Potty Training Help - Farmington, MI

Explain it to him that if he really wants to go to camp he has to do his part and go potty there too.

Seems kinda young at 4 to go to camp. But it still takes him understanding that you won't be there to help with potty time. "Big boys" sometimes gets their attention. If they want to be one of the 'big boys', they have to act like big boys do and this is part of it. Big boys go potty by themselves.
Gotta appeal to their egos sometimes. You may have to put off the camp, tho. Many systems have guidelines regarding being fully potty trained. But I mean, wow! S., you've got him trained for the most part at his age, and that's fantastic as it is! You're to be congratulated! Be patient, and realize that sometimes they just aren't ready for everything at the same speed of time that seems logical.

My son was four in September and he was the same way, but he wanted to do day camp last summer through our township. Once I told him that he couldn't go unless he used the potty, he was fine. Make it perfectly clear that he has to start using the potty away from home by the sign up date and start practicing (one of those fold up travel seats works for girls, but they pinched my son and he didn't like it, so I wouldn't worry about it) everywhere. Don't give him a choice, once you get somewhere tell him that its potty time and go in with him. Keep reminding him that he only has this many days before camp. Also, don't stress over him actually going there because they take them in groups. Its a scheduled event and kids think its cool. Stick with it and he will love day camp!

Everyone potty trains at different rates but all kids eventually end up fully potty trained. Ask him why he doesn't like using the potty except for the one at home. Maybe a travel potty seat or wipes to clean the seat would work for him. Let him know the requirments for him to go to camp but don't make too big of a deal about it just state it as a fact and get his opinion on the subject. Use plastic pants or pull ups when you go out in public in the meantime. Praise whenever he does use the toilet in public. He'll eventually do it but camp might have to wait. He still has several years of childhood to enjoy camp.

Throw a few Cherrio's in the toilet and see how many he
can hit.....a little game when out.

Hi S.,

Go see my response to Wendy about the potty training problems. It works! I have two trained daughters in a matter of hours and a girlfriend who trained her son, quickly, as well. My daughters were 2 and her son was 2 1/2.

Good Luck,
J.

S.,
Have you tried incentives or the magic c-a-n-d-y? That worked well for us! Good luck

Have you tried a travel potty seat? They have one that folds up in 4's so it's easy to take with you. I'm going to buy one for my 3 1/2 year old because she is suddenly afraid of going on public toilets that look big to her. (she goes on the toilet at home, but there's a potty seat) She used to do it, but I think it's hard for them to balance on the seat.

My daughter refuses to go potty in a dirty potty or one that hasn't been flushed. I carry multipurpose wipes in my purse so that I can clean a toilet seat if need be. When we go places I make sure the first thing we do is go and see where the bathroom is. If it is dirty we clean it (might upset some people but really... we are cleaning their toilet) and then when she has to go it is ready for her.

L.
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