CONSTANTLY Saying "Pee Pee Toilet" While We're Out.....

Sorry, but get used to it. A toddler has VERY little control over his own life- everyone is always telling him where he has to go, what he has to do, when and what he can eat, etc. So the whole potty thing gives him some control both over his own body and also a bit of control over the adults around him who drop everything and take him to the toilet. As long as he is peeing every time, continue to take him. He is still learning to control the urges to go, alongside all of the power control he is experimenting with. I would NOT allow him to play at all in the bathroom, though. Do your business, wash hands, go. At home, don't wait until he asks you-- you should be asking him constantly if he needs to go and taking him to the potty before he says he needs to go. Good luck-- the whole potty training stage is like nothing else in the world!! Some pick it up quickly and some drag on for months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What you are describing is two things: (1) It's a game that you play very well with him, and (2) some children LOVE public bathrooms. I know without a doubt that public bathrooms are a fascination...I don't understand it, but it's true. My 2 1/2 year old is potty trained, both day and night time. ANY time I need to go out, I make him go potty before we leave. Once in a while he'll say he has to go potty, and like you, I'll ask him if he can hold it until we get home. IF he says, yes, then I let him hold it but if he says no, then I'll take him. Once he's gone potty, I will NOT bring him to the bathroom again until we get home if he should say has to go again, which occssionally he will. I'm rarely out for longer than 2-3 hours at a time with him and I can tell you that he's held it for much longer than that. If you are out and you take him to the public bathroom and he goes, do not take him again and don't ask him if he can hold it. You must TELL him that now he'll have to hold it because you've already taken him once. If need be, take him before you leave the store but ignore the game that he initiates with you. Let him scream, cry, moan, or whine but don't give in after you've taken him once. Good luck.

Hi Kristy, what he may be doing is just peeing a bit and holding the rest in so he has an excuse to go back next time and you won't be wondering why he is asking to go again. What may really fascinate him is the whole hand-washing experience in the sink, as I have discovered my daughter loves water too. She will say 'tubby, tubby' and jump up and down and throw herself on the floor when she wants a bath when I ignore her or say no, even if she had one an hour ago, because she loves playing in the water and splashing, so your son might be feeling the same way as she does about water. Everytime she pees or poops, she tries to justify this as a reason to go in the tub again.

Sounds like a game; but if he can go several times an hour, check with your pediatrician to make sure he is free of urinary tract infection. That could also be the reason he feels the urge to go.
These issues will pass (no pun intended) as he gets older.

We have a name for that behavior in our family (because of my little boy). It's called Adventure Peeing. PJ always liked to check out the bathrooms in ALL the stores we went to. He even liked to use ALL the stalls. Thankfully, it passed quickly.....

Be glad he is taking to the toilet so easily. Some little boys are very hard to potty train.

In the meantime,keep germex and wet wipes to clean up the public restroom toilets before use.

I'm having same problem with my daugther and she is 33 months ols almost 3 years old. I'm not sure if it's curiosity or run away from some places that she doesn't like them. Would you share what they tell you?
Thank you,
P.

Hee hee.
Tammy is right on the money. My little potty girl would do the same thing. Got a large buggy of stuff you are waiting to check out with at WalMart and you're finally NEXT? "Mommy, I need to go". "Can you hold it?" " I don't think so."
EVERY place we went she had to go. Target. Lowe's. HomeDepot. Publix (once while waiting at the deli, a 2nd time after we got to the back of the store near produce). Walmart. Gas station. Subway. Cracker Barrel or other various restaurant (at least twice per trip and ALWAYS right as the food arrives). It is sort of a game. They get to make things happen. AND they get praised for it. What could be better???
Like Tammy said, try to keep it down to business. I would always praise the potty usage, then try to keep a straight expressionless face the rest of the time (washing hands etc), which wasn't too hard when trying to balance shoulder strap pocketbook and a 30 pounder on one hip while turning on the water and getting soap with the other hand, all while simultaneously trying to avoid getting anybody's clothes dragged into the inevitable water slopped all over the sink/counter. :)
But, like most other milestone issues, this too will pass. As long as he GOES when you take him, then continue to take him. When he starts changing his mind after he gets in there (I don't think I need to after all..) then you can start waiting an extra minute or two before you rush him in there. (At least that was my experience). I also got to the point where I would ask my DD point blank... "Do you need to potty, or do you just WANT to go see the bathroom?" She never gave me a straight answer mind you, but she knew I was onto her then.. ha ha
Hang in there. What you are also noticing is that when he is bored is when he decides to spice things up by ... "going pee pee". Try to keep him entertained as best you can while you try to get your errands done.
By the way, you didn't mention specifically what he is wearing while he doesn't say anything throughout the day Until nap time... pull-ups? or big boy undies? It is possible that he might be ready for a trial run on the cloth training pants at home. Be sure to talk with him about it so he understands that he will have to go to the potty at home each time he feels the urge. Otherwise he will get all wet.
Good luck.
I'm sure if I missed anything, another mom will think of it!
:))
Congratulations on such a bright little boy!

Hi Kristy,

Hang in there and just keep doing what you are doing. Right now it is kind of a game to your son, but if he is going each time you take him you don't want to disrupt that. He needs to know he will have access to a bathroom whenever needed. Don't worry, he will soon tire of this and move on to something new. The fact that he doesn't want to have any accidents in public says he is ready for potty training. At home you may want to set a timer and take him "pee pee" every 20 - 30 minutes. As he gets the hang of this the time between bathroom trips will become longer and longer. Before you know it this will be a distant memory to laugh about.

Hi Kristy.

First, let me tell you I LOVE your son's name!

You mention in your "about me" section that your son is VERY active. Could it be that he spends so much time playing (I know my son used to do this) that he doesn't want to take time out to use the facilities? (Sometimes we have to remind them!) At 27 months, he may be ready for some 'big boy underwear'. He may feel inclined to use the restroom more when at home if he gets to practice pulling down underwear. (You know, try some of those Pull-Ups until he stops wetting them altogether.)

Also, is he still on a bottle at nap time, or in the car for rides? This could cause him to really need the restroom at these particular times. I would make sure he goes before nap, and before you get in the car. Try this: put on a clean diaper before nap, and tell him that this is his one chance to go because xxx (make up something, you know, like the bed fairy will be around to check on him but only shows up while he sleeps or something like that- *shrugs shoulders*). Then lie him down. See what happens. Manipulation sucks, but sometimes we have to resort to it. If he is still on the bottle, he should be ready to come off of it by now, and switching to a sippie cup will help because it holds less fluid, and requires that he be upright when drinking.

Hope this helps, and does not offend. Have a great day! Luck!

C.