3Yo Doesn't Have the Urge to Pee

It's that he's not recognizing his body's signals. Since he will pee when you tell him to go, take him (don't ask) every 1.5 hours all throughout the day until his brain makes the connection with the feelings his body is having when he needs to go.

Hi Kate, there are so many different cognitive abilities involved in kids being independently toilet trained, and they don't all click all at the same time either.

I think your fella is doing just fine for being under 3. If nearly FIVE rolls around and no improvement has been made.....well then there might be something to it, you know?

They're all different.

:)

The brain/bladder/nerve connections/signals and myelination of the nerve sheaths are still developing.
That is why, per night time dryness as well... it may not even occur in a child until 7 years old.

And boys, can sometimes take longer with getting pottying accurately.

Did you ask him "do you know when you have to pee?"

I like to remind parents.. Put into words what it feels like when you need to urinate..

How about what does it feel like to know you are about to have a bowel movement?

Ok now write it down so you can tell your son..

There is no way is there?

That is why a child has to figure out the "feeling" and knowing they need to get to the bathroom , pull down pants while controlling the need till they sit down and release..

Most 2 year olds and 3 year olds struggle with the entire concept.

These movements up until now just falls out of their bodies and are captured in their diapers..

Give him time, he will figure out the "feeling" and put it together.

My son (4.5) doesn't feel/notice a lot of sensations until they are extreme. This includes knowing he has to pee and knowing he is hungry. I can usually follow his cues and tell both of these before he can!

Still, we've only had three accidents. Ever. Chalk it up to him being part camel, I guess. Plus, there are multiple times per day when he has to try - not like a schedule or something, just that before we do XX, he has to try to potty. (I stress try, so he doesn't feel any pressure to actually do it. Yet most of the time he does have to go.) We all "try" before we leave the house, during adult swim at the pool, as part of bedtime routine, etc. Since we are always on the go, he gets a lot of chances. Of course at school they have potty breaks all together, too.

When he does finally tell me he has to go, I know he REALLY has to go. Last week was our first, uh, nature potty. He told me he had to go and instantly realized that tightening his car seat straps was 'squeezing his pee out' and he couldn't make it home or back to the pool restroom. My apologies to the curb.

Sounds like you are raising my son! Seriously, this is typical! He's not yet 3, and many kids (especially boys) just don't have the neurological development yet. You are exactly right - he doesn't have the bladder-to-brain connection yet. It's completely normal. He's just developing in other areas first. I doubt there is a problem. You just have to be patient, and not pressure him. There's nothing he can do about it.

Hey I think its Ok for now, and it looks like he likes when someone tells him to do stuff like peeing. But how you tried the "BigMan" approach. Well maybe if you begin telling him that being a "BigMan" you need to go to the potty without anyone telling you to. I did this with my son when he was small, and it worked, because kids these days want to grow up so fast and also they want to feel big. maybe try this and see what happens. As far as medically speaking, i really dont think there is anything wrong. Its just a little tike thing. You'll do good!! let me know