potty training question

[MamaBee]

I know we've covered this thousands of times... but I'm really struggling...

My 3 year old son had interest in potty training around his birthday in March, he would mimic us and would sit on the toilet (hated the potty chair), however never do anything. Then came his birthday and he decided that he was done with the crib and now sleeps in a twin bed. So, I thought it was because of that big change, is the reason why he has no interest in potty training and will just scream if I try to push it. I've let up and have been going with the whole, on his own time.

DS loves anything that is gummy... gummy fruit, gummy worms, etc... and he gets that as a treat... so DH wonders if we would have a gummy after we go, that he would become interested in training again. I think this is mean to do to ds. I'm sure he will do it when he is ready... and I know I shouldn't worry or stress about it... but I'm just wondering if anyone has ideas out there about how to get him interested again.

thanks

[kristijoy]

I waited until my DS was over 3 1/2. Then I started getting him comfy on the potty chair by giving him gummy bears to practice (he didn't have to actually pee). I told him we were just practicing so there was no pressure to get it right during this phase. Just simple to get comfortable with sitting on the potty. We would sit in underpants or pullups while we were at home during that time.

It was about 2 weeks of 'practicing' before he actually peed in the potty. Then he just got it. After about 5 days he was in underpants all day.

I'm really glad I waited because he was old enough to have control and it wasn't a power game between us. He got pee on poo all together. Other mom's I know who did it earlier with their boys are still struggling with the poo. I think training him to 'sit' to pee, also helped because he got comfortable on the potty chair (so poo wasn't much different).

Also, one of the things that really worked for Liam was this 'singing' potty chair. Everytime he peed in it, it played music! I couldn't believe I was actually buying it, but man did he want to sit on that thing and make it SING!!

So hang in there. It will happen!

[kbbeale]

All my children were very motivated with rewards - those itty bitty m&ms worked for DS1, DS2 was a bit more of a struggle, but he trained for m&ms and a darth vader action figure :p Maybe try the gummies and then find something that hes really wanting and that will be the big reward if he tries really hard and such....?

Kristen

[lovely1m]

My kiddo filled his sticker chart to earn a reward. He had 1 for school and 1 at home. He was happy to get a sticker after each time to earn what he really wanted to get (he got a Gabba Gabba guy for school and a Thomas & Friends guy at home). I also waited until he started to want to wear undies. Then it was easy. At first he just wore undies for a couple of hours and that was it, then he was just ready.

[kbbeale]

Other mom's I know who did it earlier with their boys are still struggling with the poo.

:thumbup: Totally! I have a girlfriend who started pushing her 18 month old BOY to train, and guess what? They fought and fought and fought it with him until he was 4.5! I felt so bad for her son....

ITA that you should encourage when THEY are ready. ((Not saying you are pushing! Just sayin'))

K

[MamaBee]

Thanks ladies... something to think about and discuss with hubby... I've tried the picking out big boy underwear... he picked out Elmo ones... but ds think all underwear are diapers. So when he sees ours... he points and says, "diapers"... and you all know how far reasoning with a 3 year old gets ya, LOL!

I think you are all right... just have to wait it out... there really isn't a rush, I'm not putting in 3 year old preschool in the fall... the only thing that could cause a rush would be Sunday School, they want them potty trained.

[eranslow]

The thing that worked with us was letting ds run around 1/2 naked. (lol - I totally asked on twitter the best way to potty train boys and La and Jennifer said naked) But I really think he was ready because he never had any accidents while naked. We did the naked thing for about 3 weeks and now are letting him run around with undies on. He is doing fabulous! But I really think it was just the right time to do it with ds. If we would have tried training sooner I don't think we would have gotten the same results.

Good luck - potty training certainly isn't fun!

[sprauncey1]

All my children were very motivated with rewards - those itty bitty m&ms worked for DS1, DS2 was a bit more of a struggle, but he trained for m&ms and a darth vader action figure :p Maybe try the gummies and then find something that hes really wanting and that will be the big reward if he tries really hard and such....?

Kristen


Chocolate pieces for #1 (he is allergic to peanuts so no real M&Ms but still the same idea) and when he FINALLY went #2 in the potty for a week he got Darth Vader Lego figure.:p

Has Daddy showed him how he goes standing?
My boys would not go #1 sitting, since Daddy did it that way. We always had them practice right before bath (water running) and told them to make bubbles in the potty.

That is one thing that DS#2 got faster because he saw big brother doing it all the time. The second one was the hard part for us with him. But I am happy to say it has now been two weeks since he's been only going in the potty and I am so happy. Finally I just broke down (now he is 3.75 and I tried everything) and made him sit on the potty for 20 minutes 3 times a day until he started going. And on day three he FINALLY started going. But he was older than yours. Both mine did not start until they were 3.5 for different reasons but even at 3 they weren't really ready.

But since they can control this, they will! Definitely find a reward system, both mine were motivated with that and once he does prove he CAN go, set up a schedule (every hour) to get him to try. Then once he starts going regularly he probably will start recognizing the need. But he is a boy, so even then you have to remind them to go because they are so one-minded when they are doing things and playing!