2 Year Old Not Interested

Hi J.,
I'm new at this since my son will only be 2 next month. However, I'm guessing he's not ready and was told that anywhere between the ages of 2 and 3 is fine. The fact that he's pulling off his diaper could mean that it's full and uncomfortable, or he just doesn't want it on!

All the best,
S.

I took my grandmothers advice when potty training both of my boys. I gave them juice and let them run around the house without a diaper on and keeping the potty close. You need to follow them closely because after about 20 minutes they will start to go and when they start immediately put him on the potty. Then cheer and praise him. It worked both times for me without a lot of effort. Hope this might help. Another suggestion is putting food coloring in the potty so when he goes it changes color.

Hi J.
Yep, that's a sign. They don't like being wet. But it could be intimadating to pee like the big boys, so make it fun!! Draw targets on toilet paper squares. Draw bulls eyes, animals and throw them into the toilet so they lay flat and let him aim and shoot. My son found this hysterical and fun and wanted to be at the potty all the time. Good Luck!

Remember, J., it's called "Potty Training." The key word here is "training." Training takes time and discipline. By that I mean you have to show the little guy over and over and over and over and over and .... well, you get what I mean. Showing and telling, repeating. Also, he may know enough to pull down his diaper, but his body functions may not be caught up with his mind. In other words, it is a fact that, although your son can seen and physically move to take off his diaper and sit on the potty, his bodily functions may not be totally developed enough yet to send the message "bladder full, go pee in the potty" to his brain. Be patient. It will all come together. Keep teaching, showing, telling, repeating. Patience and Training! (Mothers should get degree plaques and certificates for those two words!)
God bless. All will be well!

~EL

a 2 year old to train completely would be extremely early. and no...I do not think just because he is taking off his diaper he is ready. They do, in my experience, like to show you they "can" do it early - my eldest had success in both forms at 18-20 months - but, I thought this meant he was ready...he was NOT...and did not completely train until 3. I just wrote about all this a few minutes ago responding to another post so basically I will just say, as my pediatrician did...don't sweat it. He will potty train when he is ready not when you are ready. Don't worry, he will not leave for his first day of kindergarten in a diaper. Right now it seems like forever and that he is old enough or that it will never happen...but by around 3 he will do it just fine... don't push...from my experience all that caused was frustration on all our parts...

Just as you said, "not interested." I am a mother of three: 14yr old boy, 8yr old girl, and a 4yr old girl. Not one of them was the smae for potty training. They will train when ready. My son was three before he did and it was like overnight! My last daughter was tough, potty trained quickly during the day, but took several months to have success through the night. So don't be discouraged with out immediate success. Your son probably just doesn't want to do it. Also, I found that regular potty training pants worked faster because they don't like to be wet! Itmay be a little inconvenient for a short time but it seemed to work best for me. Also, it saved some money by not having to buy pull-ups! Good Luck!!

There are three things you can't make a toddler do: Eat, sleep and use the potty. When he's ready, he will let you know.

Hi J.,

I followed the suggestion of my Mom when potty training my son and it really worked. Make a game out of it. Put a square of toilet paper it the big toilet and let your son watch daddy sink it when he pees...of course it helps if you or your husband make sound effects. Clap and make a big deal when your husband does it and then let your son stand on a stool and try it. My son was day time trained within 2 weeks. Of course to this day he loves video games so I'm not sure if I started something with the whole shooting and sinking thing. :) With my daughters I waited until the summer and allowed them to be diper and panty free for a week and it is really an amazing way to potty train. You will see them as they become aware of their body functions and you are able to respond as its happening not after. Again, my girls potty trained within a couple of weeks after beginning to train them. All 3 of my kids were day time trained by the time they were 2 1/2 years old. My son was under 2. I thought the girls were a little harder to train.

i have 5 kids.... 3 boys 2 girls... boys just take longer, atleast a year, give him time, if you push to hard you will be creating problems. boys will just do it when they're ready. my boys ranged from 3 to 4, my 2.5 year old on occasions show interest... just give it time. in the mean time enjoy the carefree shopping...

2 year olds aren't supposed to be interested in peeing on the potty. You're in for a long haul if you're starting now. Boys don't typically show signs of real readiness until almost 3. Don't compare him to his sister - girls develop at a different pace - not slower pace, but different. He's working on other stuff with his little body, like how to climb, jump, stack blocks, build. Good luck and enjoy him!

I have 29 mo old son, Gavin. He also not interested. From all the research I have done boys take longer than girls. If he is not interested by 3 years old then worry. We put him on the poddy twice a day and still no luck. I am told tht someday it will just click and that will be that.

HI Jackie,

If your son is interested, let him just sit on the potty and get used to it. My son will be 4 in August and was potty trained for pee just before his 3rd birthday and just started consistantly pooping on the potty in January. Follow his lead and be prepared for accidents. Good luck! :-)

Hi Jackie, I would try training only on the big potty. Put underware on him and do not go back to diapers at all. He will no chose but to go on that potty, I guess it will take a couple of weeks and he'll be good to go :) GOOD LUCK !!!

It seems to me that he is having control issues as he is putting his foot in it. He has a sense of humor. Perhaps he has cousins near his age or perhaps you could get him in a nursery school setting where everyone else goes as a crowd at potty time and the comraderie will be reenforceing and not just because you want him to. That worked for my oldest. When he really is ready it will happen. Mot many 42 year olds walking around in a diaper(I hope)

try getting rid of the potty chair and hook the part that comes out onto the actual toilet. my daughter sat on the potty when she was 9 months old, went EVERY time i put her on..then stopped sleeping through the night, stopped doing most of the things she was progressing in, so i waited until she was 18 months to start again. well, by then she refused to sit on it, and only wanted to stand in it. because of that i refused to do any kind of potty training until just recently. i just took the very top part, and the cushioned part out and clicked it into the toilet (much easier if you have a separate bathroom for them, but i don't, so it's, on, off, on, off lol) anyway, she now sits on the toilet for awhile, not too long, but will sit there. we still haven't gotten her to pee, or poo on the toilet yet, BUT she's at least sitting on the toilet! hopefully this helps for you. gl.

I am potty training my daughter right now. First of all I dont believe in the toy potties as I call them. I believe in the ring that goes on the potty other wise after they are tained on the toy potty you have to teach them how to use the big potty.
Second I looked at my daughter's output in her diaper. I noticed her diapers where drier longer and her diapers where not as wet. When I finally decided it was time I put my daughter in underware. The first few days she has to learn what happens and there was lots of accidents. By the third day we where down to one accident because she started to learn the cues.
I still use a diaper at sleeping times. That will come but I know it will take longer.
Hope this helps!

Don't compare boys to girls when it comes to potty training. As the mom of three girls and then one boy, I was a little frustrated when my son took so much longer to potty train. He was completely trained by 3 1/2 and it only took a few days. If you push him too hard and make it unpleasant, it may actually delay the process. Don't rush him; he will be out of diapers by college!

Don't feel bad- our son will be 3 soon and so far the only luck we've had is offering him a jelly bean-(any snack) for merely sitting on the potty- (fully clothed, mind you). We're working on him, but I know it will take time. I think their "rewards" are motivating. Good luck!

Give it time. My son started doing the same thing at that age, he'll be 3 in a month. Encourage but don't force. He'll probably go back and forth for sometime, using the potty then not. About 3 months ago my son became full time potty trained, however, we still put a nappy on him when he sleeps. But, he usually wakes up dry. Potty training is most definitely an act of patience. Good Luck.

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Your daughter may have been toilet trained at this age but girls are almost always ready for it a lot sooner than boys are.

I have three boys. My oldest(jst turned 8) was 2 yrs 9 mnths before he was completely out of nappies. My second (now 5) was 2 yrs 5 month but I think that is because he wanted to copy his older brother. My youngest is the same age as yours, 2 in November, and I'm thinking of trying him in the next few weeks. He will go on the toilet sometimes and ask for it but I haven't made the conscious effort to try it all the time.

If your boy is showing noe interest don't force it. This will only make things more stressfull for both of you. Try again in a few weeks. Introduce some rewards for him. Buy some underwear with his favourite character on it tell him he can only wear them when he uses the toilet. Worked for us anyway.

Good luck!

He's not ready. He probably just likes taking his diaper off!

J.,
He is very young to be trained. The majority of boys train between 3 and 3 1/2 years. There are some who may train a little after 2 but that is very uncommon. My daughters trained at 2 1/2 and 2 and 3/4 years . My son was trained closer to 3 1/2. Taking off a diaper may just be an attention getter. Have him sit on the potty for a few minutes but if he starts to use it as a toy then finish his potty time and try again at another time.He will eventually get trained. If he is constantly taking off his diaper especially at bedtime, put a pair of pajamas on backwards with the zipper in the back and he won't be able to get the diaper off. Good luck!

Ugh - I feel your pain! My boy wasn't potty trained until he was 3 and a half. I wanted to push the issue - tried to have peeing contests with him and his Papa (dad)nothing worked. We talked about it a lot but he should no interest. Finally we told him to go into our 2nd floor bathroom while someone was in the 1st floor bathroom - and you guessed it "pee on their head." Disgusting and unorthadox I know. But within days the kid was set! Not proud but it worked.

At two this isn't odd. I had the same thing with my son, who's now three. He liked to take off his diaper too, but just because he thinks running around naked is funny.

One thing that got my son interested is a little game his pre-school teacher told me about, called "sink the cherrio". It's like target practice. Throw a cherrio in the potty, and ask if he can hit it by peeing. My son thought this was hysterical and will often ask to have something to aim for.

They make the potties that set on the set of a reg. toilet. I found that the sound of pee hitting the water in the toilet is what you need. Try putting water in the container of the pottie chair. but I did the first. yup that means you have to put him on and take him off. but if I guess right, you are right there anyway watching for success.

He's not ready, I definitely agree with the other posts. I am in the same boat as you, My daughter turned two at the end of last October and just does not want to go in the potty. She understands the concept, it's her own head keeping her from going. I let her take her diaper off, as most kids their age do like to be "free" but she will ask me for another diaper before she pees, which is nice, no messes! I would back off if I were you for a while, I plan on starting again this summer.

I am the mother of 6 kids, 5 boys and 1 girl. I disagree with everyone else cuz I had a harder time potty training my daughter than my sons. My first one started training at 18-19mnths. He just couldn't wait to grow up I guess. It sounds like your little one may not be totally interested but it's hard to really tell cuz all kids are different. I've had to go to the extreme of trying several different potties cuz mine would prefer one type of potty over another. They all seemed to like the ones that sit on top of The Big Potty(toilet)best because it would make them feel like big people. The cherrios game worked wonders with teaching them how to aim. You can also buy toilet targets in most of the baby depts in the stores.(I know Target sells them, but cheerios are cheaper and last longer). One thing I did learn early on was to NOT use any type of food/candy items as a reward. Alot of moms I know use M&M's and have had problems with their childs bowels. Not only that but if you use food/candy rewards for potty training they tend to expect those types of rewards for other accomplishments also. If you decide on a reward program then I recommend stickers, extra hugs,kisses, cuddle time, play time, story time etc. The best advise is to take it slow and when he's ready he'll do it. If you push too much you can get him trained and possibly end up with problems like enuresis(day and night wetting) later on and will need the help of a counselor.

My son was potty trained at 2 1/2 yrs. old. He also was not interested in peeing in the potty chair. I took off his diaper and let him go without it till he realized he had to go to the bathroom in the chair. Had some accidents, but you have to keep a close watch and eventually he will get the idea, hopefully, good luck.

just a little suggestion.....i went through this myself. have you tied putting cherios in the potty with some water and have him try and "sink the little boats"? that worked in my sons case. he is now 7. by the way my name is D.. is you need anything else please feel free to email me at ____@____.com

J.,

I potty trained my step son right around the same age and we didn't use a potty chair we went right for the big boy toilet and I made a game out of it, we used cheerios (not to eat!) I had him tell me when he had to go and then we tossed some in the water and he aimed for them and when he got done I gave him stickers one for pee and two for a po (although they need to know that they have to go, I always watched him and when he started to wiggle or go hide we went). I remember it not taking very long!

Hi -
I have an almost 6 year old son who was trained shortly after he turned 3. I didn't push the issue with him and I think that made it a non-event for him. He was trained with minimal accidents in less than a week! Everyone says that boys take longer than girls - since I only have a son, I can't say for sure but at 2, your son may just not be ready yet. He may be taking off his diaper, because he has figured out he CAN and likes to be naked. My son did that too and I switched to pull-ups around the same age. Even though he wasn't sitting on the potty, the pull-ups became easier than always finding him naked in the crib.
Good luck!

I have 2 girls 3 and 5. My 5 year old was trained 100% by 3 years 2 months. She was a breeze to train. My 3 year old is just getting it together.( She turned 3 in Feb.) Just so you know the average is 2 years 9 months. So he is still a little early. Take heed summer is right around the conner. Bring the potty seat out side and lose the pull-up and pants you will be amazed at how this works. The best advice I ever got was from a preschool teacher of 30 years. She told me in her 30 years of teaching that not one student went off to kindergarten in a diaper. So for now do what you are doing. Best of luck.

He's not ready, let him be...the longer you try the longer it will take....try again during the summer when he is running around in fewer clothes. I thought my first son was ready to train when he was dry overnight at 18months, I actually got him peepee trained within a month or 2 but it wasn't til he turned 3 that I got him all done...it was a very frustrating 18months for me....my next three kids I waited til about 2and1/2( the following summer), when they were in shorts and all three kids trained within a month...one of them in less than a week. It'll save you both tears if you wait.

Two can be young for a boy. I have three, and only one of them was trained before he turned 3(and it was only 3 months before his third birthday). I introduced the potty chair to all of them around 2. We left it in the bathroom and I would ask VERY often durning the day if he wanted to come in and sit. I almost ALWAYS got a "NO". When I stopped asking all the time, that's when they seemed more interested. (You don't always learn!LOL) There is no point in pushing, they will train. My younger two both trained completely within a month of their 3rd birthdays. I also let them sit on it whenever they wanted, even fully clothed. We also read books and have a DVD that we played, they just went when they were ready.

try treats if he go's in the potty. and let him know that he is a big boy for doing it.

Hi- I would fill up my daughter with juice and have her sit on the potty to read books to her and then when she would go she would get an M&M and a huge fuss and get to flush when she went-I would RUN and put her on when she started to poop and then make a big happy fuss-we also read books about going potty!! I also got her big girl undies with Elmo on them and when she went would say oh no it feels yucky to be wet- oh no poor Elmo is wet etc...she didnt like wetting or poop in the big girl undies and this combo of things did the trick. She is fully trained now for days and is 23 months- she does wear a diaper to sleep at night when she starts to wake up drier which she is starting to do - were going to tackle that. The demos you are doing with other family should really help:) good luck- hang in there.
M.

Yes, here is what I did and it worked like a charm. Buy some stickers and some small prizes and put them in a "surprise bag". Everytime he sits like a big boy he gets a sticker (make a chart) when he actually "uses" the potty he gets to pick a prize. It works! Good Luck.

Little boys need a little more attention and time than little girls. My suggustion is don't push too hard, eventually he would want to go on his own. But keep letting him go to the bathroom with your husband and not your little girl. He needs to copy the mans way of doning things. Also,maybe you should put him on some training pants;because by him taking off his diapers he is letting you know that he dosn't like that wet feeling on his but. Just a little patience Mom its going to happen. Good luck.

VF

well sorry to say, but some children take longer. for example my first son was interested in the potty when he was two, but lost it just as quick. we waited until he was three to try again and he potty trained in two months. now my other son, well he is lazy and now at the age of four, he still has accidents. talking with our doctor, she said that some children just take longer and forcing them only may only push them away from it. have patients, he will do it.

don't think that just because he's taking off his diaper means he's ready. does he stay dry longer? does he know when he pees or poops in his diaper? some children aren't ready until they are 3+ yeard old. i worked in child care for 12+ years and i've helped to potty trail TONS of children. i'm a stay at home mom now. anyways, it takes a while for some kids and even if they do succeed there may still be hiccups along the way, especially if there is a change in schedule for them or change or stress in their life. you are doing the right thing by introducing it, and continue to do so but don't get frusterated too soon, it's a long process. also, i'm not a big fan of the little potty chairs, what happens if you are out & no potty chair available - i feel putting them right on the toilet gets them used to it right off the bat. and you can buy one of those small seats that fit on top of the regular toilet seat so he doesn't fall in. those seats are much easier to travel with & that way he can sit on any potty anywhere. also may i suggest that EVERY time you change his diaper you sit him on the toilet for a minute or two, that way he'll get the idea. and don't just do it when it's convienent for you. consistency will get you to your goal. good luck!

Hey hi
MAybe You should try to purchase a potty seat for the toilet and sit him down there and se if that works. It takes persistence maybe praise him or read him a book on potty with pictures maybe will do the job.
Good luck
D.

Jackie,
It is my understanding that boys are not as ready at that age as girls. I recommend that you talk to your pediatrician and research this on the internet. There are also some good books on this; try the library, Borders or Barnes & Noble.

Don't be surprised if your son is not trained for another 6 months.

Good luck!

R. G.

Just don't push him,

My son did the same thing, and he is now 3 and still doesn't want to make pee and poo in the potty consistently,

Basically I bought rubber pants from Walmart and let him wear those for a while and it helped to feel it, but still he has accidents.

WE watched the potty video, and treats, and all that, but unless he is really willing to talk to you and tell you he has to go, there isn't much you can do,

What does help , but its very time consuming is to set an egg timer to go off ever 20 minutes, and then after a week ,every 45 minutes, you learn the times he pees and poos and try and help him remember to go,

this was by far the most helpful thing

Like you my first child was easier to train,

and i have a 2 year old in April who is already starting to show signs aswell, I am almost afraid he will be trained before his brother.

M

My kids never took off their diaper so I can't comment on that. But as far as is he ready? I would not push it. When he's ready, he'll do it. You could try having him go in with daddy and trying with the big potty. Or in the summer, he can "pee" outside. Of course, that opens up the going where you don't want to go, but all the little ones think that is fun... Did you try the cheerio trick?
I don't think both my kids, son and daughter were interested until after 2 yrs of age. They both were out of diapers by three though.
Good luck.

My son will be two in week and what I am doing now is putting him on the potty when he wakes up in the morning and after his afternonn nap. He always has to go when he wakes up so this is helping me get him used to sitting on the potty. After he goes,we walk it to the toilet,and dump it in, then we clap as we flush the potty. He gets so excited. It is hard to know when he has to go because he does talk a lot yet so I feel this is helping him to get him potty trained. I hope it works for you.

J.,

2 is really young to go potty and he is a boy. My three year old boy is still not potty trained, even after many bribes and begging sessions...they are just going to do it in their own time.

L.

Hi J.,
Boys take longer. In a lot of things. He will do it when he is ready. Children like to take off their clothes. It doesn't mean he is ready to potty train. He may just LOVE to be naked !
Try not to worry too much. I know it is a lot of work, and the older they get, the less we want to change diapers. But, believe me, he will do it in his own good time. You can end up creating a lot of stress if you force it.
Good luck,
P.

J.,

Boys aren't usually ready as early as girls are. My boys didn't pee on the potty until their third birthdays. The
transition was very easy at that age. I think he is probably not ready. I don't think that taking off his diaper means he is ready to sit on the potty. He has found a new skill by taking off his diaper, but I wouldn't worry about the potty chair just yet.

D.

Just because he is taking off his diaper does not mean he is ready to potty train. It may just mean he wants to be naked!

I found the easiest way to train my 2nd, 3rd, 4th and, yes, even 5th child is to let the older ones do it for me! When they went in the bathroom the younger one went too and both would sit on the potty and toilet at the same time. It never failed both would actually "go". I did this with 2 kids I baby sat for as well as 4 of my grandchildren. It worked every time!

Give it a try. Send him in with his sister or a cousin or friend. There's something about going potty with one of your peers that seems to work.

My son almost the a little over 2 1/2 when I trained him. He has always been in the 95% as far as size goes, so, we just used a stool and a seat that went on top of our seat. I also had no interest in cleaning out a potty chair : ). Basically, for about a week before, I said alright in one week no more diapers, and at the end of the week we celebrated the last diaper and then started Potty Training Boot Camp. We stayed home for a week, no diapers, I covered everything in plastic, and he was trained in 3 days. I won't lie to you, the first day was definately awful, but it worked and he never had an accident... hope this helps.
L.

Hi J.,

Aiden may be taking off his diaper just because he likes the feeling of being nakee!!! as they say on the Rugrats!!! My son Zack who is 5 now and I'm sure alot of other kids liked to run around with no clothes on and most kids don't care what the temperature is outside!

If he is sitting on the potty chair then put it in a place where he will be occupied for a while like when he is watching a cartoon or when you are reading him a book and see if he just "happens" to go! The only other thing I can suggest is to get him a little stool and have him stand on it in front of the BIG potty, throw some Cheerios into the water and have him play sink the O's!!! That's hard for the little ones at first cuz their, for lack of a better word, whohaa, is teeny tiny right now and just getting a hold of it is difficult!
Good Luck!
P.