My son refuses to go potty on the toilet at home! He is 3 yrs., 5 mos. He will go every once in a while, but not with any regularity whatsoever. If we are at a restaurant or at someone else's home, he has no problem at all. In fact, sometimes he will go several times per visit!! I just cannot get him to go at home! What have you mommas done to help with a little guy learning to potty like a big boy? My daughters were fully trained by 2 1/2! I'm going crazy! I'm a stay at home mom and he does not go to daycare, preschool or any other groups. I've tried the chart w/ stars, letting him choose which of our restrooms he wants, the foam toilet seat so he doesn't fall in, rewards, and taking him in on a schedule. He's gotten to the point where he'll scream and fight me! Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
Just stop. He is refusing and it is only giving him negative reinforcement...he is getting lots and lots and lots of attention for not going. Ignore it, if he wears a pull up all day and does not go once then so be it. Let him find out it is not an issue to you then he might decide to go to get the good attention from you.
Just stop, drop the going at home.
Back completely off. I respectfully disagree with the idea of negative discipline during potty training as it just encourages the refusals.
He is flexing his muscles, and for some reason, it seems it happens a lot with potty training. I know it did with my last two and nearly had me head-bangin'-bananas. I had to just let them be in control of it.
I reminded my daughter that this was her body, her potty, and her choice. I made her responsible for cleaning up her mess, changing her clothes (or pull-ups during the "I SHALL NEVER POOP AGAIN" phase). When she did go, I acted like she had discovered penicillin. It was a huge deal. We did not give her treats, but we did treat her like a hero. Before you knew it we had a potty trained child in a lot less time than it would have taken if we had butted heads over it, and it was a lot more positive experience for her.
discipline him for the screaming and fighting and offer him pennies when he goes (if he's interested.) When my almost 4 year old refused to go on the potty and peed on the couch, I put her in a "cold" (it wasn't cold as it was august in Arizona and cold water is warm...LOL) bath and washed her quickly without saying a word. It wasn't suppose to be a fun bath and it worked, she was completely potty trained after that. Good luck!!
If you've gotten to the point where there is screaming and fighting, take a step back. Take a break. Focus on your relationship. There is very little young children can control in their lives. You decide when and where and how they do most of their activities. But you can't control their pottying. There is a reason for the term "anal retentive," you know. I would personally not talk about THEIR pottying, at all. When it comes time to change diapers or if there are accidents, have them help clean themselves up and you do so quickly, without judgement, but without fun. No rewards, either, unless he asks for them and says he's ready to try again.
