I Need Help!! Potty Training Help!!

I had two boys first and they were just 1 year apart. I can tell you what we did. First of all, I waited until they were exactly 2 years 6 months. They both trained within that week. First thing was I DID NOT have them stand up. (I was 29 when I had my first child and I had already heard all the stories about the mess that is in the bathroom from boys standing up even when they get older.) So, I taught my boys to sit down first...a few years later they stood up and there are no messes at all. Besides, with standing up..not only are they having to learn to potty, but learn to stand up and not relax. That's double work for them.

Next, I bought several hot wheel cars and put them in a bag and each time he went, he got to pick one. Since they are only $1 or less, it was cheap. This encouraged him/them to go. My second son did fine with just putting stickers on a piece of paper on the wall of the bathroom. No certain order, just sticking it anywhere. I think the toys were the best though. lol.

With my first son, he drank a LOT, so I had to actually use a timer to remind myself to get him to go. Eventually, the timer was expanded to a lengthier time...My second son could hold it forever, so I didn't have to do that with him.

They both wore underwear day and night from the first day of potty training on. They did fine at night as long as they went to the potty before they went to bed. If they fell asleep on the way home in the car or something, I'd put something on them. They did #2 within that week as well, but it probably took about 5 days.

I definitely wouldn't force the issue with making him sit down for a period of time. He needs positive reinforcement...something that would make him want to go to the potty. That's why I mentioned the toys. My boys loved and actually still love hot wheels. (They are now 9 and 10.)

I have a 2yo girl that is 2 years and 5 months exactly and honestly, I don't think that she is going to be ready at 2 years 6 months. I've heard that girls are ready sooner or easier...not this one! lol I've tried once already and she couldn't care less if she was in wet underwear or not. When that happens, they are NOT ready. So, I stopped it after two times in that very first day. I'm waiting longer. Seems like my boys were ready and she isn't. We'll see this next month.

But, I definitely wouldn't push at all if he just isn't ready. If he has had accidents in his underwear and doesn't like the feel of it...great! Keep trying. If you are using those glorified diapers, ditch them...pullups are only diapers. Yes, that means cleaning up the mess, but that also teaches them more quickly.

But remember, kids are usually ready between 2 and 4 years of age. No, none of us want to be changing diapers beyond 3 years of age, but sometimes that is the case. My sister has 5 children and she didn't even start any of her children potty training until they turned 3yo. I guess it was just easier for her that way.

Good luck!

Use a timer when he sits on the potty. Tell him he can sit there for five minutes and then he gets off, whether he has gone or not. I would let him initiate any potty training at this point and not push it on him. If it takes him another full year, that's okay. Boys tend to take longer. My oldest son potty trained around 2 to 3 years old, but my second son was just about four. Honestly, it was LOTS easier with the second one because I didn't try to push him before he was ready.

S.,
I sympathize with you as I am trying to potty train my twin girls who are 2 1/2.
I pushed my son, who is almost 4 now, to potty train before he was ready and all it did was frustrate me.
My advice is definitely have him sit down on a little potty when he wants to, and wait to start potty training (wearing pull ups or underwear and going every 30 minutes) until he's ready- he starts peeing in the potty & telling you when he needs to go.
My son was fully potty trained at 3 years and 3 months after 9 months of potty training (I should have waited to start!!)
He's just now starting to stand up and pee, very successfully.
Good Luck!
S.

This maybe later down the road for you but my son turned 3 in June and I think we potty trained for a year. He got comfortable with the pull ups and still would not stop peeing in them. After a lot frustration I decided to just put him in big boy underwear and he does great because he can actually feel what it is like to pee on himself and I am sure he does not like how it feels. I would not push the potty if he is really upset about it but you do have to stay consistent, so do not stop for weeks and that pick it back up. Stay with what you are doing and maybe put some gold fish in the potty and see if he can pee on those. We also did a potty chart and he got a shicker to put on it when he went. We also gave some m & m's every time he sat and then we changed it to everytime he actually went and then we changed it to when his pull up was dry. Just a few ideas. Oh, and I would put him on the potty even if it is bed time, you have to stay consistent. Good luck!!

I'm a single mother too and what I have been using recently for my 2 1/2 year old is a bag of non-edible treats. After she goes potty, she gets to pick 1 treat from the bag. They are cheap little toys too, but make it more exciting. It has things in it like, crayons, finger puppets, $1 store type toys etc...Maybe you could try it?

Boys don't tend to "get it" with potty training until they are closer to 3 years old. By all means let him sit on the potty and get used to the idea if HE wants to, but until HE (not you) is truely ready to potty train, you will probably have plenty of accidents. There are lots of signs that you will know when he is TRUELY ready. When he is there it will be a fairly easy transition. It is all about bladder control. Is he letting you know he needs to go? Is he fairly consistant in the times he goes? Does he consistantly keep his diaper dry for long periods of time? How about at nap and night time? Is he asking to wear underware? Is he asking questions/showing interest when someone else is using the bathroom? If you can say yes to most if not all of these questions, that is a good sign he is on his way to being ready. If not I would wait to push the issue, because it will only end in frustration for both of you and/or take you an extremely long time to train him. Once you start training, don't stop or slack off, be consistant, be patient, and make it fun.

If he is fighting, crying and screaming he is not ready. Have you purchased any parenting books. All that I have read have said don't even try until boys are 3. Mine literally decided to use the potty the week of his 3rd birthday.
RELAX! Don't push him and get rid of the saying this is what big boys do! He is not a big boy he is 2 years old!! Too much pressure for the little guy.

Potty Training is sooooo annoying. I have a two year old. She doesn't want on poopy diaper but only tells me she has to potty after she has pooped. Sometimes, If I don't catch her, she'll take off the diaper. Oh No. I asked around because I don't really get anything from books, my brother gave me the best advice. He said it doesn't happen gradually, it happens allmof a sudden. So intorduce it, then just wait til he gets it.