Potty Training - Saint Louis,MO

He may not be ready if he shows no interest -- my son was over 3 before he understood it. But it took me putting him in REAL underwear for him to want to use the potty--he hated the wetness! Just put plastic pants on top of the undies--they sell them w/the baby clothes or cloth diapers. SO worth it--skip the pull ups all together!

Hi S.,

It sounds like he is not quite ready to potty train. Trying to force the issue before he's ready will only frustrate you and stress him out. I would pull back on trying to get him to go in the potty for a while.

As far as not wanting to wear a diaper, that's a whole different issue. He is 2 1/2, so he is old enough to start learning about choices and consequences. You are going to need to put some limits on your little fellow and follow through every time. Remember, consistency is a must with toddlers. If he takes off his diaper, first you need to determine if it is uncomfortable. In other words, is it too small, etc., or does he just want to run around free and feel the breeze? The first probllem is easily solved. The second might not be since you have allowed him to do this. I would gently remind him that taking off his diaper is not an option, and EVERY time he does, place him in time-out for a minute or 2. Time-out CAN work for 2 1/2 yo. They are smarter than most people give them credit for. He will test you. If you have to stay with him to keep him from getting up, for the first few times, that's okay. Both of my children sat in time-out with their faces toward the wall by the time they were 2, and I was able to milk that until they were 5. (I now simply send them to their rooms when in trouble, and they will go.)

If you don't stop the streaking, you will certainly start having to deal with the poopy messes. You have been fortunate thus far, but it won't be long before that happens. Please understand, if he is not ready to potty train and he has an accident, he cannot control it, and it would not be advisable to punish him for the accidents. You can, however, address the fact that he removed his diaper when you asked him not to. He did make that choice, and he must accept the consequences.

The last thing you can do is try the pull-ups. They may be a bit more comfortable, and they are just as easy to change because they tear easily down the sides. You can always call them his "big-boy underwear." Good luck to you.

J.

Hi S.! Well, I've been through potty training with boys 3 times now (mine are 8, 6 and 4), and my personal experience was that none of them showed a lick of interest at all until past their 3rd birthdays. In fact, my youngest was the earliest to potty train, at about 3 1/4, and my oldest was actually 3 3/4. I learned the hard way with my first, tried introducing it at around age 2 1/2 and it ended up frustrating both of us too much. Tried again just after his 3rd birthday, again he just wasn't ready. I decided to let him show ME when he was ready to do it, and one day it was just like a switch flipped in his little head and he started using the potty and never looked back. We had very, very few accidents. I decided I'd follow the same plan with my other two boys, and each of them decided in his own time, started doing it with no fuss and never looked back.
I guess my point is, that your little guy just may not be ready to make this transition yet. Don't worry, though...he'll go when he's good and ready! You won't end up with a kindergartner in Pull-ups, I guarantee it! :-)
Best of luck to you, whatever you decide to do. It's one of the toughest parts of the early years, that's for sure!

This is my personal criteria for potty training...does he tell you if he is wet or poopy? Can he verbalize that he needs to go? Sya yes and no or at the minimum shakes head yes and no. If yes then all systems go on potty training mode. Summer is The best time. At La Petite in the twos room we lined everyone up and in the beginning we just go at set times, at home you can try every half hour, sounds like a lot but they need to learn what that urge to go feels like. Do not use pull ups, they are just a different diaper to a little one, although I have no issue with pull ups for long car trips or bedtimes. Good luck to you, I have seen stickers work for some, M&Ms for others, Reward TRYING. Always stay positive, Do Not shame for accidents, Have him help clean up = ) For the stripping? I went to short style over alls and the stripping stopped = )
B.

Dear S.,
I read the other two responses and thought I'd add my two cents worth! If he enjoys going naked, make it an option only say in your backyard (if it is fenced); he could wear a long T-shirt and run around to his heart's delight. When he is indoors, make it a rule that he needs to wear underwear (thick training pants with plastic covers), a pull up, or his diaper. If he still doesn't comply, time outs are an option or I have heard of mothers who have dressed their children backwards to avoid the "stripping process." For instance, cut the feet off of footy pajamas, put them on backwards and zip it up the back or put on one piece overalls with the pockets in front and the straps/hooks on the back.
Good luck! As the mother of four boys, they do potty train eventually, but on their own time.

Hi S.,

Yes, potty training can be frustrating!!!! As Camille suggested, there is a program out there that is only three days long and it works!! We tried it on our son last month and it worked beautifully. Not sure if it's the exact same method, but the one we tried I can testify for. Send me a PM with your email address on it and I can send it to you. Kids as young as 22 months have succeeded using this... and so can yours. ls

I would suggest 3daypottytraining.com. I used it with my little girl and recently my 2 girl-friends used it with their little boys who didn't seem to care if they were potty trained or not. They both came to me and thanked me for recommending the program and were so thrilled at how quickly it worked. Both boys were about your sons age and they are both potty trained now, even at night. Hope that helps.

He's not ready. Keep diapers on him and try again when he turns three. Boys typically potty train after age three, between age 3 and age 4, some even later. Mine decided he was ready and did it himself at 3 1/2 years. I had been introducing it since he was two, but he wasn't ready.

I DONT recommend the 3-day program these other moms are suggesting. It might work for some but it can be pychologically damaging for others and cause them to hold in cause they are afraid to go in the potty or the diaper so they hold it and it can cause constipation and irritable bowel syndrome. Then you have to go through using miralax laxative and it will just be worse then waiting. I went through this with my son and will definitely not be doing this way with my daughters.

One thing I did with my son was dish soap in the potty. He loved making bubbles. I figured anything to get him to use it was great. Also ditch the pull ups go straight to regular underwear. My son hated the true wetness and it only took a few acccidents to get him trained. He was 2 1/2. Best of luck to you!!