This Weekend we are going to put our 3 year old in to big boy underwear. and just go from there. The main obstacle we have is that he still doesn't talk to us too much, there is very little communication. He understands alot but you are never for sure when he does or not, for about 4 months he has loved the Elmo Potty movie, but I am not sure he gets it. He says all the words (pee pee, poo poo, doodie) but more in a reciting kind of way cause it is just like the way tone indluded the kids on te show say it and in the same order evertime.
So Given our communication obstacles is there any advice or stpes, ( i work much better on a step by step basis) or are we trying to soon and gonna make it worse by trying this now?
Thank You for all your support and advice. We decided that we would wait till after his 3 year check up which is this Thursday. We have already had him tested 1x at age 2 but the delay was only in language and not really in any other area so he wasn't considered for any programs. We are gonna have him tested again if the Dr thinks it is nessecary, maybe see if he is PDD-NOS or borderline Autstic. Then once we have those worries taken care of and based on what the Dr says we will try the Potty Training thing. We are all set potty chair, stickers and temp tattoos, cute underwear, even a steam cleaner for the carpet. But we want him ready as well.
Hi there, I have a language delayed 3 year old boy that I am potty training too, if you want to compare notes sned me a message. I am using a book called 'Diaper Free Before 3' which includes a chapter on this sort of thing. Good luck!
Hi there,
I just wanted to comment on your post. Even though you say that your son is speech delayed, there is probably a large understanding and comprehending going on. Positive reinforcement with rewards would probably help him. Perhaps get a large jar and fill it with small candies of choice. He can get a candy for sitting on the potty chair, two for peeing and 3 for pooping. This way he is rewarded just by sitting on the potty. Also, a suggestion is to buy a potty chair instead of a seat, it might be a little intimidating at first, being so high up. Perhaps, use fruit loops or cheerios and put them in the toilet or potty chair and have him aim when he pees, maybe make a game out of it. Asking him repeatedly will help, reading books while he sits. Bring him in the bathroom when you have to go potty, maybe he can just sit on the chair while you go. Have him pick out his own big boy underwear and see if that helps to reinforce staying dry.
I was going to also ask you, have you thought about having your nearby school district evaluate him for speech delay? Even though he is not potty trained, if he qualified for speech services, he would be able to attend preschool and get serviced at the same time. Just a thought.
Good luck with training, let us know how it goes!
A.
If your little guy is showing signs that he is ready to potty train then go ahead and try it. If he is watching the movie that is a good step- my son did the same thing by reading a book and watching a movie, then he got curious about the potty. Since you are a SAHM that is going to work out in your favor!! What I did with my son was took a week off of work and strictly stayed home (did not even go to the store) and about every 15-25 minutes would ask him if he needed to go potty. That way you get it in his head so that way he has to think about it and once he hears it enough it will make him pay attention to the feeling he has when he does have to go. I know you said he doesn't speak much but with this method even if he just uses gestures that will work. Within a week he had it down. The only thing i did was at night i did put pull ups on his because kids have a harder time remembering to either hold it or wake up to go. Hope this helped and good luck!!
I started potty training my son at 3 years and 3 months of age but he was (and is) a talker! My only advice would be to go straight to underwear- no pull ups! They make training underwear that are thick and absorb most of an accident! Just give him positive reinforcement when he goes potty in the big boy toilet and see if he responds... Good luck :)
i'm more concerned about his delays. have you had him evaluated for speech issues?
also, has he shown any interest at all in potty training? ie, has he told you when he's wet or dirty or at least shown discomfort or otherwise?
my first advice would be to talk to your pediatrician if you have not done that already.
after that is all said and done, the reward system w/stickers and some sort of "treat" are almost always a winner.
good luck!
I have potty trained 2 children, and am going on my next one shortly after we move (don't want to cause any additional anxiety!). If you are willing to clean up some messes, this way works particularly quickly... let him run around naked. As soon as he starts to pee, he's going to see it, feel it running down his leg, and not like it. When you see him peeing, take him to the potty and say, "This is where we pee." Set him on the toilet so he understands. After a couple of times, he will recognize that the feeling he has inside makes the wet come out, and he's supposed to go to the bathroom. He knows how to say pee, so when he starts going, he may say, "Pee." You say, "Yes, pee. This is where we pee." It's quick - maybe a couple of days. It may be best if you wait until after his daily poop time to start the naked thing, so that he has time to understand the internal urges that lead to the external feelings that should end up in the toilet. I also had a friend who could not get her daughter to pee or poop on the potty. She got a small toilet, painted a face and mouth on it, and made it 'sing' by opening and closing the lid. "Kara, I love you, please sit on me. I want to, eat your poo poo, and drink your pee." Gross, I know, but it worked for her. I, personally, don't like the small potties because they often 'leak' on the floor, and then there's ANOTHER mess to clean up! So I got one of those small toilet seats that sets on the larger ones. They are also more comfortable if their feet are touching something, so provide a stool for their feet if you choose not to use a small potty chair.
