Potty Training Revisited

[JaneDoe]

My 3 year old ds is not anywhere close to being potty trained. In the past, he has peed in the potty on maybe 5 occasions. I really believe he understands the concept, but simply has no interest in using the potty. I'm not forcing it on him, but I am asking if he wants to try and use the potty or telling him it's time to use the potty. He either says no he doesn't have to use it or throws a fit if I try and take him. So, I just stop. He does want to wear his Thomas the Tank underwear. In fact, he asks to wear them. I used to let him and then he would just wet in them. Now, I say he can't wear them until he shows me that he wants to use the potty.

After my experience with potty training my dd, in which it didn't happen until she decided she was done with diapers, I do believe in letting my ds train when HE is ready. Nonetheless, what can I do to encourage him to make the decision.

I was really hoping to have him at least partially trained before preschool starts in September, but *sigh* I don't think it will happen. Any thoughts on potty training boys?

[DCJenn]

You know what worked? Peer pressure. I did all of the screaming and cajoling and begging and bribing and generally made us both miserable. Yeah, Week TWO of preschool and he basically had the whole thing nailed.

Jenn

[Pollyanna]

The youngest we ever potty trained around here was 40 months so I believe in the, "they'll do it when they are good and ready concept. "

FYI: not even peer pressure worked for us. I remember saying to our oldest, "honey, don't you want to use the potty like all your school buddies?" To that she answered, "eh, not really."

[migirl]

Does he want to be changed right away if he wets himself while wearing his underwear? Is he not uncomfortable?

The only reason I ask is that when I potty-trained DS#1 (he was almost 3.5yo by then! ), I just put him in underwear from the start. Cold turkey. He was really uncomfortable whenever he'd pee in his pants, so he learned really quickly how to avoid that uncomfortable sensation.

Other than that, I guess you just have to wait it out.

[houseelf]

You can lead a child to the potty but you can't make him pee.

Seriously, don't sweat it. They do it when their ready.

Kelly

We used the "Potty Training in One Day" method when DS turned three and it worked for him....and this was a kid who was adamant about not using the potty. This method is based on the concept that the best way to learn something is to teach.

Here's a summary of the process: http://www.pottytrainingconcepts.com...-Train-One-Day.

[DCJenn]

I remember Jane in Ireland and I lamenting about this- we were both dealing with boys who were wallowing in excrement and didn't seem to care a bit. or in her case, a whit.

Jenn

Any thoughts on potty training boys?

None that don't involve large amounts of alcohol, a padded room, and banging my head into things.

Seriously. One of the few reasons I'll admit to being happy I have a girl this time is that everyone assures me that potty training girls is easier.

I have a friend with 4 boys, and somehow, someway, she's managed to have each of them potty trained before they were 3. I know she just commits herself to being home for 2 or 3 weeks, and the kid goes au natural until he gets it. My boys would have peed EVERYWHERE (in fact, they did pee everywhere even after potty training -- Jacob would pee in inappropriate places when he was mad at me), but it might work for a kid who won't poop in the potty. When I was pregnant w/Mattie, I told her that if I was having another boy I was dropping him off at her house when it was time to potty train and I'd pay her handsomely.

Good luck.

[HouseofWool]

I have no advice. DS had peeing down pretty well by 2-1/2 or so. But he wouldn't poopy in the potty for anything.

I distinctly remember having him in undies one day and we went to the park. After a bit, I noticed that he was grabbing at his butt. Sure enough he had pooped in his pants. Even though we had the wagon with us, I made him walk the 4 blocks. (mean mommy - I know) That weekend, I told DH that poop training was his responsibility and I was done with it. Sure enough by Sunday afternoon, he was pooping on the potty.

Dang kid does that kind of stuff all the time for DH. I do all of the hard work and then DH steps in at the last minute and looks like the hero.

[JaneDoe]

Does he want to be changed right away if he wets himself while wearing his underwear? Is he not uncomfortable?

The only reason I ask is that when I potty-trained DS#1 (he was almost 3.5yo by then! ), I just put him in underwear from the start. Cold turkey. He was really uncomfortable whenever he'd pee in his pants, so he learned really quickly how to avoid that uncomfortable sensation.

Other than that, I guess you just have to wait it out.

No, he doesn't care that he's wet. In fact, I'll ask him when he is wearing his Thomas the Tank underwear, do you need to use the potty. He will say no and then I take a closer look at him and he's totally wet. He's just sitting there playing in wet underpantsHe has not pooped in his underwear, so I think he holds that until I put his diaper back on. Perhaps consistency is my problem- I give in too quickly.

I'm counting on the peer pressure in preschool to motivate him to start using the potty.

[migirl]

No, he doesn't care that he's wet. In fact, I'll ask him when he is wearing his Thomas the Tank underwear, do you need to use the potty. He will say no and then I take a closer look at him and he's totally wet. He's just sitting there playing in wet underpantsHe has not pooped in his underwear, so I think he holds that until I put his diaper back on. Perhaps consistency is my problem- I give in too quickly.

I'm counting on the peer pressure in preschool to motivate him to start using the potty.

If he doesn't care that he's wet, I guess my "method" wouldn't work! I just decided one day that we were DONE with diapers, and put him right in underwear. The laundry and mess were painful for maybe 4-5 days, but then he was completely potty-trained.

I hope the preschool peer-pressure works!! DS#1 starts preschool this fall, I'm hoping that the peer-pressure will help his atrocious eating habits and convince him to try/eat new foods! *fingers crossed*

[Pollyanna]

No, he doesn't care that he's wet. In fact, I'll ask him when he is wearing his Thomas the Tank underwear, do you need to use the potty. He will say no and then I take a closer look at him and he's totally wet. He's just sitting there playing in wet underpantsHe has not pooped in his underwear, so I think he holds that until I put his diaper back on.

My boys did not care about being wet (or having poop in their unders) either. Keep offering the potty, relax, and know he will not go to kindergarten in Pull-ups.

[houseelf]

One of the few reasons I'll admit to being happy I have a girl this time is that everyone assures me that potty training girls is easier.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but my girl was harder to potty train during the day than my boy. I think personality plays a big factor here.

Kelly