Help with Potty Training - Elyria,OH

I don't understand. You just started over the weekend. Did you expect him to get it that easy. Boys rarely pick up patty training easy(I have 3 boys). My boys were almost 4 to 4 when they were potty trained. My daughter was easy and was trained at 3. Boys are late at most things. On top of that each boy comes with his own unique personality. You need to be patient and do not punish him because you want him to be potty trained now. No 2 kids are alike and do not listen to "opinions" on what the "right time" is for potty training. Treat each child uniquely and realize some will learn early and some will learn late. You may not want to hear this but he may not be ready for preschool. Consider what is best for your child and find a program that potty training is not so important.

Hi C., Since it was your husband that was helping him in the begining did you ask your husband if he was doing anything special with him, like singing a song or just talking about silly stuff. I have 3 boys and it always amazes me how they respond so differently to me and my husband. When your son was having success were both you and your husband celebrating with him? I wouldn't advise going back to diapers, it sends a mixed message and at the age of 3 with the success he has already had he is more than ready. How does your son respond to the potty training once daddy gets home from work? The hard part is keeping your cool and not getting frustrated. It's hard I know but you can't be mean about accidents, even when it doesn't seem like an accident. When I was potty training I did the sticker charts and we went to the store I let them pick out what stickers they wanted to use and then when they sat on the potty when I asked even if they didn't go I would let them put one small sticker on their chart if they did go I let them pick out 2 and we danced around and made it fun. When they had an accident, I made them help me clean up the mess, this was no fun and they quickly picked up on that fact. They had to change their own pants, put the dirty ones in the soak bucket and if anything was on the floor they cleaned it up. I really hope this helps, best of luck to you.

I just got done potty training my 3 year old girl who refused to go on the potty :)!!! We used the Potty Training in a day book and literally it works it took 6 hours and she is completely potty trained. It sounds crazy but it is a god scent. Good luck use the book

Hi C.,
We have two girls who were potty trained at 20 months and 2.5 years. I know, girls are easier to potty train but I find the method that I've incorporated has helped speed up the process.

Once you've determined that your child is ready to be potty trained,then this is how I would proceed.
I begin by observing and and writing down the times they go 'potty' regardless if its on the floor or when they go on the toilet. After the first day, you should see a pattern of when they are more likely to go to the bathroom. I then have a bag full of pre-wrapped gifts of things they like (the dollar store is a great place to buy toys, etc) and wrap them up nice and tight with lots of tape. I then place a wrapped gift on the toilet seat, I let them know its time to go to the bathroom and there's a gift waiting on the toilet seat. Once your child is on the toilet seat and is immersed in unwrapping the gift, he/she will have 'done her business.' The most excruciating part of potty training for a child is to sit on the potty and wait for it to happen. This takes their minds off the task at hand, relaxes those muscles and they are more likely to just let it happen.
You should always have a gift on the toilet seat when you announce its time to go potty as well as when he/she asks you to go to the potty.
This makes it fun and they always look forward to going potty!

Ofcourse, every child is different, but it has worked quite well for us.

Good luck!

Hi C. you are wearing yourself out and maybe making it worse for your son to keep nagging at him. Our eldest son was the same and I thought he was going to Kinderten wearing pampers. He didn't and it was just that 'going to school' that made him change. Our second son was trained very early 'but he had a big brother' to help. Your son regardless what others say will go pee and poop when he is ready. My 3 yr granddaughter has been in preschool this is her second year and just became potty trained over the summer. Good Luck but don't push him time will be best for both of you and don't worry what others may say.

We had three people trying the 11 YO I am raising now. It is better if you and your husband and trying to train him together if you jointly take him to the bathroom or take turns taking him.
Since all of my children were toilet trained by 18 months I didn't face all of the same issues. Your child is old enough to tell you when he has to go to the bathroom verbally which is a plus for you.

I was always told to make a HUGE celebration of it - when my kids used the potty, we had a little party - to include hat and loud whistles. I only had to do that a few times until they understood how wonderful it was not to have accidents. I also kept a non-accident calendar I got from Pull-Ups (I think) and made sure to have them put the sticker on and it was something to show Daddy as soon as he got home - every day. Hope this works for you!