Help, my three year old will not potty train.

Chelsey - posted on 10/28/2009

Potty training is very stressful especially if it is your first child and if it is a boy. My son wasn't ready till he was about 2.5 and then he got it. kinda. I tried sooner then that but I was just pushing it and realized I needed to back off till he acted more like he was ready. examples of showing interest in the potty and knowing what it was for and so on. I started by taking him with me or his dad every time we went to the bath room no matter if it was #1 or #2 so he would get used to it. Then one day I took his diaper off and explained to him that that was the last diaper and he has to start going pee in the potty. And every half an hour for 3 days straight i made him go potty and he would go. peeing that is. For the night time I never had a problem with "wetting" the bed but i also had a "plan" going into it. I wouldnt let him have anything to eat or drink an hour before he went to bed & I would make him go pee right before I laid him down, & I have noticed that if I slip and forget he does end up wetting the bed with it being my fault its only happened twice but its been my fault both times. As far as pooping, my son will be 3 next month and about a week ago is when he finally starting going poop on the potty. I tried absolutly everything anywhere from getting his favorite piece of candy on ly when he pooped on the potty to sitting him in time-out to making him sit in it for a long period of time to anything you could think of, and then one day it dawned on me that I was gonna come up with a new plan that ive never tried or never heard of and that was taking all his toys away from him, My son is in love with his hotwheels and they go everywhere with us. So one day I took everything out of his room the only thing left was his bed and his dresser. I had to sit down and explain to him that he only got his toys back if he started pooping on the potty and the deak was he could only get one toy back at a time and he was alowed to pick it out, but only one! And slowly one by one and about 2 weeks later he finally was pooping on the potty and had all his toys back and he did it without any accidents! so now I am stuck on trying to teach him how to pull up his own pants but atleast I can officially say he is 100% potty trained and he is almost 3...

Tracilynn - posted on 10/28/2009

MOM, do not get frustrated. i know its hard not to. But your daughter will be ready when she is ready. OK. every child is different. Some say boys are easier, vice versa. i found my boy was harder. Now my oldest child a girl was 2, my boy was almost 4, and my youngest(20 mths) is showing interest, but i don't think she is ready, ready. But you have to as a mom NOT to show any signs of frustration, Consistence and patience, don't let her go 3-4hrs (maybe every hr.) My first child I use to make it a game, like a race who can get to the potty 1st.. wins. And do not let others opinions discourage you, it'll happen.