Potty Training Issues for a 33 Month Old Boy

I started potty training my son at the same age. It took about three months to get #1 down. Then another 5 months to get #2 down. He would not poop in the toilet. It got so bad he was constipated ALL the time. Then little by little he would poop during convienient times (morning or night, only in a pull-up when he had it on)
Then on his own he decided when he was ready to poop in the toilet. It was a very frusterating experience, but it's made me realize that they will do at their own pace. Eventually it will all be over, but when they are ready.

Hi J.,
I know how frustrating potty training can be with boys. I am a mom of 3kids 1boy he was the hardest to potty train.
maybe if you let sit on the big toilet he will be more apt to think he is being a big boy. And your speach theropist may have some thing about some extra help. But I would really try having him go #2 on the big pottie even if you have to get one of those seats that makes the hole a little smaller. Good luck and have a great day! G.

I started potty training my son when he turned 3 years old. Before that it was such a struggle. Finally at 3 HE decided he was ready. Firts he started to do #1 in the toilet, then after about 2 1/2 months he started doing #2. It all happened when he was ready. When I tried too early it was always a fight. It was much easier when he was a little older. It only took about 2 days to get him to go #1 and like I said after a couple of months, it only took a couple of days for him to start going #2 on the toilet. Maybe you son is not fully ready yet, maybe think about giving it a rest for a little while and really pursue it again in a couple of months. Good luck! I really do not think you have to worry about getting in a behaviouralist in a this point. I think that is jumping the gun just a bit. Give it some time. It will all happen when your son is ready!

By what you say, it sounds to me like he is maybe possibly bored by doing what is expected of him for some reason. I'd agree to maybe look into some kind of behavioralist if she has recommendations on who, just to find out the whys to know how to approach it to most effectively support and help him. There may be an underlying struggle that is just particularly made evident through potty training, and when helped how he needs it, struggles like potty training could fall into place. Best wishes to you!

I just went to a very helpful seminar on potty training kids with special needs. One other parent's son was also standing up for pee and was not yet pooping on the potty. She was informed that he would need to sit back down on the potty for peeing (i.e. take a step backwards) until he was pooping there too. This sounds strange but it makes sense, just how to do it is another issue. Sorry I cannot speak to the "behavioral" part of it. This is not so uncommon even in kids without behavior issues. Hang in there!

Hi J.,
I have two boys -- 5 and 21 months. My 5 year old started potty training (peeing on the toilet) when he was around 2 or 2 1/2. It wasn't until he was over 3, though that he was pooping on the toilet. He wasn't fully potty trained until probably 3yrs, 5 months. I knew several other boys at the time who potty trained on roughly the same schedule. I think for boys it takes a little longer. Everyone told me that when he was ready it would go smoothly. I wasn't sure that I believed them, but it turned out to be true. 33 months is not old for a boy not to be potty trained, I don't think. I hope this is helpful. K. (loving mom 2 beautiful boys)