Potty Training - McAllen, TX

my son was the youngest at his day care and the other kids inspired him to go to potty. Normally after eating or drinking its a system that a kid might need to use it at that time. Before bed and as soon as his eyes are open in the morning. before church and after church. before the car ride and when he gets out of the car. Even with pull-ups using the potty should be routine. a sticker, high five or a cheer is always a good incentive. patience is so important. also many bath rooms are boring for kids a picture book may aid in the waiting period.

I would make sure I had a change of clothes, and a couple of pullups just in case...

Toss cheerios in the toilet and tell him to aim at them. And with the whole underwear thing, just do it. They cannot feel if they are wet or not in Pull Ups. Also, ALWAYS bring one or more changes of clothes with you. It will be hard for awhile, and you will do tons of laundry, but it is SO worth it when they get the hang of it. GOOD LUCK!

M.-

I am sorry you haven't received any help for your problem. I used the cloth training pants with the plastic liuning on the out side for my son (he is now 8) and I am starting to use them on my 25 month old son. Just be sure to bring lots of extra clothes, training pants, wipes, zip-lock bags (to put the soiled clothing in until you get home) and a couple of extra towels (to let him sit on in the car seat and to lay him to to clean him up if needed). I know a lot of people use the pull-ups but they are just glorified diapers to me. Even the new ones. He is going to be much more uncomfortable sitting in training pants that are soiled than a diaper or pull-up. It is a hassle but that is a part of motherhood. As for when to start leaving the house, that is hard to say because everyone and every child is different. We have to leave twice a day to take my older son to and from school. Just don't plan any day long shopping sprees yet. Stick with short trips. Hope this helps you out some. Let me know how it goes.

First of all, I recommend starting the potty training when the child recognizes wet and poopy times. They will start showing you the signs that they "gotta go." I noticed thru the years that people I know who expected their child to do this against their willingness to go potty end up the bed wetters. Not always the explanation for becoming bed wetters but I have just noticed thru the years that this has been the case a few times.

I can cover this whole subject and will post one request of my own to share later on Encopresis. But for the potty training advice on what to bring to continue outside of the home. First it is a brave act for your child to continue to wearing underwear when they do reward them and build a chart of encouragement. Their favorite snacktime after completing their big moment and stickers are great! Kids love the simple things thank God! To leave the house encourage the child reminding them to go before leaving and just in case, bring one "real" undy and one of those last stage trainer pants (just in case the child calls for it in the middle of the grocery isle.) I always had a change of clothes and I recommend the flushable wipes so when you get to the potty take care of business, the child feels encouraged to stay with the idea of sitting on the pot and not having to go thru any steps of the changing table. That mental state sets them back to thinking they are going to be "babied" again and holds them back from going thru a true potty training stage. Hope this helps. Write me and let me know if I confused you or if you have anymore concerns. I have a child that suffers from Encopresis and know how frustrating the back and forth situation can be!!! ~C.

M. S. Try letting him peepee off of the porch. My youngest son turnded 3 back in June and on that day he decided that he wanted to be a big boy and start wearing underwear. We just let him pick out his underwear on his own. He chose Superman. We havent had any problems since. If he doesnt pee in his diaper/pull-up through the night, be brave and let him sleep in a pair of underwear maybe he will see he can be a big boy.
K. P

I'm a mother of 4 boys, 3 are already adults and I have a 5 years old.
To tell you the truth your own feeling will let you know hen your little one is ready to go out without diapers. For boys is hard to learn to control their bladder, for some it takes longer than others. My first born, which is 26 now, he was 18 months when he was ready, the second one who is 23, was ready when he was 3 years old, the 19 years old, was about the same age, and my little one stop having accidents at night until 3 months ago, was ready for going out when he was about 33 months, but at night he was not ready until now.
When you go out take as many changing clothes you can, that helps, be always prepared accidents happen all the time, in order to cover the car seat, I used to use some kind of plastic cover, that did work great with him.
Good luck with your potty training.

G.

My little boy is 3 1/2 yrs right now. He was potty trained at 2 1/2 yrs but when we would leave the house I would put him in pull-ups. It wasn't until he turned 3 yrs that we took him out of the house in underwear. Just make sure that before you leave the house you make him go potty. Also when you stop at a store take him in and make him go potty. Thats what I do anyway. Don't give him a lot to drink while you are out either. If he does have a drink while out then stop somewhere and make him go potty. I like using pull ups a lot better than diapers because they were a LOT easier to get on and off when you take him to potty. You can also use the plastic pants but I guarantee that they are going to leak if he has an accident. To protect the carseat, I would put a trash bag down and then put a thick towel on top of that. If you just put a trash bag then the pee is just going to go everywhere. So that is my advice, I hope you can use it. Good luck! One more piece of advice, don't ask him if he needs to go potty, just take him anyway. The reason I would say this is because when I would ask my son if he needed to go he would say no but he really would need to go. So after the first few accidents I just started taking him without asking and he would go everytime. Also, steer clear of the automatic flushing potties. They scare the heck out of little kids.

Once he has the potty training down in the house he pretty much has it down any where. It's a little easier with boys going out because they can stand and don't have to touch the toilet. (no prep time needed to line the toilet with tp) My son only had one accident in his carseat once he stopped wearing pull-ups. I just washed it and wiped the carseat with Lysol wipes. Alway take with you a change of underwear socks and shoes in case the other ones get wet. Don't get mad and tell him that it is just an accident and next time he needs to tell you as soon as he has to go potty. And keep a close eye on him when he is playing because he won't be paying attention to his bladder. That one is always funny to me. I hope this was helpful. Good luck, not that you will need it.

C.

You got some wonderful responses so far. The only thing I would add would be to carry a timer. I had one I clipped to my son's pocket. I set it for one hour and when we were in public it meant we had to go no matter what we were doing and at least make an attempt to let Mr Winkie do his thing. The timer takes the pressure off you being the "bad mommy" making the kid go to the bathroom. I just said "when the bell rings its time to go" In the beginning I would go to because this helped him see it was just the way it was. It also cut down on what I called the "potty rush". My son knows where every potty in our town is, even at 9 he can still direct anyone, anywhere to a public bathroom. One other thing is to carry a small ziploc bag full of cheerios. Throw two or three in the toilet if he says he doesn't have to pee. Nothing like a challenge of sink the cereal to get the juices flowing so to speak. Not many boys can resist that challenge. It also serves as a target and helps improve their aim skills meaning less clean up for you.

Good luck for your son on being diaper free, remember to invest the amount you save on diapers weekly for the rest of his life and he will have college paid for by the time he gets there.

C.

I'm sorry no one is helping you. Potty training boys is hard. It was forever before mine was all the time dry. If you think he is ready to start outings, go for it, but you will need at least one complete change of clean clothes down to shoes and socks and coat. Do not put him in overalls and be prepared to stop at every gas station in the world for your little man to explore the bathroom. I would keep a towel in the car to put in his car seat if necessary, but as long as you are not going that far and you make him p before you leave each place (or at least once an hour) I think his car seat will stay dry. Also handy to have would be wipes and a walmart sack and a gallon size ziplock bag. Good luck!

Pull ups are best, I would think, you could also do the plastic covers for underwear, I always went with pull ups, keep in mind, boys take longer to train.

I read your posting previously but couldn't offer any advice because I'm not there yet. My son is 2 & is just now going pee-pee on the potty. We have NOT got to #2 yet & we're nowhere near undies yet. I do remember my girlfriend saying that her oldest (a girl) got so embarrassed when she had her first accident that she never did it again. But that kind of reaction would depend on the child's personality I think. Hope this helps a little.

Well umm I think like alot of other moms have suggested, use some type of asorbant pad to line the car seat just in case of an accident. But I also agree with some other mom's on the thing with using pull-ups. I have tried this with my oldest son and he took 4ever to even peepee in the potty, but once I let him pick out his very own BIG BOY underware, he started going pretty easy, little accedients but that was all. With my youngest oson, I didn't start potty training him until he was about 2 1/2. We tried again to use pull-ups, but he didn't seem to care when he had used the bathroom in his pull-up. So we went to using underware and he has had only a few accidents in them when it comes to peepe, that is. My oldest son helped to peepee train his brother. My husband was outside playing with our children, when my oldest son would have to go peepee, he would go and hid behind a tree and go peepee, when my 3year old would see this he wanted to try too. That is how he got peepee trained.
When we went somewhere we would have him go peepee before we left and then we would leave him in his underware and got to were we were going we took him right to potty. He never has has an accident in the car at all. I would suggest trying to use just some underware, but alwaysh ave a few extra changed of cloths and underware, and plastic bags and wipes for those accidents you might have.

One more thing some old lady told me once, to take him in the back yard and let him pee on a tree. Didn't try it but she raised 3 boys and it worked for all three... LOL Let me know.

This is a tough one. It's hard to tell when they will be ready to leave the house. My 2 boys were almost 4 years old before they were completely potty trained. I found a little fold up plastic seat that fits on top of the toilet and comes in a little bag and that helps a lot. You can find them at Wal-Mart. As far as the car seat goes, maybe you could put one of those little absorbant lap pads that go on a changing table? Good luck! I know potty training can be very challenging both for you and the child.

try putting him in pullups for short trips when he manages to stay dry at home. you should call them bye-bye underwear (we now only use them at night and call them night underwear). make sure he knows they are not diapers. when he manages to consistenlty keep them dry, venture out in big noy underwear. make sure he pees before you leave the house and ask him frequently if he needs to go while you're out.
good luck,

I used a chart off of the Chuck E Cheese website that was two weeks long. When he went to the bathroom we put a sticker on the chart for the day and after the chart was full we went to Chuck E Cheese to celebrate!!! It took two weeks for number 1 and number 2. Worked fantastic!!! Good Luck!!!

I only have a 6 month old, so I have not yet had to deal with this. BUT...I would not dare leave the house until he has gone maybe a month or so without having a soiled diaper. That's just my opinion. Good luck, and I hope you don't end up with pee pee everywhere...haha

OK WELL I CAN DEFINATLEY UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM.
IF YOUR GOING OUT ,TRY TO BUY AN ECONOMICAL POTTY TO KEEP IN YOUR TRUNK OR BACK OF YOU VAN. ASK YOUR SON FREQUENTLY IF HE NEEDS TO GO , IF HE SAYS NO, SAY LETS TRY ANYWAYS JUST TO PRACTICE. THIS WILL HELP BRING THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS DOWN SOME. WHEN YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO GO PULL OVER AND BRING IT OUT YOUR SPARE POTTY FROM THE TRUNK. IF YOUR IN A RESTUARANT, STORE , MALL ECT BRING ALONG A FOLDABLE POTTY SEAT. THESE ARE AVAILABLE AT ALMOST EVERY STORE LIKE WALMART, TARGET, BABIES R US ECT. THEY ARE THESE GREAT TOILET SEATS THAT FOLD UP AND FIT IN A DAIPER BAG.THEY ALSO ATTACH TO THE TOILET WHERE EVER YOU GO SO YOU CHILD FEELS COMFORTABLE AND WON'T WORRY ABOUT FALLING IN. IT SO GREAT BECAUSE YOU WORRY LESS ABOUT GERMS AND THEY COME IN THESE GREAT CHARACTERS LIKE NICK JR. AND DISNEY. YOU SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST ONE CHANGE OF CLOTHES ON YOU AS WELL AS ONE IN YOUR CAR. WIPES ARE A MUST. TRY MAKING A WEEKLY CHART WITH THE DAYS ON IT, EVERYTIME YOUR CHILD GOES A HAPPY FACE OR STAR IS TO BE PUT IN THE BOX FOR THAT DAY. THIS MEANS YOUR A LITTLE CLOSER TO YOUR GOAL. REASSURE YOUR CHILD FOR EFFORT EVEN IF THEY DON'T ALWAYS MAKE IT. REWARD HIM WHEN HE DOES. MOST OF ALL DON'T GIVE UP ! I HOPE THIS HELPS.

Well, I remember wondering the same thing with my daughter. She was completely trained by 34 months, but we worked on the training since she was 24 months! =) My daughter goes to full time daycare so what I did was mostly work with her in the evenings at on the weekends. On the weekends I let her wear panties if she wanted to, and she had some accidents. I never made a big fuss over the accidents though, just explained to her that next time she need to try to tell mommy before she had to go. Usually after she had an accident she would want to put her pull-up back on, and I always let her. But I never took her anywhere out of the house without pull-ups on during this potty training stage. I used to get up on Saturdays and put the panties on her just to see how long she could go with them on. But if we went anywhere I put a pull up on her. So then what happened with my daughter was one day just just decided she wanted to wear panties when we were going out to eat one evening to a restaurant. So I let her, and I also packed along an extra change of clothes and panties, and also the pullups in case she decided she wanted those if she had an accident. When we got to the restaurant I took her to the bathroom, then during the meal I took her, and after. She never had an accident. The next day she wanted to wear panties again and that was basically it! She wore panties ever since. At first there were a few accidents the first week, one at the mall because I didn't get her to the potty in time. It was more my fault than hers. I just always kept a change of clothes with me starting out. She is now 37 months old and hasn't had any accidents for a long time. Just remember, don't pressure your child. He'll get the hang of it eventually. Accidents are pretty much inevitable so just be prepared. If you're super worried about a particular outfit getting ruined or an embarrassing situation just put on the pull ups for that time being.

i would suggest putting a trash bag on the seat. i know it sounds tacky but it works. i just got done potty training my little girl, and i waited a few days for her not to have any accidents, then we went places. but she was done in a few days. just keep asking him if he has to go, everytime you get to where you can take him to the potty. but you can go whenever you want to, just make sure you have extra cloths, wipes, and maybe shoes!! And also at walmart they sell a travel potty seat that folds up so you can put in your diaper big and take with you. word of advice avoid automatic flush toilets!! it scared my little to death, and now she hardly won't go out public.

I waited to potty train my two boys until I felt like they were ready. It is very common for boys to potty train a lot later than girls. I read them the verious potty books and had talks about potty training, but I didn't force it or push it until they showed interest.

My older son was 3 1/2 years old when he potty trained and my younger son was 4. They have no problems now (9 and 4 1/2 yrs old now).

Once they are around big kids or other kids their age who are potty trained, that can make a big difference and they usually show more interest in wanting to do it. I'd say, if your son is only using the toilet occasionally, then he isn't really interested?

I know families who have used reward methods (a little treat or gift like bouncy balls or suckers) every time their child uses the potty. That can work very well.

I'd suggest you leave him in underwear, so he can feel what it is like to have an accident. I guess just put down towels or something on the car seat and have extra changes of clothes with you and such. If after a week or so he hasn't gotten it, then I say shelve the issue for another time. Good luck.

My daughter is 3 years old. I didn't take her out of the house without a diaper until she stopped having accidents at home. Then to start I only took her on short trips without a diaper where I knew the bathroom would be readily available. When she was doing well with that then we ventured out on longer trips without a diaper. I never really found anything to protect her carseat so to prevent accidents in the car I would take her to the potty right before we would leave and take her again as soon as we got to where we were going. I still take a change of clothes and a couple of diapers for her when we leave. If we are traveling later in the night I will put a diaper on her for the just in case. She has done great with me just letting her tell me when she was ready for the big girl underwear instead of forcing potty training on her. Hope this helps a little! Good luck!

I let my boys potty train themselves. They wore diapers, never pull ups. When they wanted big boy britches we tried them. If they tinkled on their favorite character, they had to go back to a diaper. SO I really never had to deal with alot of messes. When they were ready they did it, no major accidents. My oldest was almost 3, and my youngest boy was almost 4 (I was very naive thinking lil brother would copy big brother and train earlier ha!)

They have blow up portable pottys and even this cup thing that even adults can use...I can send you the links if you want just send me a note.

Nothing like holding a Mickey D's cup hoping your kiddo is going to finish before it runs over!! We have done lots of things on the go, the kids live to tell about it and hopefully will have great stories to tell. ( I can't wait to pass on the one where my oldest stopped in the middle of WalMart parking lot dropped his pants and tinkled...several cars waiting to turn-lots of waves and smiles!)

Piddle pads from the healthcare/equipment stores, are the best things to use. (like they use in the hosipitals-blue plastic on bottom)

My son was almost 4 before he got it. I decied not to stress out anymore and kept him in diapers till he was ready. He finally got sick of them and did it him self. I didn't have to stress because no accidents... I just made sure to complaint to him more when I had to change his diaper...pretty soon he got sick of it too and left his "baby diapers" behind:) Remember above all else...boys are truely "lil men", they really don't do things till they are ready.

Potty training for me was very tricky and learned a lot from other mom's. Like putting one of those changing pads on the carseat. I have a friend who's made potty time a game. He got to aime at a bulls eye. Everyday he didn't have an accident he got a reward such as speacial treats or a new game( those little dollar store games)

I hope this helps and have fun.

Hi M.

I can relate to this. When my children were younger, we had many mistakes. Invest in pullups, wipes, and always have a change of clothes. Eventually he will get to the point when he realizes he is a big boy...some children are slower than others but be patient and always make sure you have your end covered. Oh and always reward him when he has to use the potty because it makes him aware of the feeling. Keep soft candy or something he likes. Most may say it sounds like a bribe but it helps because he probably don't know what feeling to look for until he is made aware of it.
Try it. I have 4 that has gone thru it.
P.S. waterproof sheets/seats are messy because they don't absorb.

First of all take a change of clothing of course including socks. You can protect the seats with towels or plastic. Before going out make sure he goes to the bathroom. Then when you arrive try again. My soon to be three year old is almost there and he has gone to the baseball game and the park in underwear. Good Luck

For the car seat I would suggest a water-proof sheets (like for a crib). I too am having trouble potty training my little girl. She gets the peeing down put refuses to poop in the potty. I just don't go out for long peiods of time or I put her in a pull-up for longer trips. And you know it is even harder when your husband don't help. My husband thinks she'll do it when she's ready and I know she will but we have to help her. Hope this help.
L.

As I have said in earlier responses about potty training, both my kids trained successfully closer to 3. Some of the "bravery" involved with putting underwear on your kids outside the home is your own comfort level of "what other people will think" and the other is just practicality. The protection on the car seat is great as one mom suggested and if it is a long car trip I always used pullups if they were still learning to control the bladder/bowel. Other than that, yeah, take plenty of extra clothes. He will get there.

Throw a few fruit loops in the toilet and let him try to hit them. It works and we all know boys can use all the help they can get with aiming!!

Ok, If you only get him to use the toilet on occasion, then do not brave taking him out in underwear yet. Wait until he is completely comfortable with using the potty all the time, and until then use pull ups, or training pants. In my experience, kids get nervous using the BIG toilets in public restrooms because they are so tall, and they make alot of noise, so they tend to have more accidents because they are afraid to go. When he is completely comfortable with using the potty all the time, you should still keep an extra pair of clothes, and shoes with you. I made the mistake of bringing just clothes, and my daughter had urine all in her shoes. Hope this helps.

My husband does not like it that I have taught my son how to do this, but when you are in "desperate" time crunching situations...well you just have to improvise with what you can that's part of being a mom. When my son was learning to potty train, after he turned 3, we would be in the car and driving to a swimming pool which was about 1/2 hour away from the house. Along the way there really was no place for me to take him to go potty when he asked/told me that he needed to go. So I pulled over in a parking lot, gave him an empty water bottle, told him to stick his unit inside the bottle and pee. And he did! No spillage. It has saved us in several situations. And I hate having to take him into a McD's just to go use the bathroom. And he's now at the age where he protest going in the girls bathroom and I am not comfortable in letting him go in the men's room by himself. So we get into a bit of a confrontation over it. So you have that to look forward to.

Well Im on potty training my second child shes 26 months old now and I would say that if you are brave enough to venture out with underwear only that you should definitely take a change of clothes and a pull up or diaper and cover the carseat with a garbage bag underneath and then a towel that should catch it if theres an accident... it just depends on how confident you are about getting your baby to go potty "out"... Its a big difference going somewhere and being home strange toilet and all... Also make sure you take a couple plastic bags either ziplocs or walmart type bags to carry the wet clothes in in case of an accident... Thats what i used to do when i was potty training my son. I think they normally do MUCH better out than at home because it was like a game with my son he wanted to see EVERY new bathroom where we went so he would try to potty so if you make it fun it may just be easy! ;) Hope that helps.