My Son Keeps Peeing on the Floor!

Updated on September 19, 2008
D.W. asks from Parker, CO
21 answers

I began potty training my 20mth old son last week. He does not talk yet but will point at his diaper to let me know he has to go. The problem is he doesn't want me in the bathroom when he goes so I take his pull up off & leave him in bathroom after pointing into his potty chair & telling him to go pee pee in there. He has made it inside the potty or right in front of it a few times. But, the past 2 days he has just peed right in the middle of bathroom floor. Today he went on floor, I cleaned it up, he cried when I tried to put pull up on, I left him in bathroom, he peed on floor some more, I cleaned it up, then did the same thing 2 more times! I'm going to go broke using so many paper towels in one day! I've just been telling him each time that he needs to go
IN the potty but apparently this is not working. How do I get him to go IN the potty if he won't go at all while I'm in the room with him? Can anyone suggest any books that are resonably priced (or maybe have a used one I could buy?) to help me potty train? TIA, I always get such great advice here!

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B.B.

answers from Santa Fe on

First of all, you shouldn't be picking up the mess, he should be. 20 months old for a boy isn't really old enough for him to really get the hang of standing to pee. I started my son by putting him on the toilet and teaching him how to hold himself on and i pushed his peepee down. Then after he had that down, he could stand to pee.
As far as he not wanting you in the room when he pees, i understand the privacy and all but he is 20 months old. I would tell him to get over it, that you are in there to help him.
I had my son sit on the toilet til he went pee, when he said he needed to or i knew he needed to.

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J.M.

answers from Flagstaff on

The potty chair is kinda a small target and if he is like my son he wants to stand up instead of sit down... like dad. My suggestion and what we did is buy a stool, get the really cheap fruit loops and each time he has to go throw a few in the water and tell him to pee on the fruit loops. It is fun for them and it teaches them to aim!!!! Hope that helps!!!
J.

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D.W.

answers from Phoenix on

Hello!

This is not a tip on the pee-technique, but in regards to the paper towel remark. Some time back I got a 60 pack of white car care terry cloth at Costco or Sam's. They are the size of a good-sized paper towel, can sop up more and are obviously reusable again and again. I use them for almost everything just as casually as any paper towel. Then they go in the hot wash with some bleach and start over.
This may help until he's got the knack of aiming better : )

All the best!
D.

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L.W.

answers from Albuquerque on

Honestly, you know your son better than anyone, but maybe its a control thing. Like the "Throw it down, Mommy picks it up Game".

If he is pointing to himself when he needs to go, then he understands the urge to go. As with any child learning, just go with his pace, but be careful of sibling jealousy and reinforce that you are the boss and always go with him to the bathroom. Think of it this way, "would you let him go to the bathroom in a public place on his own, or would you insist on taking him to the bathroom with you?"

Some kids just need a little extra push to potty train.

I would suggest giving him a penny every time he goes in the potty and when he has enough collected let him buy something with it. You could also put cherios in the potty and let him try to sink them. (I just let my son take a few coins from a cup of change and put them in a big jug. By the time we were done, he had four jugs full.) Of couse he was only allowed one hand full for each time he pottied in the potty.

It gives little tots great incentive to get a rewarded when they do something good. And of course.....Lots and Lots of PRAISE is also a plus.

Make a big deal out of it when he does what you want him to. Clap, say "Yea....", just whatever gets him excited. Maybe buy some big boy underwear and tell him they are just for "Big Boys". When he doesnt do what he knows he is suppose to put him back in a diaper, tell him he isn't being a big boy, or tell him that makes Mommy sad.

All of my 4 kids were potty trained by the age of 2. "And it was done at there own pace (like your son) and not because I pushed them. I just took there lead and followed it. Some days were good, some weren't. I never made a negative thing out of it.

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A.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

Well I think you're making a lot of success especially since he is so young. If you're dead set on having him potty trained so early, just stick it out, while continuely telling him to sit down- be glad he's not peeing on the carpet. We had tons of peeing on the carpet with our daughter who was 2 and 3/4 when we started. Just kept telling her to go to the bathroom.
Also, try using wash clothes and just throw them in the sink or washing machine instead of wasting paper towels.

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M.V.

answers from Phoenix on

I see your other child is 7 weeks old and you are trying to get out of the "2 in diapers" deal. Don't worry about that right now. He will possibly revert if you train him and he is telling you he is not ready. He's too young still.

Just for fun though, you can have him pee outside on a tree or something. But then my son went through a phase where he wanted to pee outside all the time. :)

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J.K.

answers from Albuquerque on

My first bit of advice is to be patient. I wouln't expect much in the area of potty training before your son hits 3. The fact that he recognizes that he has to go is a great first step.

Also, I wouldn't let my son have so much control. You know better than your 2 year old. It's probably not a good idea to leave him alone in the bathroom if he continually pees on the floor.

I used to get upset when my son failed to pee and poop in the potty and my mom told me, "don't worry, he will figure it out before he starts school" and he did.

A.H.

answers from Phoenix on

I didn't use a little potty to potty train my 3 boys. We used the big potty and they stood on a small stool. My 2nd son, like your son, was completely determined to do it ALL BY HIMSELF. However, I did stand with him to make sure he was getting it in the right place -- he didn't get a choice on that matter. But as I was reading your dilema, a thought came to mind if you want to use that tiny potty...maybe you should consider putting it in the bathtub or shower for the time being? That way you can just wash the puddles down the drain. I also think it might help to put something in the potty for him to aim at - like some Cheerios or something. I know this may seem like a frustrating time, but hang in there! Much to the disbelief of most everyone, all 3 of my boys were completely potty trained by the time they turned 2 years old. Keep up the good work, stay positive and keep encouraging your son. He'll get it...eventually!! :-)

A.
(SAHM of 3 boys and one due in a few weeks!)

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T.

answers from Phoenix on

Have him clean up the pee! This was suggested when my son was doing this and he did not like doing that so the peeing on the floor was no more! Of course, at that young age they need some guidance in the cleaning department, and make sure they wash their hands! Good luck!

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M.M.

answers from Phoenix on

I think the good news is that your little guy has the right idea! I have a suggestion for ya. i know it sounds goofy, but it worked for 1 of my 5. Buy a bucket, maybe even 2 colored ones. Would he like to help pick it out? Anyway, you tell him to pick his pee pee bucket, and ask him where he wants to put it in the bathroom. You do risk him dumping it on his own, but maybe not. "Help" him to dump it and flush when he's done. To help, you can even use permanent marker to draw a star inside the bottom of the bucket, a target. Good Luck! :)

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J.K.

answers from Phoenix on

move the potty chair out of the bathroom.

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D.H.

answers from Phoenix on

If he has a potty chair, paint something inside the bowl and tell him to pee on it. If he pees in the toilet, have him "make bubbles". But, although these things helps, I always insisted on being there while they were learning - and praising them for being doing a good job and acting like a big boy. Good luck!

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A.

answers from Albuquerque on

I think he's telling you either he's not ready or he feels too much negative pressure about the potty. Step back before you turn pottying into a power struggle which will hurt your progress in so many ways.

He is doing FANTASTIC for his age. Keep it absolutely positive. Potty training is a slow process and he is still young. Get books at the library and read them often without any preaching or lessons. He will get it and if you keep it gentle, you'll see progress!

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M.L.

answers from Phoenix on

give him something to aim at...a couple of cheerios maybe

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S.G.

answers from Albuquerque on

Have him clean up his mess every time he goes on the floor. Don't get upset, just hand him the paper towel and direct him to the mess. Tell him "oops, you went potty on the floor, clean it up. Next time lets try to sit down!" Or something like that. He's just learning and exploring. Even though he can't talk, he understands you.

Keep it positive and happy happy. Really it's just a little pee! I had it all over my carpet.

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M.C.

answers from Tucson on

Honestly I wouldn't give in to him not wanting you in the room. He needs to be "taught" you can not do that from outside the door. The other thing I did with my boys is that if they didn't go in the potty but on the floor I made them clean it up themselves with guidance. (Of Course) They learned quickly that it was easier to go in the potty than on the floor. Remember that most boys don't get the hang of potty training until they are 2 and a half or 3.

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V.J.

answers from Phoenix on

It sounds like you're trying to teach him to pee standing up in which case, maybe your husband can take him to the bathroom whenever he's home so he can show him how to aim. I've also heard that it can help to have something fun to aim at. You could even toss a few Cheerios into the bowl. You could put a piddle pad-- like for house training puppies-- under/around the potty chair in case he misses.

It may be easier, however, to simply emphasize sitting down to potty. The concept is much easier to grasp and as long as your seat has a guard lip, you shouldn't have to worry about him missing. Best wishes!

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E.G.

answers from Albuquerque on

Maybe he is not yet ready. My daughter, started showing signs of being ready to be trained perhaps around the same age or younger. I gave it a try. She ended up peeing all over the house. The last straw was when she, proudly wearing her panties, peed on top of the in table in our living room! So I said that is it: we are going to wait. I forgot about it for a few months. Then she told me that she wanted to wear her panties. I explained to her and tried to prep her for what that would mean: she would have to go in the potty. By that time she was ready and practically trained herself! In speaking with my doctor before she was p-trained he gave me a new perspective by telling me that nowdays many girls are not completely trained until between ages 3-4 and boys between 4-5! Sounds crazy, I know but it made me feel better. Good luck. I think it is the hardest with the first child because we are learning how to train them.

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E.T.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I've heard that using Cheerios in the potty helps becuase it gives them something interesting to aim at.

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R.T.

answers from Phoenix on

When my son did that before he was potty trained, we gave up for we know he wasn't ready and instead of giving positive environment about potty, we were all disappointed and just not happy with all the cleaning involved.

So, we waited until one day, he asked his real underpants! and the journey began.

As for books, we had ' Potty Time', I don't know about the writer or publisher. Perhaps you can research it at the web.

But when a kid is ready, there will be turning back!

I hope this helps.

Thank you!
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D.S.

answers from Albuquerque on

Sounds like he's too young to be potty trained. I would put the diaper back on and try again after he turns two. Boys always take longer to learn. He probably just doesn't fully comprehend what he's supposed to do. If this starts to be a struggle or a fight, you may have a harder time getting him to do it when he's older. Let him be a baby a little longer. He'll eventually learn but if all it does is frustrate you both right now, it could backfire in the future. Good luck.

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