My almost 3yo boy won't go on the potty ... HELP!

Ana - posted on 11/08/2009

My son Alex actually did not get fully potty-trained until he was a little over 3. We were doing the whole pull-ups and all around 2 1/2, but he would go in them just like a diaper. He started showing interest in going on the potty when he was 2, so we bought toilet, pull-ups, you name it, we bought it. He would pee on the potty, but not poop. Then, he stopped all together. He would only go pee every once in a while when you asked him. I was getting frustrated. Then one day, my husband said, lets try this and just gave him big boy undies. He had a few accidents, but that was to be expected.



He is fully potty-trained now.



Your son will be potty-trained soon enough, it just will be when he is ready. I was so ready for my oldest to be potty-trained because paying for 2 sets of diapers was getting expensive. Just be patient, keep doing what you are doing, and it will come.

Alicia - posted on 11/07/2009

When my friend was potty training her baby she bought Tinkerbell undies and told her not to go potty on Tinkerbell because that would make her sad. She was potty trained within two wks. So maybe if you bought him littel undies with his favorite characters on them then he will use the potty. Good Luck!!!

Alicia - posted on 11/06/2009

Hello Sarah, I have the same problem with my son and he was 3 in May. It is frustrating and we have been trying since he was 2 and finally this week he seems to be telling us when he has to go potty but pooping is not happening on the potty at all yet. Give it time and keep working at it. It will finally happen when he is ready. Good Luck

Shannon - posted on 11/05/2009

My daughter (3 in January) refuses to do poos on the potty or toilet. Fully toilet trained during the day otherwise, but she knows that she gets her nappy at night for bed still, and will hold poo all day until then.

Says she doesn't want to go on the toilet and that it's too scary - meanwhile, she has done it a few times, I think she's just lazy.....

Anyway still persisting with bribery of stickers, so hopefully by her birthday she'll be right to go.

Jennifer - posted on 11/05/2009

My 3 yr old son did the same thing. He turned 3 in August and he REFUSED to have anything to do with it. His baby sister however wanted to try, shes 22 months,so i just left him alone and worked with her. He finaly came to me about 3 weeks ago and said he didnt want to wear diapers. We took him to the store to pick his own potty and he has been using it for the most part. He likes to pee outside. i simply praise him each time and tell him what a big boy he is and he dumps it btw. still having some trouble working out the underware but we are getting there. Point is they will do it when they are ready and not before. If your try to force the issue you will only slow things down-after all thats the only thing they can control. Just be patient it will happen.

Amanda - posted on 11/05/2009

Yep. My son is 3 and doesn't want to potty either. He'd rather not be bothered. He's pretty good with the peepee. But no poopy. We've been at it for months now. He seemed to regress after our beach trip in September. I guess that we all just have to keep the faith.

Sarah - posted on 11/05/2009

I am currently going through the same issue. I got rather discouraged i my son turned 3 in august and was doing great at like 2 and a half would tell me he needed to go and everything the sticker thing worked then all of a sudden he chose to tell me no dont wanna and cry every time i put him on the potty. I just finally have him interested again i guess they will come around at there own time he is doing good for now so i guess ill see what happens

Heather - posted on 11/05/2009

My son will be 3 years old November 9th and he still isn't potty trained. He would rather not bother in anyway. He only wants to wear his underwear over his diaper. But I tell him he should be a big boy and go pee pee, poopy potty like mommy, daddy, and sister. He smiles and says nope. I don't know what to do. I really wanted to have him potty trained by his 3rd birthday. Anyone have any ideas what i should try to get him to start soon? :) Would Be Extremely Appreciated! :) Thanx!



~Heather

Karen - posted on 11/05/2009

Yes, I have friends who have boys and had a much easier time at an earlier age but I REALLY try not to compare myself or my son to them because it will just make me nuts. I will keep you posted if and when I find something that works for me - and you do the same!! I just keep telling myself that he won't start high school in a diaper - right?? LOL!!!

Gail - posted on 11/05/2009

I am in the same boat with you, my boy will be 3 in December also and he doesn't care to go on the potty. He says "I just don't want to". The only piece of advice I can give you is to keep trying and encouraging him to go and eventually it will click, the frustrating part is waiting for it to click.

Sarah - posted on 11/05/2009

Quoting Karen:

Hello Sarah, I am having the same trouble with my 3 year old son. I will sit him on the potty and he will start to go but then stops himself and then won't go again for a week. If I leave him out of a pull up, he will just hold it until I finally put one on. I too have tried the stickers, treats, buying special "potty only toys and books". I have bought two different small pottys and different types of potty seats that fit on the big toilet and of course every kind of big boy underpants you can imagine. I also celebrate every small success however he still just has no interest in using the potty. Sometimes if I try to put him on the potty, he will stiffen up and cry. From everything I have heard, this is very normal with boys and it just takes time. I know that does not make it easier, but it sure makes me feel better knowing I am not the only one going through this mess with him. I guess I really did not offer a helpful suggestion but hang in there and good luck!!

 

Thanks Karen! Actually that makes me feel a lot better because a lot of my friends with kids both boys and girls have their kids potty trained. Even some were barely 2 when trained so I was getting a little worried. I'm glad there are others out there going through the same as me! I was feeling kind of alone on this one ... LOL! Thanks so much though and good luck to you too! If you find anything that works let me know!!! Haha

Karen - posted on 11/05/2009

Hello Sarah, I am having the same trouble with my 3 year old son. I will sit him on the potty and he will start to go but then stops himself and then won't go again for a week. If I leave him out of a pull up, he will just hold it until I finally put one on. I too have tried the stickers, treats, buying special "potty only toys and books". I have bought two different small pottys and different types of potty seats that fit on the big toilet and of course every kind of big boy underpants you can imagine. I also celebrate every small success however he still just has no interest in using the potty. Sometimes if I try to put him on the potty, he will stiffen up and cry. From everything I have heard, this is very normal with boys and it just takes time. I know that does not make it easier, but it sure makes me feel better knowing I am not the only one going through this mess with him. I guess I really did not offer a helpful suggestion but hang in there and good luck!!