Potty Training My 3 Year Old! - Bellefontaine,OH

My son did not become poopy potty trained until he was well over 3 and half...he would poop in his pants every single day. I was sooo very thankful that the center he is at did not stop him from moving up because of this. They still put him in the 3 to 5 year old room even with accidents. Nothing at all works for them. They have to decide all on their own. We did a sticker chart at school b/c it was just after lunch when he was going. That worked amazingly. I had it in his cubby and every time he went poop he got a sticker. On the 6th sticker him and I had a special day (we went to the park and played...I mean PLAYED, chasing each other around just the two of us. He even picked the park!) Since the day I put that chart at school we haven't had a single problem. Bribery only works if it's something they really really want. More time with Mommy, or extra special time with Mommy worked for him. He loved it. And best of all...after those 6 stickers he was potty trained. It was just that. One day he sat up on his cot and said "I have to poop" and that was that. They have to decide. I'm sorry...but the more you push the longer it takes...Trust me...We just crossed that bridge!

As a mother of a now 4 year old....i had the same problem with my son. We would make great progress on the potty...and then he'd back peddle. I had asked alot of people the same question. So one of the things that I did -- and worked very succesfully was I had match box cars in little plastic baggies pinned up on a wall w/pushpins. Everytime he want #2 he could choose his car...and if he went #2 when we were out in public...I would surprise him and let him pick out a toy of his choosing....I hope this helps...it worked wonders for me and never had an accident after that!

I have the same problem with my girl who turned 3 in September. We have tried bribes, rewards, I even bought a toy that she really wanted and set it up for her to get if she did her deed on the potty. Still nothing. She would rather poop her panties or hold it then sit on the potty and try. And I know from experience that if I let her go without panties, she will just do it on the floor somewhere. She just has a stigma with pushing it out on the potty.

Sorry no advice here, just wanted to let you know that you aren't the only fustrated one.

S.,

Your son is AHEAD of most boys. If he's not ready to poop in his potty now, he will be soon. He will do it when he's ready. The harder you push the issue the more he'll refuse, just like ALL toddlers do. Your preschool should have NO problem with diapers or working to HELP train, not hinder. Rest assured no kids go to Kindergarten still in diapers. Your son is on his developmental schedule, not yours.
S.

My son just turned 3 in Nov and we let him run around naked. My husbands grandmother, who raised 4 boys and 3 girls, says its better to do it in the summer so they can be half-naked and still be warm, but we just let him do it in the house. When we went somewhere he got a pullup. Which we tell him is just like his big boy underpants and he doesnt go in those either. Being naked helped him alot. Before we did a sticker chart, rewards, watch a fav movie even candy (which was a last resort) it didnt work. So we tried no pants and that did it!! He now uses the potty all the time.
Just a suggestion, try no pants!
S.

Try putting a calender in your bathroom and get hime his favorite sticker. Then at the end of the week have him count them (I'm sure you will have to help). Let him know that if he has so many by the end of the week he will get a reward. I have had success in the past with that. Good Luck

This is going to be fun and tiring, my son is 3 I am just working with him, now, Like with all problems with kids, a reward system works well. A sticker chart, works great, pampers.com offers free potty training chart and stickers I do beleive. To get my kids started I woke my kids up every three hours during the night, and It worked wonders for them in the day. They were more willing to to go pee during the night since they were barly awake. put a sticker on the chart and put them back to bed. as soon as they wake in the morning get them on the potty and before bed, routine will help. Good luck hope this works for you as it did for me.

S., just a quick note from an old mom of seven (four boys), grandmother to three. There is no college or job application that asks at what age you were potty trained. Don't worry about it. Society doesn't get to decide. Heck, you as a parent don't even get to decide. Sure, you can push for it and help get him there sooner, but if you just let him do this on his own schedule (no matter what that schedule is), he will do it and won't give you a bit of hassle in the process. My guys were each over 3 when they were potty trained and it was simply a matter of letting them know they could be just like the big boys if they wanted. And that was that. No accidents. No grief. Nothing. Of course they did have to be taught how to go potty standing up without having the seat slam down on them, but then that's another story. : )

My honest advice is to not sweat it too much. I take a very laid-back approach to potty training because I don't believe any child will do it until they're ready. Plus, the more you push, the more it turns into a power issue for the munchkin instead of a potty-training issue. Even with this approach, both my oldest girls were FULLY trained by 3 1/2 (meaning no accidents in the car, at night, or anything) - they both decided when they were ready. My youngest is 2 1/2 now, will be 3 in Feb, and is about 3/4 trained....we just keep reminding her that as soon as she's ready to go with the "big kids" at daycare she can go on the potty ALL the time. She has also been detained with younger kids from it, but when we tried pushing the issue it really got us nowhere. Kids have their own personalities...I really think your son will be just fine, in his own time.
Good luck...you have your hands full with little ones and another on the way!!

Potty training can be so frustrating. We started with our daughter when she was 2 1/2 and it took a good 6-9 months for her to completely "get it". I have also heard through many other moms that boys tend to take a bit longer to potty train (which I will see for myself when it's time to train my 9 month old son!). A sticker chart worked really well for my daughter... we rewarded her after she filled 5 boxes with stickers after she went #2. I think having patience (although easier said than done) with potty training is the only thing to do and he will get it when he is ready. Just continue to be his biggest cheerleader when he does "execute" and don't worry too much about his preschool!