Seeking Advice on Potty Training 3 Yr Old Boy

This is the same method as the Potty Train in One Day book, but you don't have to buy the book:
http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/264

Worked like a charm for my 3-year-old son.

It sounds like it's a power struggle with him at this point. He knows it's important to you that he going in the potty, so he's asserting himself, testing you. I heard some advice once for when an older sibling who knows how to use the potty reverts back to not wanting to go in the potty because of a new baby. But maybe this might work for you too. I'm assuming you have told him that big boys go in the potty and babies wear diapers. Since he is acting like a baby as far as the potty goes, the plan is to treat him like a baby all the time. Put him back in the diapers. Feed him baby food, give him baby toys, don't let him play with his "big boy" toys. And smother him with hugs & kisses, saying, "You're Mommy's little baby! I love my little baby!" When he wants to ride his tricycle, say in a sugary sweet voice, "On no sweetie...you're my baby, and babies don't ride tricycles. Babies play with rattles" and give him a rattle. When you all sit down to eat, give him mushed up food instead of what the rest of the family is eating, and give him his beverage in a bottle, not a cup. Tell him what a cute sweet baby he is. When you put his diaper on, say in the same sugary sweet voice, "There's my baby in his diaper!" Don't mention the potty, or that he's a big boy. And don't act like you are frustrated with him. Act like this is perfectly normal and ok by you (even if you want to scream or burst out in giggles). Make sure the rest of the family treats him like a baby too...carrying him instead of letting him walk, talking silly baby talk to him, even when he talks, etc. Go all out. He will soon figure out that the he can't pick and choose what stuff he's going to stay a baby about, and it won't be any fun for him any more. The cost of refusing to go in the potty will outweigh the benfits for him. When he realizes that he's a big boy and that by refusing to go in the potty he won't get to do other big boy things he likes, I bet he'll say, "Mommy, I need to go to the potty." (At least that's what's supposed to happen!) When he does that, then you say, "Oh my! Now you're a big boy! I guess I have to let you do big boy things like ride your tricycle!" Then he realizes that if he wants to do the things he likes as a big boy, he has to do some things whe doesn't want to do. (Something he needs to get used to anyway!) Like I said, I have heard this works for kids who are reacting to a new baby by acting like a baby themselves, but since you said your son knows how to use the potty, I think maybe this might work in this scenario too. I'll be starting potty training probably in the next few months, once my son figures out how to get up from a sitting position to a standing position without pulling up (he can walknow, but he hasn't mastered getting to a standing position without pulling up on something), so we'll se houw it goes! Good luck! I hope this helps!

M.

they all would rather do it the easy way until they have to clean up after themselves. stay calm and help him as he cleans but he has to clean up after himself. take all dipers away, let him search the house(and the trunk of the car, as one of mine did) for them to prove they are gone.

as a foster child he may be going through some extra emotional things.

If he is not trained but six the other kids will take care of that problem for you-thats what my Dr. said. how true.

good luck
M.

Hi H. W,
I followed the instructions in the book "Potty Train Your Child In Just One Day" and It was a miricle, it really worked for us in just one day. Keep in mind there are prep days before the "Big Potty Training Day" But this book says it has helped children just starting out or who have Potty Problems even up into there teens.
You can look it up on barnes&noble.com
Good Luck.

My daughter was impossible to train....I tried a lot of things but I think the best one for us was making a very big deal about it when she DID go in the toliet. We would clap our hands and tell her how proud we were of her etc etc. She would get to play a video game or do something extra special that she liked in exchange for using the potty.

She finnally started going in the toliet everytime this summer before she started kindergarden this fall, cause I told her she couldn't go to school if she went in her pants. And that is what it took cause she wanted to go to school sooo badly.

Good Luck!!
D.

Hello H. W,

In my experience in potty training boys, I have found that simply putting some "cheerios" (cereal) in the toilet, and telling him to aim at the targets, go ahead, sink them! It is silly to think that it would work, but hey it is worth a shot! I have encouraged many a mom to try, most times it is successful, the only times I have not seen it work, is when the boys don't feel comfortable or have other extenuating circumstances. Good luck and speak positive words of encouragement, that really goes a long way, let him know he IS potty trained, that he IS a big boy, that you are proud of his attempts, be patient and love him, circumstances are frustrating, but people are more important. You can do this, and this too will pass, this time goes by so fast, I know it doesn't feel like it when you are in the middle of it, trust me, you will miss these days when he is 14. :)

Hoping for the best,
T. M

Hi H.,
Because your soon is a foster child there might be a trama with going to the bathroom. Its important to be sensitive to his history.

I let my son go outside because we are in a secluded area and he has had no problem since. I had him in the house with nothing on his bottom. He only wore a t-shirt so he had a little coverage from his sister. Hope this helps.

Hi H.,
How long have you tried letting him stay in underwear? I was having the same issue with my son....so we went to the pediatrician and he said "no more diapers" to my son. We went home, put the underwear on and for two days he had accidents every time and then he started changing and picked it up. I just planned on buying a few packages of underwear until it worked. He loves the my little pony undies and the cars...He has a sticker chart and was able to choose what he was filling his chart for. He picked high ballocity over getting a toy and this week he wants some time at the river with dad. Good luck.
A.

My son is almost three and almost potty trained. There are several principals that I have focused on over the last year to get to this point:
1) The potty is always a good experience. No matter what I never yell or even show frustration when we are in the bathroom. If he does something that upsets me while we are in there, I simply wait until we are done and out of that room to explain the problem to him or discipline him.
2) Always give some reward for going potty. I give him a sticker for pee and a few m&ms or fruit snacks for poop. This is debated by some, but I see nothing wrong with it (and it works!)
3) PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE! As others have stated he may have some other issues that he is dealing with right now, so whenever he shows a major setback, just lay off for a couple weeks and then go at it again.

Also, if he is around "big boys" you could see if they would be willing to take him to the bathroom with them and show him how they do it. My son is fascinated with the older boys at his daycare and wants to be like them so much.

The main thing to remember is that the whole experience should be nothing but positive.

well now its been while my boys are 18 n 16 but what i did was toss cherrios in there and told my boys for each one they sank they got a nickle ...LOL i know sounds funny but LORD it worked for me .. going poop was another story we worked and worked on it and once they seen it wasnt scary it seemed to come together .

Email me I have a few things that you probially have not tryed But it would be alot of typing and would be easier if you could call me or I could call you ____@____.com Thanks

In my opinion, he will do it when ready. But i spead it up with my son by gettin lil toys that he only got when he went to the bathroom. But if you force him it will cause him to have accidents later on.