Hi all.
I am trying to figure out how to get my son out of Pull-Ups both during the day and at night. He's pretty good about telling me when he has to pee and does it in the toilet. However, there are times that he forgets, and it's usually when he's playing at the computer. He also refuses to sit on the toilet to poop. That's why I keep him in Pull-Ups. And also because I am tired of cleaning up his accidents after putting him in big boy underwear.
I'm not sure where to go from here. Any ideas? Should I just let him tell me when he's ready to get out of his Pull-Ups? Thanks.
My grandson was a bit resistant to potty training. His Mom has him at a Montessorri School and the way they do it --they have him wear big boy under wear and told her to send extras--if he has accident he has to clean it and himself up and change his clothes himself. This cuts into play time with his friends and he knows this so he is more careful to go potty when he needs to. He was 3 in March.
I would get rid of the pullups and buy a couple of cheapo packs of underwear and just throw them away when he poops. Do you know what time of day he usually poops? You could just tell him each day around tht time "It's time to use the potty!" Once our chld gets used to going on the potty we often assume they are therefore capable of letting us know when they need to go potty. They actually are need us to keep telling them it's time to use the potty. Just keep reminding him and he'll get used to the new routine.
We have similar situation with our 3.5 yr old. He has known for a long time how to use the potty, but had lots of accidents whenever he was playing (especially on the computer). I figured I'd give him 'til the end of the summer and then go cold turkey on the pullups. But at every opportunity I talked about big kids using the potty etc. and would work on him dressing/undressing himself (something he doesn't care about at all) and bladder control (we let him run around naked a lot and he does ok w/the potty then). 2 weeks ago he was struggling to pull his pullups up, and I said "when you are ready to wear underpants all the time, you will see that they are much easier to get on and off" and he said "I want to wear underpants." We've been pullup-free for 2 weeks (except at night) and, yess, there have been accidents (mostly poop) but only once has he gotten tired and whiny about the potty and we have stuck with it and it's getting better. I think give your son the opportunity to tell you when he's ready, and until then have patience and keep practicing like you are.
I would take the initiative here and not wait for him to "tell you when he's ready" and take the Pull-ups away, use underwear and cover them with waterproof pants or buy the waterproof training pants in one. The initial cost may seem like a lot, but you're spending that on Pull-ups anyway over time, which are expensive.
Wearing these he will feel when he starts to pee or actually does and can head to the bathroom on his own. Have him use the toilet before he sits down to the computer and every 20 minutes or so while playing. And, have him clean up after pooping in his pants.
At 3.5 I'm wondering if you've asked why he won't sit on the toilet? My 26 month old is slightly embarrassed to poop in his potty chair, but he DOES sit and do it then says "Oh oh" and I make a big fuss about what a great job he did : ) Have you tried a potty seat on the toilet or just the regular seat? It's hard to know why he won't, but at this point it's a power play and I would try to find out WHY and deal with it..
You or dad can take him to the bathroom when you go, and have him sit at the same time if he has a potty. Let him see that pooping on the toilet is natural. Also, if you have friends or relatives with children around his age who are trained let him spend enough time around them to see that they use the toilet, peer pressure can be a good thing.
Another mama posted this yesterday and I found it very helpful, so I hope you will benefit from it as well, 10 Techniques to Toilet Training ~
http://parentingtouchstones.com/01/10-techniques-to-toile...
i had some problems with my 3 yr old son who is now 3 1/2 and fully potty trained...goes by himself and all and stays dry at night as well with ocassional bed wetting if i dont make sure he pees right before bed time...it was a pain to get him to poop...u know what really helped him i think...the POTTY TIME WITH BEAR BIG BLUE HOUSE DVD...i swear that is what pushed him to use the potty...look it up!! hope this helps!!!! every child is different remember that but yes try and take away the computer too...
I hate bribery but sometimes it works. Buy him something he would really like...maybe a cool coloring book, toy car, book, video, etc., then put it in the bathroom for him to look at. Tell him once he's gone poopy in the potty for a whole day, or two whole days, or however long you think, he'll then get the gift. But, he cannot have it UNTIL he goes in the potty AND has no accidents.
Also, when he does go in the potty, make a HUGE deal about it. Scream and jump up and down in excitement then give him tons and tons of kisses. My kids thought this was the funniest thing they ever saw and they loved the appreciation they got in the end.
well i may not be much help here I have a 2 year old Daughter we started potty training at 18 months we just told her we were going to the store to buy her a special surprise and bought her a bunch of different panties to wear we told her she was a big girl now and had to wear big girl underwear she thought that was neat the first week we had lots of accidents but there is no escaping that it happens when ever she had an accident we would have her help us clean it up and and to put her soiled undies in the hamper she she eventually started just going on her own it took a little longer with pooping but she didnt like the feeling of it in her pants io wouldnt put pull ups on anymore and he will eventually get it my daughter is 2 and very rarely has an accident now
If he pees his pants because he doesn't want to stop playing on the computer, I'd take away all computer privileges. Gone. The End. Game Over. I wouldn't bother with pullups. Put him in undies and let him know that for now, when he has to poop, he can let you know and you'll put a diaper on him, but only if he sits on the toilet to poop in his diaper (pants are optional) and you'll change him out of the dirty diaper right away. Once he's more comfy with having bm's on the toilet, you can graduate him out of the diapers. Also, at 3 1/2, it's time for him to take himself to the bathroom to pee, he shouldn't need to tell you that he has to go. At that age, my daughter and son just went to the bathroom, no public announcements or chaperones needed :)
