Single Mom in Need of Helpful Advice Potty Training a Little Boy

Hi M.,

My son will be 4 in December, and I started potty training him at 2. I had the same problem. He knew how, just didn't want to stop playing to go. I tried everything and thought he would never be fully potty trained.

I kept telling him you have to go potty when you wake up or even while you are watching T.V. because that's what big boys do. That's what daddy/grandpa/boys at school do, and you have to too since you are a big boy. And I think it finally started sinking in. It wasn't an immediate fix, I'm sorry I don't have one of those for you, but don't give up. Your son sounds like mine....they do it once and know they can do it, then don't do it again until they are ready to do it permanently :)

We (my husband and I) made potty training a game. At the time my son loved Buzz Lightyear, so whenever he went potty (standing up like a big boy) he was shooting at Zurg with his laser. We had no problems after that. The issue of pooping on the toilet came later. They just have to be ready. I hope this helps.

Hi I am a single mother of a 3 year old boy and i have potty trained him myself he has been potty trained since he was 2 and a half and what i did was first taught him to sit down and once he had that down i put stuff like cheerios in the toilet and told him to aim like it was a game he came good about and has not worn a diaper in 7 months not even to bed. I do believe that is harder for a single mother to train a boy it was hard for me. But what i did was also just took his diapers away and put underwear on him cause he was treating the pull ups just like a diaper and when he would wet his underwear he didnt like it and i let him sit in it for like a half hour so that he would know that it was gross feeling and after a few times peeing his underwear he has never done it again.

M.:

I have an 8 year old and a 5 1/2 year old son. Both don't take the time to go to the bathroom when they should. They are too busy. I have them sit on the potty after every meal. Its part of the after dinner routine (go potty, was hands and face). I was worried about my 8 year old when he was 3 years old because he was getting ready for pre-school. I learned that the more I tried the more stubborn he became. I wasn't as worried with me second son and the process went alot easier. Good Luck this is a tough issue!!