Potty Training Issues How to Make Them Go Pee

Peer pressure can be great for potty training. Sometimes kids gain confidence with potty training when they see their friends do it. A playdate or babysitting situation with another toddler works well. Be encouraging with the other child as well as your child, being careful not to shame them or give them guilt trips if they choose not to use the potty. Keep it light and positive. Our favorite potty training book has been "I'm a Big Kid Now: a Book About Toilet Training" by Joae Graham Brooks. It has phrases the kids can relate to like, "When I was a little kid I wore diapers. I didn't like it when they got wet. They felt yucky."

If he is having a sensory reaction to the water, dont use it... so if you know he hates having water on him for bath time and such why place it on his hands or have it dripping or pour it on his back? He probably at that point is tensing up and retreating from the potty time... I would hold off for a little while, he doesnt sound ready unfortunatly :( But good luck! It sounds like you are trying really hard to work with him :)

One thing that we forget as parents is that it helps if they have to go pee. So get his favorite beverage and let him have lots of it. I know that gatorade is one that works well...that is what I used. Then after he has had a few drinks of it, help him sit on the potty. Eventually he will go on the potty and then when he does praise him, do a potty dance....just go wild that he did it. Then he will get the idea of what you expect him to do while he sits there. Granted you may have to be wild and crazy everytime he does something on the potty for a while, but they think that it is funny. Besides sometimes I don't think that the kids really know what is happening until you point it out to them....like at the exact moment they are peeing. If you point that out to him and bring it to his attention that he is peeing and that it is a great thing to do that in the toilet then he will try and do it again. His speech and hearing may delay the potty training for a while, but it is important to remember to be patient and not to get angry or upset if he doesn't understand or can't do what you are asking him to do. The suggestions of the other posters about talking with a therapist are great ones and even talk with your doctor about it too. Good luck.
J.--SAHM of 7

It is possible it could have something to do with the water and the the way pee sounds. He clearly hates water. Have you determined if it is more of a sensory issue for him. If he is in speech therapy, maybe ask them about it. They probably work closely with an Occupational Therapist (OT) and can ask. My son had sensory processing difficulties and they were there worst at the age of 3. He was in OT for just under a year (now he is 7 and doing SOOOO much better). They have to learn how to deal with these sensations and we have to try to desensitize them (it doesn't always just happen naturally). He struggles with sensory issues once in a while but it really doesn't effect our life much anymore. He doesn't have an issue with water but we know two children who do. A water sensory problem is a common one. Maybe if you find out from an OT how to work on the water issues, the potty training will come in time. Lastly, we have a friend who's son has hearing loss and needs help with speech; he has had sensory processing difficulties as well. Don't mean to worry you, I'm just recommending you check into it.

Back to the potty training, I would maybe drop it for a little while. I had always heard that potty training success had a lot to do with the child feeling in control. I thought that was a bunch of hype until I potty trained my own. It's true! Just be sure you don't pressure him too much. Still reward him for sitting on the potty but don't make a big deal out of it.

we taught our son to pee outside. he thought that was great fun and only the men could go pee outside. i dont know if you live in a place where he could go on a bush in the back yard. i understand its some what nasty to urniate outdoors but its the same place our dog goes!

Hi,
As a mom myself, an occupational therapist and a parent educator here are some resources:

http://articleboss.net/article40.html

http://eftuniverse.com/index.php?option=com_content&v...

http://eftuniverse.com/index.php?option=com_content&v...

http://quantumtechniques.com/what-quantum-techniques

http://quantumtechniques.com/body-position-memory-trauma

You can use the EFT or QT strategies to help eliminate the fear/panic of water and then just deal with the potty training. Let me know if you want additional resources.
Good luck.
Blessings to you and your family,
K.
Kimberly Smith Cavins, OTR, CPE, EFT-Cert
"From the Heart" Family Healing

Helping people with:
~Parenting or Family Struggles
~Unhealed Emotional Issues, Trauma, or Illness
Who need Peace, Love, and Connection

Remedy Center for Healing Arts; 4910 Burnet Rd Austin, Tx 78756; ____@____.com
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