Yet Another Potty Training Question.

I did the three day potty training method and it worked in a little over a week ha ha. They start by having you kid say goodby to the diapers so when you get low and/or are ready to give them up completly take a week to say good by let him count how many are left and then say good by to the last one. At the same time rev up being a big boy, no more laying down to get changed or put on clothes, big boy toys are a nice motivator and let him pick out some big boy undies or find some like his daddy has. Set the potty up and let him play with it, sit on it, pretend potty (including celebrations). Then get at least one gender specific book that has real kids not cartoons useing the potty and read it to him every day (sounds silly by my doctor recommended this and for us it mada a huge difference). Then set up a reward system for sitting on the potty, going pee on the potty and going poo on the potty make each treat a little bigger and the celebration grander for each stage. I gave up twice before I was ready to commit to no diapers, and finally my son asked to wear big boy pants so sometimes you just need to keep suggesting until it's his idea. Also let him go on the floor and have him help you clean it up, having my son change his own wet pants a few times and wipe up some messes on the floor made him understand and enforce the big boy idea. Of course kids are all different so this is what worked for us and hope it helps you. Try not to get discouraged as we found out negative reinforcement set us back more than once. Keep it positive and when he is ready it will happen.

M. - You and your son are doing great! He is exercising control and independence at the same time, which is great for him, not so great for Mom! :) I definitely agree that you do not need to press the issue - at 2 1/2 he is doing great. I would let him continue to roam around bare and put on a diaper when he requests it - at least that way you know when he needs you to take care of it. I don't believe that this process is a one-day process. It is a natural progression. Enjoy your son and lessen your stress by letting him work it out on his own time table. After all, I've never seen a college student wearing diapers. :) Wishing you much joy and success!!

Potty Training is so frustrating for both the child and the parents I know! Things that helped with my daughter were rewards like candy (m&m's, twizzlers, gummy bears) my daughter also really likes stickers so I created her a sticker chart and everytime she went potty she got to put a sticker on the chart! A very helpful book is 'Potty Train your Child in Just One Day'-Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro written by Teri Crane, I liked this book because it gives several ideas and lots of very helpful advice to help with the frustration! It took my daughter a good year of on and off interest before she finally started to take it seriously and the way this book is written is very detailed and helpful. I got it at Wal-Mart. Another thing I learned with my daughter is lots of comparison, if there is any older children in your family or neighborhood that he looks up to, use bribes like "well so and so (child's name) is a big boy and he goes potty on the big potty, wouldn't you like to be big like him?" This worked well with my daughter cause she has an older cousin that she really looks up to and adores! And she is always wanting to do things that she is doing.
Well I hope this helps, the best thing to do is to just be patient, your son will take it seriously when the time is right.
Good Luck!

have you tried rewards? If he can hold it and wait until he has a diaper back on he is fully capable of being potty trained. I just wouldn't put a diaper back on him. tell him he has to use the big potty and if he does he can have an m&m or a sticker or whatever you want for the reward. once he is good and potty trained he wouldn't need treats but for starting out it really helps. There are also lots of good videos and books out there for kids to help them get excited about using the potty so he might like to see some of those too.

Beware of rewards. When I was training my 2nd and offering rewards, my first was sad because she didn't get rewards for going potty. She was already potty trained. I don't agree with rewards. Just use patience and consistancy. My 2nd was trained at 2 1/2 and I used a "beep". Used a timer every 1/2 hour and sat her on the toilet. After awhile she was annoyed with it and told me she didn't have to go when the alarm went off, but went when she had to go. No experience with the boy training. But let me know how it goes because I have a 10 month old boy that will eventually have to be trained, and I heard boys are more difficult.

Rewards can backfire when you stop using them. I would take him to the store, and let him pick out some undies, and then I would just tell him when the diapers are gone we are gonna start wearing the underpants, because you think he can pee in the potty. Maybe make a paper chain so he can count down the days to "Potty Time!" 2 1/2 is a great age to be matter of fact wih kids. I weaned my dd from her pacifier at this age by telling her it was time. I don't have any experience PTing a kid that age, mine were done by then.

I think it's great that he's doing so well and while I agree with the others that he definitely COULD be potty trained, I disagree that you should not do diapers again and force the issue. He's learning about his body and exercising control. What you're doing now is absolutely perfect! Just continue to ask/suggest, but do NOT push the issue, that'll only delay the process. Talk about it lots and when he's ready, you'll know!! Trust me! It's soooo much easier if you back off and let him do it on his own...and as I'm sure you've heard, boys take longer...my little guy did the same things as yours as early as 2 years old, but wasn't fully potty trained until after he turned 3. Just some food for thought! Good luck!