Potty Training Nightmare!

Our pediatrician told us not to bother with potty training until our son turned 3- while some boys learn earlier, the bulk of them aren't ready until they're at least 3-years old. Also, a lot of those younger kids (boys and girls) who learn early suffer regression later and then have to be potty trained all over again. And who wants to potty train more than once per child? :)

My best tip is to approach potty training with a positive reinforcement system. If your son knows that you're stressing about it, he'll stress about it too, and it's downhill from there. With our son we bought a couple of potty training books and gave the books and the potty at the same time as a present. Then we made a HUGE deal out of it every time that he used the potty- Wow! What a big boy you are now! I'm so proud of you!! I hope you're proud of yourself, too!!! When he had an accident we were really low-key about it, just said "Accidents happen, no big deal. Let's get you cleaned up and try again later." and then left it at that.

I also spent the first week or two pumping him full of water, milk and juice and then hourly having him try the potty. And really, that's about as long as the training took.

As far as your daycare goes, possibly you could just tell them that you're in the process of potty training, but that it's going to take as long as it takes and to please be patient? Maybe being reassured that you are, in fact, doing the potty training is all they're really needing?

Good Luck!

M.

no, no real way to MAKE THEM GO..lol
they get it when they are ready. he can pick up on your frustration and feel frustrated himself.
don't compare your child to another child you'll only give yourself headachs.
my son was 3 years and 5 months when he finally decided he would do it. my daughter is 3 years and 3 months and she is still not ready.

talk to your prediatrician,it's ok if a child isn't potty trained till 4 or so.. if you reach 6-7 and they still aren't then i've been told that's when to run tests.
we took a potty training class that was very informative. maybe you can find something like that at your hospital or psychological center.

R.,

My son will be 3 in March. He did great with potty training in about November... then decided he was done. He has just recently started showing interest again. I had to just let it go for a while because it became a total power struggle between us.

MOST of the boys in our ECFE class (all about the same age) are not potty trained. I think that there are 2 out of about 10 that are, but I know at that one of those two still will not poop on the potty regularly.

I think that the pressure can make it worse. Maybe take a few weeks off of pushing to learn, and then try again, maybe that will help.

Good luck,
J.

Most boys are not ready to be potty trained until 3 1/2. Yes there are some that are potty trained earlier but most are not. I have 3 boys, my first was not fully potty trained until almost 4 1/2, the 2nd one potty trained at 2 1/2 and the third just turned two. This is something that you can't really push. they are either ready or not.

Have you ruled out any physical issues that might be contributing to the problem? Also, each child is unique and develops differently. Heck, my son wasn't potty trained until about age 6, but he has high functioning autism. My suggestion is to offer reinforcement for positive behaviors and making using the toilet fun with stickers for each time he goes or something.
Good luck!
Jackie

First of all relax. They are all different and the bigger deal you make of it the harder it gets for them. My son went passed his 3rd birthday and just didn't want to do it - we went away on a family vacation 4 months later and just had him prepped that when we got back home it was time to be a big boy. Done. He just needed to know it was coming and mentally prepare for it. I have a nephew who was 4 before he was ready and a niece who was only a year and a half and pretty much did it on her own. Don't feel pressured by the other kids at daycare - or the moms - or the daycare provider. I know it's frustrating because you know he's capable, but that doesn't mean he's ready. He'll get it.

My first boy was 3 mos shy of 3, very stubborn. Our second son now, is 2.5 and is potty trained for #2 but still wets his pants. I just keep encouraging him and don't let it get to you. Getting angry doesn't help! Trust me! been there done that. I was NEVER going to do this, but I did with my second son and it totally worked. I am very into health, so this went against everything! but i too was sick of changing gross diapers. I would tell him everytime he went potty he would get 1 M&M and for going poop, he would get 2 M&M's. It worked! ANd he also is VERY stubborn. So any questions feel free to drop me a line! Oh and also my oldest son even after being potty trained still wet the bed until he was a little over 4. I was potty trained BY 2 my mom said but wet the bed till I was like 8 or 9! So, there are lots of things that contribute. Don't get frustrated! They get it eventually!