My 2 1/2 Year Old Son Seems to Be Afraid to "Let Go" in the Toilet..

Very normal. He's awfully young to potty train anyway, so just keep him in diapers until you are sure that he is truly interested. He probably can't control it yet - his body just isn't there developmentally. They can't "learn" to feel the urge - that neurological component has to develop and there's nothing you can do to push it faster. My guess is your child had a slight inkling and wanted to please you by using the toilet but he has absolutely no control over the sphincter muscle that holds it in or lets it go.

If you push and make a battle out of this, he may become defiant and it will dominate your lives. Just wait. Don't be impatient. Know that, even if he's not developing in the "potty" category, his little body and little mind are working on other things!

At 2 1/2? Sure, I don't see a problem with that. He's just a little guy trying to figure something out. My view would be to reassure him and stick with the diapers/pull-ups. Tell him that it's not a big deal, that it takes most little guys time to figure everything out. Technically speaking, grasping potty training at his age would put him in the minority. I think most kids are still working things out at his age.

yes normal.

boys take a while to get the potty training..

If you want to try.. put him in cotton training pants.. and tell him to pee in the potty.. when he has an accident..change the undies no big deal. It took my son 3 days of wet undies to get it.. take him to the potty every 30-45 mintues while you are trianing...

Exactly what Mom2many said. She has it right:
-normal for beginners
-praise the successes, minimize the mistakes (they have to learn to "feel"
the urge to go.
-keep urging him to go
-keep trying to ask him if needs to potty & take him to the bathroom if he
needs to pee
-He'll get it! With time & aging.

My 2 1/2 year old daughter is the same way. She feels the sensation, asks to go on the potty and then holds it but will go in her diaper. Good for you for sticking to the undies! That's our next step.

So please know that you are not alone in this um, "holding-it-in" situation!

Very normal for beginners.

Keep praising the smallest tinkle and redirect the mistakes. "Oh no, you missed the potty, maybe next time."

Stick with it, he'll get it.

If he's sitting, get a cup of warm water and slowly pour it down his front and back side...into the toilet. This should help him relax a little and help him "go".

Or have him sit and sing a silly song and dance around like a loon. Distract him and get him laughing. It might make him "go".

Just a few little tricks I used with my daughter.