Potty Training - Wesley Chapel,FL

Hi C.,
My approach to potty training is they will be ready when they are ready. I realized that I couldn't really teach my son to recognize his cues, that was something he had to learn on his own. It made potty training so much easier! He let us know when he was ready (at about 3 1/2 ) we took him out of diapers the same day, except a pull-up at nap and night time. Instead of diapers we just packed extra clothes whenever we went somewhere. He only had a couple of accidents because he was old enough to know when he had to go. Good luck!
N.

C.- I, as well, had a huge problem getting my 3 year old to use the potty as well. I tried the big potty party advise to no avail. I happened upon an idea that worked perfect. Balloon animals (you know the ones the clowns make). You can buy a kit for them at most party stores and they come with directions. They are pretty simple. I would stretch the balloon and blow it up while he "went" and when I had confirmation that he went I would make him one of the animals or objects in the kit (his favorite was the balloon sword). I think I actually got the kit for less than $5.00 and it was the only thing that worked. You could also back it up with little "gifts" which I did as well. The gifts didn't work on their own, but they did work with the balloons. I went to the store and bought .25, .50 toys (mostly cars and small puzzles) and I wrapped them up and put them in a special basket. Like I said, the gifts didn't work on their own, but with the balloons he was trained in two days. He hasn't had an accident since. Hope this works and good luck.
G.

I started training my son when he was 9 months old and what I did and you should start doing is everytime you or your husband goes to the potty, take him with you, get his own potty and you both sit there together side by side. Play a game of some kind while he was on the potty. It becomes a habit and he will use his own potty himself. Make sure he has his own potty next to you. (a portable one)Tell him to take his pants down and sit. It might even be a mess, but give him a toilet tissue and clean himself. It's a start, but make it a routine and it works in no time.

This is very normal for a 3 year old. Unfortunately there is no way to push potty training. They are ready when they are ready. But on the bright side, if he is pooping right after you put him on the potty he is close. Usually the more you push him, the longer it will take.

If he has any friends about the same age that are having success, have them hang out together...
My son was iffy at first too. I never picked on him, but I'd talk about the other "big boys" that he knew and how cool it was that they went poo on the potty. It didn't take long for him to figure out that he wanted to be called a big boy too. I just gently remind him that the big boys go poo on the potty and he made the decision to go sit and try for himself.

BTW, keep in mind he had already turned 3 when I resorted to this tactick. It was about 2-3 months after his 3rd bday that he made up his mind.
Good luck and don't worry..it will happen!

Up until my girl was almost 3 she knew how to use the potty but had many accidents because she didn't want to stop playing to go. So we built up her my little pony 3 yr old big girl party and said that 3 yr olds don't wear diapers and if she wanted to turn 3 and have her party she had to use the potty ALL the time and no more pull ups. And it worked. She does still wear pull up to bed and she is 4. I haven't figured out how to stop that yet. lol I tried but ended up washing sheets twice a day. Good luck.

Hello C.,

I have to respond because of what we are continuing to go through with my three year old son. We started when he was about 2.5 years, and he got urine down but not pooping. We put him in undies and he continued to poop in his pants. Then he started to hold it because everyone was getting frustrated with it. Now he has endocrepesis and has to take a heavy dose of a stool softener every day and still wear pull ups. So I tell every mom I know to NOT pressure the boys! They'll get it eventually and you'll avoid power struggle problems like we encountered with my son. My daughter, his older sister, was completely trained by year 3 no problems at all. But boys are different, and need to take their time! Just hang in there and know he won't be a grown up still pooping in his pants. Good luck!!

My son who just turned two only wants to go potty for his daddy, so we crafted our own potty steps that include a treasure hunt. Heres what we do:

1. Asking if he has to go potty often threw out the day
2. Singing the backyardigain songs from the pirate themed show he loves (while on the potty)
3. I sit down on the floor when he goes
4. Get excited about flushing (high fives, clapping, excellent job, etc.)
5. wash hands, pants, diaper goes back on

This is when the fun begins! We hunt threw the house like the backyardigains (he is a big fan lol) saing Argh matey, with mommys fake peg leg and we "discover" the treasure somewhere in the house.

So this way he is being rewarded for going on the potty and he still goes with out treasure hunting because I try to make the potty part as exciting as possible with songs and dancing. This has been our idea and it was a ton of fun making the very cool treasure box!

Dear C.,

1. Diapers come in up to adult sizes, so although it seems to me too that Kolin could use the toilet, you're not completely stuck is it simply isn't working right now. Sometimes a younger child (especially if he's coming in for first birthday attention) can make the older one 'regress' a bit, but that's usually self-correcting with lots of patience and attention.

2. And on the tough love side... if he has to clean it, he'll be motivated to put the BM where it makes the least mess. And yes, you'll probably have to clean behind him, and the best way to approach his involvement in cleaning is very calmly and even sympathetically. It's not a punishment, it's what we all have to face when there's a mess.

Good luck,
E.

On Jon and Kate Plus 8, one of their boys sat on the potty after waking up for 45 minutes. Kate just told him he needed to sit there until he went potty. If you are waiting 15 minutes, then putting a diaper on he knows to wait for that diaper. The diapers need to go completely. He will not like pooping in his underwear. It is hard to go through, but you need to do it to build his confidence. Once he starts pooping on the potty and gets good at doing that a couple times he will have the confidence to keep going. Maybe plan Labor Day weekend go to all underwear, don't plan to go anywhere for a few days, put him on the potty every 15 minutes if you have to. Give him LOTS to drink and eat. Be POSITIVE don't yell or get angry. If he poops in his underwear have him help clean it up as much as possible. When he does go act like you just won the lottery!!

I saw a lady on the today show too. She is controversial. But what she does is she has kids over 1 day to get potty trained. They pretty much sit on the potty all day. She gives them lots of drinks and chips. Something about the chips and drinks that make the kids go to the bathroom so they see success right away. I found her website http://www.bootycampmom.com/index.html Click on "Media and Testimonials" on her website to see the Today Show story and other news stories that give more detail to what she does. And I see on her website that she does do phone consultations.

I know it is hard. Just stay strong and he will get there. Good luck!