This is what I did for a week: I rolled up the area rugs in my house and put their little potties in the living areas and did "bare bottom week" where they wore no pull ups or diapers except at nap time & bed time, and no clothes below the waist. It worked really well! By the end of the week, they were totally potty trained.
Especially if he's about to start preschool, I would push for continued potty training success!
Good Luck!

I agree with no more diapers. And do only the pull-up style diapers (they too are diapers) at night, since most kids aren't really ready to go all night until they're really trained during the day. My two and a half year old wanted to train two weeks ago, and he's really excited about wearing his older brother's former Thomas and Cars underwear. Go to the store on a special trip just the two of you and pick out some neat big boy pants. Give the pull-ups to a friend if you must, but get the diapers out of the house, and don't give in to the wily charms of a resistant three year old. He has already proven he's ready. Spend some time each morning in the bathroom before school. I got a couple of IKEA potties and have them on both floors of the house, so there's no up and down. Good luck.

I know how you feel. I am going thru the same thing. Please forward any suggestions you may have or get. My son will have no part of the potty. He can tell me of course when he is wet or other but will not before hand. I am getting worried. Please help me too. Thanks- R. A

Hello, I had a problem when our son was 4. We moved across country away from everything my son was comfortable with. We had to potty trin all over again, change of routine can change his schedule. My advise is to get rid all of the diapers in the house. DO not give in to diapers. Take him to the bathroom when you go and have him sit when you do or if you don't have a potty chair anymore. Go and wash your hands several times a day and take him with you, running water may do the trick. He will get back into a routine don't worry, but don't give in. Keep talking to him about going to the potty when you are washing your hands. You could even have his sit or stand with his pants down at the potty to give him the idea it is time to go.

Hi L.,
Don't pull your hair out just yet.
I am a veteran teacher of Older 2's (3 by Christmas) and Mixed 3's.
This is a common problem and the root of it goes to the child not wanting his sudden independence with the potty. It is also a control issue on his part and you, unfortunately are playing right into it.
In my older class, they cannot enter the school year unless they are completely trained, going without assistance. I have my parents of the younger class set a goal of Christmas, returning from the holidays as "diaper free".
I do not ask children under 4 if they NEED to go. I tell them that it is their turn to go.
Remember who is the parent here. There are no more diapers to put on. They are all gone. Don't go back, move forward.
It may be harrowing at times but you can do this. Teen years are ahead and this will mold you for the really difficult issues ahead. I am also a mother of 4. I dreaded potty training like a bad tooth but once it is done, you are both so much more independent.
Best of luck!
Cathy

I have to agree with most of the others. I would not put him back in diapers. My daughter had a similar issue, we kept her in underwear and when she had an accident she had to help clean up the mess which included taking off her wet or soiled panties ( if she pooped of course I had to help) then she had to help clean up any "puddle" that had been made.I barely made an issue of it just kept about my work or whatever ( while I was secretly supervising) Don't put too much pressure on him about the preschool that might stress him out and make it worse. He will realize its easier to just go in the poty then have to change all his clothes and clean up the mess. Just remind him when he wants a diaper that he is too big now and he should use the potty then tell him if he doesnt that he is responsible for cleaning himself and the mess up. He should tire of it quickly when he doesnt get attention from it. Hope this helps good luck! PS my 3 yo still wears pullups at night and nap as she cant stay dry yet but I think thats a whole other subject in itself, aim for day time.

I recommend putting him in regular underwear and letting him suffer the consequence of the action. Pull ups teach nothing... The child gets no feedback from them as they absorb the wetness. When he does have an accident, have him remove his clothing, rinse it in the sink, and redress himself in clean clothing. As far as the reluctance, maybe give him a break for a couple of days, then announce one morning that today is the day you get big boy underwear, let him pick out his favorite character pack of undies, and tell him that The Hulk doesn't like to be pottied on. Worked like a charm for my guy!
T.

I've read the other advice and have an additional thought. You didn't mention if it was primarily urine or bm, but after taveling our digestive systems often get messed up and he may be constipated or even have a UTi-although i know UTi's are primarily girls. He may be associating the potty with the discomfort. I'd verify with the ped. that there is nothing physical going on before I pushed for the rest. He also may be stressed out about school and may have regressed cuz' he has to go to school and little brother doesn't. If all checks out physically, I'd take away something that big brother likes to do that little brother doesn't get to do until he starts using the potty correctly again. That way, he doesn't associate 'growing up' as all negative. For example, if he likes to play with legos, obviously lil brother can't cuz he will swallow them, then he can't either cuz' he's not a big boy. He may actually appreciate not being a big boy for a couple days, but it'll get old fast.

Hi L.! I feel for you and the feeling that you may be going backwards. Just thought I'd share what worked for our family and some of my friends. I have five boys and trained them all the same (they were all around 2 1/2). We put NOTHING on them (just like Stephanie M said...bare bottom) except a large t-shirt (no pull-ups or underwear). The large shirt kept them warm and covered. If they had an accident they did NOT like the feeling of wetness running down their legs (it kind of made their legs itchy as well). I could always expect some accidents at first until they got the hang of it. So knowing this, I made sure I would plan to stay home a little more often. We would have more outside playtime or we did things in areas away from rugs, etc. I would even take them to a grocery store this way. I'd bring a towel and extra t-shirt. I would put the towel down in the seat of a cart and place them on this (this way I could ensure they were kept covered in public...I was always very careful about that.) I would have an extra towel and t-shirt for just in case with a plastic bag. I think we only had one accident in a store and that was more my fault for not paying attention...but I just discreetly went to the restroom, changed my child, put the wet items in a plastic bag and away we went. They just seemed to know they needed to be more careful in public. I'd do the same at night...absolutely NO pull-up or underwear. I'd put a rubber mattress protector and a sheet and I'd use a top sheet to cover my child (they just seemed easier to handle when wet than a blanket). They would always have an accident or two the first couple nights so I had to make sure I personally was ready for the nightly challenge. The key to the nightly success was to make our child get up. I made them walk to the potty (this was hard because they did not want to do this...they just wanted to go right back to sleep so I had to be prepared to deal with the fussiness when I was tired myself...so, again, I only did this when 'I' was ready). After the potty (they sometimes went and sometimes didn't but we went through the motions), I would make my child walk down to the laundry room with me to place the soiled linens in the wash. I would always have them carry one wet item to take responsibility. They DID NOT LIKE THIS as they just wanted to go right back to sleep. But the whole idea was to MAKE THEM UNCOMFORTABLE with this process so they would not soil themselves. This was always done in a loving, matter-of-fact way. I had my kids potty-trained both day and night within a week (or two for a couple of my more stubborn children) with this method. There may have been an occasional break through but very rarely did this happen. I know this method is not for everyone, but it really worked for us. One friend also said for night-time, she would layer the rubber protectors and sheets so when one came off, another was already there and they were good to go. Having said all this, I'm sure you'll decide what is best for you and your family. They grow up so fast and you'll look back on this time with some funny and sweet stories to share. Good luck!