3 1/2 Year Old Issues on Potty Training & Developmental Delays

He will do it when he is ready.
My son was speech delayed, the speech therapist said SOMETIMES they may be delayed in pottying or other things, etc. My son, started... at about 3 years old.
We just kept a potty chair out and about in whatever room he was in. Didn't make a fuss about it. And he'd be naked on the bottom. Then one day... HE sat on it. Nothing came out but he was proud. Then one day he sat on it and a dribble came out. He was proud. Then one day he sat on it and actually peed. He was proud. We complimented him. Then gradually he did it more often... on his own.
He'd even scream "ITS' MY BODY!" but he learned!

My son who wasn't developmentally delayed didn't want anything to do with the potty at that age either. I really didn't worry about it all that much. LOL! There was a time when I went to walmart and couldn't find a size six luv's diaper and looked at him and said, "Maybe it's time to try potty training." He said, "Don't you worry Mom, I will find them." He dug down into the shelves and found himself the right brand and the right size. I then looked at him and said we will buy them but only if you will start trying out that potty. We put cheerios in the toilet and my husband showed him how to push them around in the bowl. That seemed to help with the potty side but the pooping came very slow. I wouldn't worry to much. It will come.

I just want to say that I strongly believe there is a connection between physical developmental delays and potty training. Our oldest who will be 5 next month didn't become completely potty trained until she was almost 4. That was shocking for us. She was talking in full sentences by the age of 2, and was (is) exceptionally smart. She knew she should be able to go on her own, but couldn't understand what we meant when we talked about the urge to go. I don't think she actually FELT it until she was closer to 4. I asked questions about this here as well. I met another mom who said the exact SAME thing. My oldest didn't crawl until she was 12 months old and didn't walk until she was 16 1/2 months old.

My youngest PT'd decently by 25 months.....she's actually not going on her own now....but that is a whole other issue (called stubborness and family stress).

So, my advice is to just let him do his thing and keep trying every few months or if/when he takes the lead. You already have support with the school, so just let it be. Like your daughter, you'll just know when he's ready. :) Best of luck to you!!!

I would give him more time. 3 1/2 , still isn't horribly late to not be potty trained.

It might help to put a potty chair where ever he plays. Show him that he can sit on it. My granddaughter is 18 mos old. She enjoys sitting on the potty to look at a book. The potty has become an ordinary part of her play. This week, after wetting her diaper, she took her pants and diaper off and sat on the potty. I doubt that her body is quite ready but she's used to the potty, knows what it's for, and will, I think, have an easy time transitioning to it's appropriate use.

Let him go on the hour and take him out of diapers. Another way is to just document when he DOES go naturally, on the floor or in the toilet/potty, whatever, and let that be the schedule to let him practice going. Be prepared for the mess or accidents if he forgot to go or could not make it in time.

My son tried a bit but wasn't super interested around 3 years old. We started at a daycare that did potty-training and he got to see the other kids actively asking, etc. His interest went up. The teacher told me what to do (pullups till he was good at pants up/down, etc) and when he was ready to transition. When they're ready, they're ready. Just keep doing what you're doing and ask for help and tips from the school.

Also, hubby is going to have to man-up and get over being "creeped out". This isn't "someone" watching him, this is his SON learning to potty like a MALE - which you are not. ; ) So he needs to stop thinking of it as being watched and start thinking of it as TEACHING. I get it, but if you're not creeped out when your kid watches you, he needs to not be.

I think that by the time he enters school he is going to be noticing the other kids and they are going to notice him. He will either decide to go to the bathroom or not. If he just doesn't have the mental capacity to do it he may never do it. If he sees the other kids talking about how he doesn't go to the bathroom he may quickly decide to start going too.

My oldest son was the same way w/potty training. Shortly before his 4th birthday, he decided he'd pee on the potty, but only at home. So I gave him plenty of notice, that once he turned 4, he would be going on the potty outside of our home. My son is a very stubborn child.
Once he turned 4, it was about 2 weeks until we were in a situation where he has to pee on someone else's potty. He fought & fought me. Fortunately, we were at a family members house & I told them that he was going to scream. It only took about 5 min, & he went. He did the same thing the following day at Sunday School. From them on, he never a has accidents, etc. He will be 5 next month.
So my advice is don't push him. Give him a time frame...give him warning, that in X months, weeks, whatever, that he will no longer be wearing diapers & will be going on the potty.
Remember, that all children are different. My youngest son potty trained w/in a few mos of my oldest son..,,they are 19 mos apart. They're all different.
I wish you the best of luck!!