Potty Training - York, PA

I trained my boys naked from the waist down. It might sound strange, but it worked. There was no delay getting them on the potty when they had to go. We did not have to fumble with clothes!! I found when they transitioned into underwear I could not use briefs. I think the tighness of a brief replicated the feeling of a diaper. So we used loose fitting boxers for a few weeks that then went into briefs. Good Luck!

Hi J.

My son had a hard time with the same thing. He is also 3 1/2. He would do great one day and pee all over the place the next. I would not suggest putting him back in diapers. When I did that my son just kept going to the bathroom in them he didn't seem to care. All we did was the schedule. I would set the timer on the microwave for 45 minutes and when he heard the beeping he knew to run to the potty. I also had a huge jar of treats and wrapped toys (race cars..he loves them) and they were ONLY his and ONLY for after using the potty. He would get to pick what ever he wanted. In the beginning I let him pee in a plastic, disposable cup.. he liked the sounds it made.

Now he is doing quite well. Nap time is no longer an issue. Our biggest battle has been during the night. He was wetting around 3 am every night. Now what we do is at 11pm every night we go in his room and carrying him into the bathroom and have him go. No accidents since we have done this. I am hoping to be able to stop this soon.

Good Luck!!!!

Hi J.-

First-DO NOT PUT YOUR SON BACK IN DIAPERS! That could delay whatever progress you are making. Both of my sons were not potty trained until after they were 3 years of age. Because of your son's developmental issues it may take some more time. Be patient. Keep him in underwear-even for naps & bed. Let him sleep on a towel or bed sheet for easy clean up. Take away his comfort of diapers or pull-ups. By the time he is 4 he should have it down pat. If you are not having any luck talk to his pediatrician. Good Luck!

My suggestion would be to keep up your effort. I am trying to potty train my 2 year old daughter now but my sister in law gave me the best advive, try and make it fun for them, stickers, clapping, dancing like crazy when they get it right and when they don't just telling them it's okay and they'll do better the next time. If it helps, my nephew is borderline autistic and that seemed to work very well for him. Good luck.

Stick with what you are doing! My son is the same age as yours, and we had the same stuff happen when we first started PT. It took some time, but he's really gotten the hang of it in the last 2 or 3 weeks. It took us about 2 to 3 months to get to this point, though. Now, he is only in diapers at nighttime. Thankfully, he has 6 little friends at daycare that are also in the midst PT, so that helps. Just keep doing what you are, and asking him if he needs to go. We also used the incentive method...if he wore the underwear, and went potty when we told him to go or when he felt he needed to go, then he could play with a certain game. If not, no game for the rest of the evening. We did that for almost 4 weeks, and it really worked well for us.

Good luck! It will come with time!

I would consult your pediatrician. Since he has had developmental issues, if there is a physical issue or he is mentally unable to do this as of yet, it's just torturing him to keep him out of diapers. A few more months may be what he needs to be successful.

Have you tried any of the potty training videos? My nephew had issues around this age and then his mom bought some potty training videos with fun songs and characters. He watched these for several weeks and then came to his mom and said "No more diapers!" He had a few accidents after that, but it was a whole different ball game from the previous attempt at potty training. He was finally ready.

Best of luck,
K.

my son has slightly the same problem and hes five he dosent have accidents so much as he dosent seem to get when he has to go until he leaks a little and the goes so most nights when he undresses his underwear are wet or damp or has the tell tale yellow stain its not that he dosent know he has to go most time when he walks funny or crosses his legs or starts fidgeting alot he has to go but gets busy with an activity or the tv program and tries to hold it until the last possible minute the only thing to really do is keep an eye on him and if he starts acting out of the normal suggest going potty a schedule dosent work although as you have said he has had developmental delays he may just simply not be ready but I would try to keep him out of diapers since you have already started the potty training process it could just be the age old thing that his bladder isnt fully developed yet which seems to effect boys more then girls my daughter is 3 1/2 has been potty trained since before her second birthday and hasnt had one potty training problem she wakes up dry from naps and most mornings my son is almost six and wakes up wet every morning just keep plugging away eventually things come together

It's not unusual for boys to potty train until late in the fourth year. Let him wear diapers and try again later. Pushing the issue not only won't help, it could hurt his success at potty training

Hi J.!

Maybe your son is just not ready yet. Everyone is different. I remember when I tried to train my son at 2.5 years, it was the same way, he'd only tell me he had to pee when it would be running down his leg. Then one day, after he turned 3, he was just ready.

I know many will teach their child how to learn the urge, but I guess I am more laid back and I let my child decide when he was ready.. It made it a lot easier for him and me, especially since I had a newborn to manage too. I'm sure if you are persistant, it will happen sooner than later.

Hi J.:

I have 3 boys and all of them started to go potty at 4. I know that is late but I never had accidents and have to worry at that point they were interested and ready. So if I were you to save the hurt feelings the disappointments and the worrrying about whether or not they are going to be ok in a mall or where ever I would just let him do it on his own. It will happen!!!!! You know the saying no one gets married wearing a diaper!!!! We all do it, just not at the same time!!!! Good luck!!!!

Hi, I also have 2 boys 3.5 and 1.5. My 3.5 year old has yet to be potty trained. I still have him in pull ups, sometimes he'll tell me, sometimes he won't. I decided that come spring I'm getting rid of the pull ups all together and just putting him in underwear. It is hard though, i know what you mean. My suggestion and I know this may sound like a bit much, ask him like every 5 minutes if he has to go. Sometimes I'll do that with my son just to try to keep him aware of his feeling to go. Anyway, who am I to give advice when i'm in the same boat as you. Then it's like I hear other people that have 1.5 and 2 year olds saying they are training them and I'm thinking, I'm not even close to thinking about that yet. I still have to concentrate on getting my 3 year old trained. I wish you luck. If you get any interesting ideas let me know. Jenn

I would suggest putting him back in diapers and trying again in a couple months. My son was a little over 3 1/2 when he was trained. You cant force him to be ready. Like everyone says - it will just click - and boy is that true!

Lots of luck!!!!