3Yr Old Not Wanting to Potty Train

Updated on September 10, 2012
M.G. asks from Keansburg, NJ
4 answers

Does anyone have a good suggestion on how to transition my 38 mo old into big boy undies? I have been at this on and off for about a year. I have made it fun for him, he chose his big boy undies. He gets a treat when he goes. Reward chart.... Seems ready to go the first few times, then it's like I am bothering him. I don't want it to be a battle because that won't help. What other options are there? I need fresh ideas. I have a book on how to train boys on the potty. I think, he's just being stubborn... I am pretty sure he knows when he's going to... My eldest was potty trained by 30 months.. Honestly, tired of changing his pooped.. Don't get me wrong...no issues with it just that I feel he is big enough and understands to do it in the potty. He's in PreK now. I know the teachers are fine with it but I think he may be the only one in the class.

Thoughts?

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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

It most likely isn't that he is stubborn but due to he fact that boys mature slower than girls. Meaning they reach milestones a little later than girls.

I waited until he was 3 1/2.
I did the 3-day "don't go anywhere so you have access to the potty & can
concentrate on the potty traning step" way about it.
Worked great!

First day, again you stay home, have a kids step stool for the toilet.
You keep him in his big boy underwear.
You ask him if he needs to pee.
Take him to the potty by asking him if he needs to try to potty.
(Hopefully he has seen a male potty in the toilet.).
Tell him at the end of the day you will have a little mini party.
At the end of the first day you have that mini party to celebrate his
trying & his success. (cupcakes, some balloons, a couple of streamers
etc.). I got him a tiny gift to celebrate his hard work & milestone.

Second day, same thing. Don't go anywhere, give him liquids, don't get mad or make a big deal if he has an accident. Just quietly change hi into clean underwear & don't get mad.
At the end of this day, you have a mini party again mini cupcake, streamers, confetti for the table.

Third day, same thing. Don't go anywhere, he's in his underwear, you stay
home, you encourage him to drink water, juice & take him to the potty to
pee. Or ask him if he needs to pee. Again a little party w/dad, you & sibling. Balloons, a small gift.

You never get mad when they have an accident.
If they do have an accident (& they will), you don't make a big deal out of
it, don't get mad & just quietly change them and clean up. No harm no foul.

It worked for us.
The only thing I did do was put him in a diaper for the night time.
Also, poo came later.
He would ask for a diaper for this.
No big deal. From my childhood development classes, I knew that going poo in the toilet is a much bigger change than peeing. The sometimes feel intimidated, like they are going to fall in, it takes more work to poo than pee & they feel like "they are losing a part of themselves down the toilet".

So hang in there, do the 3-day stay at home, celebrate each night milestone and if he does not have the success then you try again when he's 3 1/2.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.B.

answers from Chicago on

My 3 year old just turned four and is now getting the hang of it. He actually got #2 down and we are still working on the potty part. He just loved reading books that's why #2 was easier. You have a whole year it will click for him, I really thought mine never would.

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A.G.

answers from Houston on

My son loved to watch TV. I wouldn't let him until he would go. We could go for days of him not watching his favorite show and he could cry and whine the whole time about it (pure torture btw) but in the end he got the message and started going potty when I asked him to.

TV may not work with your child but try something else that he loves and see if you can use that as a bribe.

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C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

My son turned 3 about two weeks ago. We have been off/on for about a year trying too. He's never pooped on the potty but has peed a ton. He does not ever choose to go. Even when I'd make it a game, set a timer, give him treats, just take him and make him sit, etc. He can stay dry for 4-5 hours at a time. But does not care to go on the potty. So we're backing off and letting him take the lead. No sense in getting upset or frustrated about it (not that you are!) Just my .02!

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