How to Get My 2Yr. Old Son to Start Potty Training

Updated on November 10, 2007
J.H. asks from Corpus Christi, TX
19 answers

I need some insight on how to get my 2yr. old son to start potty training. Because he wants to and I enforce it but he's seems to not be interested. I just need some information on how to get this job underway so he can go to school or headstart next school year.

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C.B.

answers from Odessa on

I tried potty training my 2 year old son and he did the same thing. He wanted to, but when it came down to it, he was NOT interested. I am going to try again when he is closer to 3. I think boys are a lot slower at that sort of thing. When he is ready, i am going to use the "potty training in a day" book. I've heard GREAT things from my friends that have used it.
So, like my son, maybe he is interesed, but just not ready to master the skill of potty training.
Hope this helps!

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T.G.

answers from Dallas on

Hi J., we had the same problem with my son when he was around 2. One day my husband's cousin told us although it might sound gross to let him go when dad go. So he can see how dad does it. And we use to say "see how daddy goes potty like a big boy, you're a big boy now so let's potty like daddy" after a day or two it stuck. Nothing else worked, no books..NOTHING. We were frustrated, until his cousin gave us this suggestion. So who knows, try it and see, it just may work. Good luck.

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C.G.

answers from Austin on

Get the transition toilet seat. It is awesome for the entire family, we like it alot. There is one called potty pal, but we have the Kohler one and it is awesome. KOHLER Transitions™ Quiet-Close™ Toilet Seat, White #K-4732-0

1 mom found this helpful
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J.T.

answers from Houston on

Firstable you have to be very patient . take him to the bathroom and show him how to use it,and start with a routine every day.

I have a 19 month boy he never had been to daycare until now because Iam working. The first day in the daycre he got hurt in the playgroung and one of his sneaker got ripped. the next day he come with a scratch and a boy bite his shoulder. the next day they said he scratch his face and that how he got scratch. The next day I saw a bite on his arm . tHIS IS HE SECOND WEEK IN TAT DAYCARE. wHAT YOU THINK

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M.W.

answers from Houston on

Most people I know with boys didn't fully potty train till after 3, including my son. He isn't going to do it till he is ready and you don't want it to become a fight or negative experience.

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T.S.

answers from Houston on

We used the positive reinforcement of treats when he went to the potty. We used things like grapes, raisins, marshmallows, gummy bears, something that's small that your child likes. We gave 1-2 pieces for the attempt for the first week or so, and after that he only got some if he actually did something, and we gave him 3-4 pieces depending on what the treat was (he would typically get more raisins or grapes than the more sugary stuff). Also, my sone loves Elmo, and there's a potty with Elmo book that makes noise that we found at wal mart along with some ABC and counting books that we kept in the bathroom, that helped to hold his attention to stay on the potty until he did something. Well, good luck!!

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L.B.

answers from Houston on

Little boys naturally take longer to potty train than little girls- especially going "poo", that said- make sure the seat fits your child- many children fear falling in & there little legs can fall asleep waiting to go. Get him an etch -a-scetch or something to play with ONLY while he's waiting to go - his special "potty poo " toy !LOL!- to get help with his aim ,get him a secure step stool & I had very good luck floating targets made of flushable bio- degradable paper- my boys really got a kick out of that!LOL!
Also a word of WARNING! Please make sure you secure the lid from falling down for your son! My boy was just tall enough to "reach" over the side of the comode & the lid came down on him! We are talking SWOLLEN & BLUE! You haven't lived until you've carried a screaming little boy through an emergency room with a nurse bellowing down the hall, "WE HAVE A CASE OF PENIS TRAUMA HERE! I NEED ASSISTANCE!". Honestly , people can give you the funniest looks....

Hope this helps.
L.
BlueStar Acres
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S.R.

answers from Brownsville on

When it came time to potty train my children, I used a lot of positive reinforcement. We had a potty chart with their favorite stickers that they got to put up each time they used the potty. I took them to the store and let them pick out their own big boy and big girl underware that they got to wear after they used the potty. We also did a silly potty dance everytime they used the potty. All three of them loved it and looked forward to needing to go.

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C.M.

answers from Houston on

Here is what worked for us - we skipped Pull-ups altogether based on the advice of our pediatrician and my son's teachers...for a variety of reasons. We then stayed home for an entire weekend and made it a game to go to the potty every 30min. He didn't like the baby potty nor the "insert" - he wanted to sit on the real thing, which obviously made me a little nervous! Anyway, after that, we had some minor accidents but he got the hang of it and loved shouting "it's potty time" whenever he had to go. We were done at 2.5yrs with him just in time to welcome baby #2!

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A.H.

answers from Dallas on

There are all sorts of techniques you can try, however, it is all up to him and what he wants. I wanted to send my oldest to a private preschool. He decided to be potty trained 2 months after the session started and the class was already full. He was 34 months old.

Boys like bubbles in the toilet to pee on and pop, Cheerios,fruit loops or sliced up green pepper(like a ring) in different colors to aim for... a favorite character underwear...

I have just figured out with my crew that it is easier to let them do it on their own. When they are ready it comes, no mess, no fuss!

Good luck...

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L.C.

answers from Corpus Christi on

I didn't have much luck potty training my son until I got the Peter Potty standing urinal. It actually flushes! That might be a good thing if your son doesn't like to sit on the potty (which mine didn't).

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K.L.

answers from Dallas on

Just keep doing what you're doing. Sometimes boys aren't ready at 2 yrs. It could be close to 3 yrs old.

K. Lamb

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T.N.

answers from Houston on

I bought an online book that really helped me with my daughter. Its written by a daycare worker who has trained over 300 children. Everyone always asked her to help with potty training so she eventually decided to write it down.
www.thepottytrainer.com

Good luck!

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G.P.

answers from Houston on

I know this is going to sound silly but it mite help. We tried a lot of the recommendation however we needed to wait until he got older he was almost 4 years before we found out what worked. It was simple make it fun, we used cheerios and put them in the toilet so that he could aim for them. We turned into something fun. In addition to that my husband a lot when he was at home. It can't hurt and it is inexpensive to try. Make sure he is ready and old enough.

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D.S.

answers from Houston on

Everyone has a story and here is mine.

Potty training is NOT my forte'. My boys (twins) were in training starting at two. We looked at books and watched videos, and practiced etc. By three they still were not doing it. At 46 mo, still not. One twin was almost there but the other one was messing with me. SO, I spoke with him about this first and I took him out of his three year old class and put him in a two year old class where they work on potty training. Let me tell you what............he did not like this. He was sad to be there,because he missed his best friend and his teacher. Within a week, he was fully dry. So at the most he was in the younger class for 1 1/2 weeks and I put him back in the three year old class. Viola!

One thing I must say while your two year old son is still in diapers is: enjoy your clean bathroom while you can!

Take care,
Deborah

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V.C.

answers from Houston on

Your son won't begin to show interest in potty training until he is ready. (and developmentally ready) It is not uncommon for a boy to be ready until 3 years old. Some will potty train before that age, but only when and if they are ready. My son turned 2 in September and he is not potty trained yet. He has a huge interest in joining either me or my husband in the restroom and watches what is done and how it is done. You can maybe start with putting a potty chair in your bathroom and sit him on it when you or husband are in there. Start by leaving his pants on. When he is interested and ready, he will know what to do. You also can go to www.about.com or www.ivillage.com and down load E-Books on potty training or go to your local library and check out some books.

E.C.

answers from Dallas on

My son is 18 months older than my daughter. She started to potty train herself just before she turned two. It wasn't until AFTER she was potty trained that my son wanted anything to do with it... THEN we had a huge problem with him wetting the bed at night. We ended up doing that bedwetting program - with the alarm at night and all of it.

I always heard that boys take longer than girls. I don't know if it is true for everybody - but it sure was true for us!!

Good luck! (And I REALLY mean that!)

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S.T.

answers from San Antonio on

Is he showing many signs of readiness? 2 really isn't the magic age for potty training. Many kids don't learn until they are around 3.

We waited until my son was asking to use the potty and then using it before we started. Potty training was fairly easy and we had minimal accidents. He was 2.5, but I think my daughter is going to be later. She still doesn't complain when she is wet or dirty.

But, you can get a potty chair out and start talking about it. Have him go with you, talk about it when you change him and such. There are lots of potty books and videos that you can watch.

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M.B.

answers from Dallas on

i worked with 2s for a while and what i found that works was to talk him thru it, make a sticker chart small stars for trying bigger stars for #1 and the bigest stickers for #2. let him help you so that he feels proud of it. you can also let him pick out special unerwear with his fav character on them and he wont want to get them dirty. try and have him try to go every 30 mins with a timer and keep giving him engouragement. he'll get it!

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