Potty Training Advice - Summerville, SC

What finally clicked from my son was taking the poopy from the diaper and dropping it in the potty. I then let him flush it. We also did the Poo-poo or Pee-pee dance each time. I did not have to reward him with toys or anything (couldn't afford it!) but praise really worked. I did wait until he was over 3 1/2 years old just because he did not seem interested in it. Running around naked for him did not work. He would just pee on the floor. The same with my daughter. I just had to mentally prepare myself to deal with clean-up for that week. With my son, it only took a week but he was also older than my daughter when she started. She will be three in June and has been potty trained since January. I did not even have to train her. She did it herself. However, she still wears diapers at night.

First let me tell you, Lynnette, that is NOT unusual. I raised two boys (which does not mean I am an expert...Ha..Ha.) but I have three children...all grown...and 5 grandchildren....and 1 great grandchild. All of them decided on their own when they were going to potty train completely. The number 2 business will get done in their own time. I know it is frustrating right now, but your son is only an inch away from getting it done. Ok? Just keep on encouraging him....he knows what he is suppose to do...boys are just a little bit more stubborn when it comes to that. Good luck, Honey. They grown up before you know it.

My son will be 3 in a month and is just NOW pooping regularly. And he is sure to go straight to the m&m jar. You may not agree, but I let him walk around naked a lot. It forced him to use the toilet and up until recently he would hold his poop until a diaper went on. Boys do take longer then girls but he your son is still young yet.
I have been very casual with my son's training though and he is falling into it nicely.

Hey this is sooo normal!! Truly. Give him time. He is quite young so dont pressure him. I started the process my son at 2 and half and he didnt get it completely down until 3 and half. Just keep doing what you are doing and try to be patient with him. T his is all very very normal.
Good luck. Ive got a one year old too so I will be in your shoes (again) soon!!

As soon as I took away the diapers and let my daughter run around naked, she immediately started using the potty. She has RARELY had an accident in her panties since that time, and those times have been due to not being able to get her panties off in time. Try the naked thing--it works! :)

Sounds to me that your son just isn'tready for potty training. When my 11 yr old son was around that age, I pretty much tried the same things you have been doing. I asked his pediatrician about it & she said when he gets ready to potty train, he will do it on his own. Not to push or try to make sit there and all. So, that's what I did, and eventually he did it on his own. The week he potty trained he was approximately 3 yrs old & had mono. Go figure!!
Hope this helps some...just try not to push it on him & he will take cue from his own body to do what is neccessary.

I am a SAHM of three, 2 boys and a girl. My advice is the more you stress about the poop the longer it will SEEM to take. He is a boy and I don't care what others say...it just takes longer for them to connect the dots in the area of potty training. I think your son is young for all this and by getting upset or stressed just makes for a tense household. My first son did the same thing, only I waited until he was 3 to 3 1/2 (I tried at 2 1/2 but it was clear he was not ready so I backed off). By waiting till he was older he was better able to understand and the reward was much more appreciated. Also be creative with your reward...what will he go crazy over?? Candy, a certain toy, trip to WalMart, big boy underwear with Bob the Builder or Thomas the train??? My second son is 3 yrs old and while he has been going tee tee standing up for over a year, you have to catch him to get him to sit and poop. I chose not to make my life more complicated by telling him to go tee tee every hour up til now. Now that it is warming up and he will be in shorts I plan to go to pull ups so that it will be easier to take him to the potty and work with him. My daughter is 9 months old. She will probably be potty trained about the time that my son is... :-) Good luck.

Hi Lynnette,
I am a veteran preschool teacher in Roswell. I teach Older Two's (birthdays before January) and a Mixed Three's Class.
Most moms try to make the potty training ORDEAL (which is what you will call it on some days) too much fun and comfort.
Limit the books that he may read (2), get the toys out of there, and tell him it time to go OFTEN. I never ask my children if they need to go. I tell them that it is their turn ( and in your case, it will be "time") to go. It is a natural function of life. They do not need the comfort (or freedom) of stripping their clothes off to go (they cannot do that at school!)nor do they need to have a hour of one-on-one conversation with you. Of course, they LOVE that but you have a life and a job at home, too. I speak from experience as I have raised 4 children who have all turned out to be successful adults. None of them became neurotic because their potty training was traumatic.
If you have the attitude that this is just the business of life and their are other fun things to do outside the bathroom, you will approach this better and keep your sanity.
On a brighter note, when he is 15 and leaning to drive to get his license, you will look back on these days as "a piece of cake!"
Good Luck,
Cathy