P.M. asks from Flower Mound, TX on June 11, 2008
Potty Training - Flower Mound,TX
Sorry guys, who doesn't get tired of the potty training questions, but....
My son will be 3 1/2 months old in August. We just had a baby girl 2 months ago and I'd say the transition from 1 child to 2 went pretty smoothly. My son did regress some like always wanting milk to drink when the baby has a bottle and he tells me he's a baby. But, for him to go to school this fall and do fun things like soccer tots, he has to be potty trained.
Here's the thing: He has no interest whatsoever in using the potty. And, he doesn't even want to wear pull ups. He will tell me he wants to poop in his diaper, etc. And no, he has never told me he has to go potty or had a dry diaper during nap.
Should I really not push the potty training thing? Will he actually tell me he's ready one day? I don't know what to do...please help. :-)
Featured Answers
C.J. answers from Dallas on June 12, 2008
You should just gear up and do it. I don't think kids ust wake up one day and say hey mom will you potty train me. My dauther was 2 1/2 when I started I kept listening to everyone around me say she will do it when she is ready. Well that did not happen so I did the 3 day potty training. It worked and she was potty trained in 3 days. I had a little harder time with her pooping in the potty, but after 2 months total she was fully potty trained. I never used pull-ups and never went back to a diaper (not even at night). You will have to use big boy underwear and do lots of laundry, but it does work.
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L.A. answers from Dallas on June 11, 2008
Try putting him in boys underwear, and use a vinyl cover over it so it doesn't get his pants wet.
When he does go in his underwear, help him clean them out (rinse them) and dump the poo in the toilet. He will get tired of doing that pretty quick.
T.K. answers from Abilene on June 12, 2008
yes he really will, and it will all stem from something he cannot do because he wears a diaper, trust me, two weeks tops, he is a new man! My sons child care center moved the children to the next level basedon their maturity level and their ability to use the potty. m son watched all his little buddies walk out that door, becaue he refused to use the potty, but whe his best buddy went, that was the kicker, he was in training pants for one week, moved to the new room, nevr looked bacck,never wore pull-ups, just did-it. good luck.
L.H. answers from Dallas on June 12, 2008
do not push the issue of potty training. you said that he is starting school soon? well all of the schools that i have looked into have told me that the kids have to be potty trined. now some schools will help you potty train but just look around adn see.it will be very hard but trust me it will work. you sit him on the pot and tell him not to get up till he uses it. give him toys to play with. and stay positive as much as possible. tell him that he has to be a big boy and if he uses the potty he can(give him a reward)( help you with the baby or anything that i positive). like i siad it will take some time but it will work.
J.A. answers from Amarillo on June 12, 2008
Take him to spend a day at a preschool and some kind of play group or soccer practice... let him see how fun it is and join in with the other kids then let him know he can go back when he keeps his pants dry and clean all day like the other kids there. Maybe actually experiencing the fun will encourage him enough to try.
D.T. answers from Dallas on June 12, 2008
It needs to be his decision. You could try telling him about all the fun things he could do if he was a "big boy" like playing soccer and going to school, etc... Explain that these things are only for big boys and the baby wouldn't be allowed to do it. Maybe if he felt like these were special activities just for him, he might be motivated. I would point out big kid stuff that he can't do until he is potty trained everytime you are out. Overall, though, it has to be his decision. If you push too hard, it will cause problems.
C.J. answers from Dallas on June 12, 2008
You should just gear up and do it. I don't think kids ust wake up one day and say hey mom will you potty train me. My dauther was 2 1/2 when I started I kept listening to everyone around me say she will do it when she is ready. Well that did not happen so I did the 3 day potty training. It worked and she was potty trained in 3 days. I had a little harder time with her pooping in the potty, but after 2 months total she was fully potty trained. I never used pull-ups and never went back to a diaper (not even at night). You will have to use big boy underwear and do lots of laundry, but it does work.
L.C. answers from Abilene on June 12, 2008
Dear P.,
I think as mothers we emotionally set our self up for potty training that it's going to be hard. Believe in yourself and know that you can do this. I know their little bodies have to be ready but really their mindset depends upon ours. When you are fully ready to devote whatever it needs to make it happen it will happen. Just like when you wake up one morning and that's it no more diapers. Cold turkey is the way to go. Prepare him buy purchasing his favorite character underwear and lots of them. Then buy pull-ups for bed time ONLY. pullups are like diapers and I think they can be confusing to little kids and send them the wrong message. Just put him in the underwear and take him to the bathroom every hour on the hour. He will have lots of accidents so plan on staying home for a few days to a week and always be super excited when he goes potty. I don't think a reward system is necessary other than your proudest praise. I bet you'll have him potty trained with no accidents very soon. Remember, that you need to be the one who does all the work with the washing of the underwear, having more than usual amounts of patience and the energy for the constant praise. Once he's potty trained you are actually the one who deserves the reward. Go get a pedicure. May your potty training days be happy and few.
P.B. answers from Tyler on June 12, 2008
I would plan a day that you can spend with your son without the baby that is his "big boy day". Do thing with him that only big kids do. Play soccer, ride a bike/trike, whatever he likes to do. With each new activity, comment that "Little babies can't do this; only big kids." At the end of the day, talk to him about what he can do as a big boy. Explain that big boys go potty and that if he goes potty, he can go to soccer camp, etc. If he is not receptive to this, he may not be ready. He will eventually decide to go.
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