Potty Training/naps

You're absolutely right boys and girls don't do things the same. Boys do tend to toilet train later. Neither of mine was completely finished with the process until 3 1/2. Be patient! He'll get there.

Well, I can't help you with the potty training because my son is 2 years and 3 months, and he is not interested either!

I do have some advice about the naps, though. I think that 3-4pm is too late to be taking a nap. My son has started to give up naps too. If he is interested in a nap, he will go down between 1 and 2, and then sleep for about 2 hours. He will then go to bed around 8:30 or 9. If he doesn't seem tired before 2, then I don't bother trying to make him nap. He just goes to bed really early those days (7:30!)

You can also try to instill a "rest period" after lunch. This way you can still get some quiet time, even if he doesn't sleep. I hope that helps! Good luck!

Many children continue to take a nap a day, even through kindergarten - and in fact, once a child starts at preschool or kindergarten, they usually really NEED that nap after school. Let your son decide when he will give up his naps - you can't force a child not to nap when they are really that tired.
What you CAN do is change the time of day in which he takes his nap. As a general rule from my ped, there should always be at least 4 hours between a child waking up from their last nap and bedtime. Try wearing him out early in the day and see if you cant get him to take his nap from 1-2pm as opposed to 3-4: he might be more likely to go to bed earlier. When it comes down to it, you just have to set consistant naptime and bedtime times and routines, and stick to it. Remember YOU get to decide when he goes to bed, not him.
As far as the potty training goes, boys are MUCH more difficult to potty train, especially when it comes to their poop. They seem to feel an attachment to their excrement unlike little girls who just want to wear pretty panties and be done with it. You just have to keep on every day with putting him on the potty - have him tell you before he needs to go (and at this age, they have good control over the muscles that control urine and poop) and have him sit on the potty or potty seat. Again, all you can do is be consistant and keep on with the training - dont let him decide that he is going to wear diapers forever, because many little boys (and men. LOL) would be content to wear diapers for the rest of their lives.

Potty training....a three year old. Well my way worked...you have to be consistent for 3 days and you're done. My baby was coming soon so I suggested he give up the diapers cuz he would be the big guy now since the baby would need lots of things he didn't need any more....He said no.....he would keep them on. I said okay I am done cleaning up the diapers but you can keep them on if you clean up after yourself....that means taking the diaper off washing it off in the diaper bucket...and washing yoursself off in the tub.......HE did this two days and said what a lot of work......and decided to use the toilet after that.
Naps.....kids that stay up late are miserable to get on a schedule later as they get older. And for their own good, they need to go to sleep earlier as well as for you.........no alone time in a already stretched household job with kids will slowly make you crazy.
I also would suggest asking your husband to get some help around the house or ask him if he can work more hours as the kids get a little older. You are stretched.
I am the mother of three 18, 21, and 25 and a grandma of a 20 month old. Good luck.

Hi C.,

Where do you live? I'm in Fresno, CA.

V.

Hi Chystal -
I have twin boys that just turned 3 (July 28th). They are not intrested in the potty either. I talked to the Dr about it on their 3 year old well care visit. He said that he would wait another 3 or 4 months. I am not sure if this was because they are twins or not. But, just wanted to let you know that I am going thru the same thing.
On naps..... my boys haven't been taking one for awhile. They are pretty pooped by 4:00pm. So I just feed them dinner early and put them to bed about 4:30 or 5:00. They both sleep thru the night until 6 to 7 am. Since its still light out during this time, I have some block out shade in their rooms. This of course might not work for everyone, but my boys are so well rested and the result is happy boys through out the day.:) And I also get a nice break in the evening. I also have a 5 year old so I get to spend some one on one time with her.

Hi C.,
If it's any help.. when my brother was younger (17 yrs ago!) he wasn't potty trained till he was about 3ish. He also had very sensitive skin and would cry if he didn't like his diaper being wet. But what we had found out was that with him it was more of a comfort thing for him to be in his diaper only when it was dry. If you're lucky you may be able to get him potty trained before he ends up growing out of the baby diapers( we useed to tell my brother that all the time. until we had placed him in one of the adutl duapers.. He didn't like that too much but it got him motivated to learn to use the potty.

Hi C.,
My son is going to be 4 in Dec. He is stil in pull ups at night. I have tried the potty training for nights, I wrote in here asking advice too. Day or night, they'll go when they're ready. Always suggest it so they remember their choices, but ultimitly, it's up to him. He'll feel comfortable and excited and make the big climb. Yes, though, girls train faster usually.
As for napping, my son is the strangest napper. He's never had a nap routine. My own fault I suppose. Anyway, he really needs it some days and other days he doesn't. There is a way to somewhat control this. I run all my erronds as early as possible. I get him all hyper and energetic, (we play 3 year old style, runing, skipping, baseball, dancing...)right before lunch. Then, I get his belly full, and he's out. If he happens to fall asleep in the late afternoon, I limit it to 15-30 minutes, then I wake him up. It's hard sometimes, but I get exhausted when he's up until 11 or 12. Well, that's all the suggestions I have. I hope you find a good way for both of you . ~A.

Hi-

I agree w/the other moms, try to get him to nap earlier. You also might want to limit it to just an hour & then wake him up. I have 2 boys (6 3/4yrs & 2yrs) & my youngest is the busiest beaver so I absolutely understand about needing a break during their nap times! My older son gave up the nap at 3 when he gave up the binky. I wasn't expecting this to happen & wasn't too happy about it! I knew he still needed that nap time but no matter what I did he just couldn't get to sleep w/o that binky. So, we stayed out most afternoons after preschool til about 4p or 5p & he was good & tired. Then he'd be ready for bed by 7:30p-8p. Maybe you could try this as well. As far as the potty training....there's no use trying to push him in any way to pitty train. As you know, kids can be very stubborn & want to do things on their own time line. When he's ready, he'll do it. For now, encourage him to sue the potty throughout the day & before bed. Good luck!

Some 3 year olds definitely still need naps, in fact a lot of kids nap right up to the summer before Kindergarten. My son is 3.5 and he still naps 2 hours a day. We get up at 7, he naps 12:30-2:30 and then is ready for bed by about 8:30.

We are struggling with potty training too - he knows what to do but doesn't care or doesn't want to stop and initiate it on his own. Someone suggested to me to let him stand up (on a stool if he can't reach) and aim for cheerios in the toilet, to make it something fun to do. Maybe try that? Good luck!

I have an almost 3 yr old son who just decided a couple weeks ago that he wanted to be potty trained. My daughter didn't do it until she was 3 either. According to the ped that is normal timing. All kids are different though and they need to do it on their own or they won't be too resecptive. If you do really want him trained though you need to do away with diapers or pull ups all together during the day. Put him in underwear and let him learn. You'll have to clean up the messes for a while, but it works. Eventually. As for naps. My kids ped says they need naps until about 4 yrs old. I put all 3 of my kids down at the same time right after lunch at 1:00pm. My 4 yr old reads and has quiet time while the boys nap. You should set a routine and if he's tired he'll fall asleep, otherwise just have him rest. I know it's hard to stop the running around...try putting a baby gate up so he can't leave his room and take the toys out. Good luck!

Dear C.,

No, no and no, do not give up the naps - you both need for him to rest during the day. Also, he would be setting the rules if you let him give up his nap, and you and Dad need to make the rules and enforce them too. Make him go to his bed for a nap after lunch. If he doesn't go to sleep, then he can get up at 1:30 or 2:00, no later than 2:00 - then he can run and play for a long time before dinner - then bath and bed and so on after that. NO MORE 11:00 - You need that evening time to recuperate and spend quality time with Dad.

I know that I sound bossy, but I feel that this is very serious - you are beginning your lifelong relationship with your son, and you have to win this one for sure. Also, he does need rest in order to keep up the play pace.

I am 76 now, and when I do too much during the day, then it is hard for me to relax and get to sleep, and that is the way that kids are too. As we get older we understand children better. We get cranky when we are tired, are picky about our food, fall , stumble, and forget - just like they do. I even have tried to cry once or twice. But couldn't quite get it out. Sincerely, C. N.