I Feel like My Son Is Never Going to Pee in the Potty!!! (SIGH)

Please do NOT stress about this! The best "mom" advice my mother ever gave me was when I was in the same boat with my 3-yr-old son. She said, "How many 5 year olds do you know that are not potty trained? How many 4 year olds for that matter? They ALL get there eventually and the less you push them, the faster they'll get there!" She was sooo right about that. When you tell him it's up to him when he wants to be a big boy and wear big boy pants and go to school, and then leave it alone, one day he will just be potty trained! No stress, no fuss! I did that with both my girls and it was so much easier...on me!

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I think you are clearly trying very hard and doing exactly what the rest of us would do. However, he may not be ready. Boys are always much later than girls and our pediatrician says that we shouldn't be concerned until 4. So maybe you should give both of you a break from it so as not to cause any future adverse reactions to the potty. I wish you well. My twins will be ready soon I hope.

My guess is he isn't really ready yet. My son was four before he was potty trained. He still has issues with poop on the potty and he is 5, but that is because he had celiac disease and we didn't know it. The celiac disease gave him constipation. The constipation makes him hold it because he thinks it will hurt...

I digress. Sorry. Some times boys just aren't ready at 3. I wouldn't worry about it too much. The last thing you want is a power struggle over their pee. It is really hard to win that one.

It sounds to me like you are doing great. He may not be ready yet. Playing with himself seems normal to me, but my youngest three are girls. I remember with my brother he was into firefighters. So...we put Cheerios in the toilet and he would try to hit the Cheerio with his 'hose', but of course he loved firefighters (the movie Back Draft) and we had to have a stool for him to stand on. Also, with my girls, they would see me go and we go together. I would go and then my little one would try. I hope that helps...just hang in there and keep trying.

Hi Sweetie, I am a mother of 2 boys and one girl now grown, my husband was very hands on and involved in potty training our sons. The rule in our house was there would be no 2 year olds in diapers, on top of other things we had discussed before entering parent hood this was top on my list. it appears to me there is no discipline involved, instead of him obeying you and using the potty, you are entertaining him, songs books. etc. At 2 years old my husband taught our sons how to stand up and go. I'm trying to be harsh but a normal healthy 3 year old should be potty trained. if daddy is not in the picture then it is all on you, stop entertaining him, and use reward and discipline. I hope this helps. I would agree with Peg if he was well under 2, but not at 3. On top of potty training my 3 i have also been potty training daycare kids for 13 years, and I had them trained by the time they turned 2. Peg also said that girls usually are ready by 2.5 and boys take a year longer not true, my sons were 21 and 19 months when they were potty trained my daughter was 22 months. J.

just be patient. Believe me I have been there. If you look at some of my old post that was the main complaint for me. i tried the peeing at cheerios, ice,reward system and everything else. what worked for me was letting my son walking around completely naked! and i tiold him when he has to go tell me and it worked. so just be patient and you may have to pave your own road on this one! good luck!

Been there, trust me, it took us a whole year, from february to december, jajaja.

Be patient, very... I know you wont give up, what worked for me the best was having him on t-shirt and undies and plastic sandals, and making him help me clean after he had an accident.

Potty training isnt easy, so always remember to keep calm, and best of luck.

I'll make you feel a bit better about your son. My so was FOUR before he was potty trained! The little bugger would argue with me about why he shouldn't have to go on the potty! I was ready to trade him in!

I'll bet it's frustrating but it sounds like you are doing everything right. Here's a thought. Have you ever had him sit backwards on the potty? You ca tell him he's like a cowboy riding a horse, on a dinosaur's back, whatever he's into....you can tell him you heard about a "magic" new way to pee. Might be worth a try. I'd stick to the underwear like you are--and a pull up at night. Hang in there. I'll bet when it "clicks" for him it'll be all down hill!
Also, does he ever try to go standing up? I agree with the PP suggestion of Cheerios in the toilet for aim.

If he's getting upset instead of excited about succeeding at a new skill, he's not ready yet. You can train him from now until he is ready, or you can back off and wait until his nervous system, bladder, and emotional maturity make it possible for him to notice the urge before he pees, at which point he will WANT to use the potty. One kids get there, training actually goes pretty quickly, often only a few accidents over a few days. Pushing him to suceed at something he's not ready for will only create frustration. For both of you.

Girls often, but not always, can train by 2.5. Boys often (but not always), need up to a year longer.