Potty Training - Peru,IL

My daughter was very stop and go on potty training. Again, she was potty trained before 2 and then lost interest. I didn't push it but her montessori teacher started taking her regularly. Then I bought a singing potty at target - when you pee, it sings a song - Boy she LOVED this and since then she hasn't had a single accident and has been going now for a month.

You might want to check out the Potty Training Bootcamp online. You can download it for $6 and read it quickly. It's got a lot of interesting information in it.

T.

C.,

I had a similar experience with my son, showed interest at 16 mos and did both potty and poop on it. Quit after a few weeks. Showed interest sometime before he turned 3 but would only let his Mom help him--which obviously doesn't work when he has a sitter during the day--that lasted 1 week.

Then, 2 months after he turned 3 on New Year's Eve, he decided to start going on potty with an incentive of playing with a NEW highly desired toy for 5 min every time he went. It worked with no accidents.

It took 2 more months to get him trained on pooping but he was afraid. He got a little constipated and got a big sick to his stomach and was forced to sit down and go while I sat with him. After that, he realized he could do it and it took a month or more to enjoy the experience.

Now, he is 4 and the last 6 mos he has spends 20 min each time in there reading books loving his private time.

I didn't know that the early interest in it at 16 mos was typical and then they abandon it. The upside is my son has had virtually no accidents because he is older and has been capable for soooo long, even at nighttime, pullups have been dry almost every time.

It is true, when they are ready they will do it.

A.

A little about me: mom to a charming 4 yr old boy and a bubbly 11 mo old girl

Hi C.,

Here are a few things that worked for us... we always put our son on the potty at regular times- ie right when he woke up, before he went to sleep, before he got in the bathtub and before we took a trip. I was going back and forth between diapers and cloth underwear. Cloth underwear when he was awake and diapers for naps and bedtime. I carried a potty chair with us from room to room and even outside. We used rewards for using the potty (jelly beans) - and I left them out so he could self reward. Sometimes I would see him use the potty three times in a half and hour just to get three jelly beans. We also got those special seats for the big pottys and a stool so he could use those as well. After a while he only wanted to use the big potty. It took several months to be fully potty trained and I had to be very consistent with no diapers during the day so there was no confusion. Like another poster mention, when they get to be 2.5/3 then they would rather play then stop to use the potty.

I have to say the biggest thing for him to stop wearing them when he was sleeping, was when I told him diapers are expensive and I wanted to stop buying them so I could buy him more toys instead. After that he didn't want to wear diapers at night or for naps - he would say - no diapers, I would rather have the toys.

Good luck

I had a similar issue and spoke with a pediatric urologist at Children's Memorial. He said do not force it. You will only cause problems. Kids will go when they're ready. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports this as well.
Good luck!

Go no diapwes/ pull-ups for a few days, I would do it over a weekend, or during the week if you are a SAHM. 3 yr olds are much more interesting in playing than stoping to go pee. He probably thought it was fun b/f but know his interest is moved onto other things. I think once he feels that he has to stop b/c of accidents than he his start to make it a habit to run to the bathroom so he doesn't have to be changed. I remember telling my son it takes longer to change you then if you just stop for a minute and use the toilet. It's more work for you now but the result comes pretty quickly. Good Luck - p.s. just remember to keep it upbeat even if it is the 5th time you are changing him!

Hi, C.. Unfortunately, I don't have any advice as my son is only 18 months now and just starting to be interested in the potty. However, I did want to tell you that my newphew was 3 1/2 before he was potty trained and he still has some accidents now and then at 4 1/2. Some kids just take longer (and I've heard boys take longer than girls...not sure how true that is). I think you are doing the right thing by not pushing him to do it. I'm sure he'll get it eventually. Good luck to you!

I would highly recommend www.3daypottytraining.com. We used that with our almost 3 year old and she hasn't looked back. I would say it's been a little over 2 months. It is a cold turkey, no diapers, no pull ups method. But it is done in a very positive way. Waiting until he's ready means waiting until he is physically and cognitively able to be trained. Sounds like he is right there. Good luck!

C.

bet the next kid you dont' let it just stop when they first show interest!! I made the same mistake with my first, she was dry in diapers while awake for 2 weeks solid at 17 mos then I let her drop it.
Finally at 3 yrs 4 mos old, we had moved, had the new baby and we had a no more diaper party. Would have done it sooner, but we were homeless for 3 mos then had the baby via c section so I had to heal. Went cold turkey and she was dry from that day on.

We tried a couple of different things, although we worked on this in the summer. We live in a more rural area so in an attempt to work on his aim and get him interested in the whole potty training experience, we would send him outside and ask if he wanted to pee on a tree. I know how it sounds, but after he turned three I was getting a little desparate. I also let him pick out his character underwear. I reminded him how much he liked Handy Manny or Diego or whoever and that it would be rude to pee on his head. Again, as I type this I know how this must sound, but it has seemed to work. He is 4 now and is completely dry throughout the day. He is still in diapers at night, but we are working on that more gradually. I hope this helps.