Potty Training a 3 year old boy! HELP!!!!!!!

Victoria - posted on 06/21/2012

My three year old, soon to be 4 year old, won't use the potty either. I've been slowly working with him on it for a few years now. With my other two, they just decided one day to use it & never went back. He just recently started to realize that he is a toddler/preschooler soon and not a baby which helps. I know he knows that he needs to go in the potty, but won't tell us when he needs to go nor will go use the potty. He prefers to stand up when he does go, but just refuses to go most of the time. He won't hold it, he'll just go in his pull-up or underwear. He doesn't care & just wants to leave the dirty one on. Just need to be consistent. I'm sure they'll all get eventually.

Katie - posted on 05/31/2012

Yes mine does the same thing. I haven't tried leaving him bare bummed tho. I will try that. I have been throwing away his undies and he doesn't like that but still won't go on the toilet

C - posted on 05/31/2012

I literally have the exact same problem with my three year old son. He has been using the bathroom for a year or so now and he will pee with NO problem but will not poop. I tried everything you listed and more and no luck. He will even tell me mommy ew I stink I made poo and that it is nasty and that he wants to be changed. Boys are different. My girls were 1-2-3 to train. But my little boy is stubborn or just lazy or not comfortable one of the three lol. Guess we have to just keep working with them lol and laugh about it when they grow up lol!

Brittney - posted on 05/29/2012

How long have you been training? I spent about 11 months training my daughter. I stopped using diapers for nap and she kept them dry. Pooping can be a problem, but I only reward for poops in the potty. I leave her bare bum and she seems to know sooner and runs to her potty. Maybe if you haven't already tried it, leave him bare bottomed instead of having underwear on him. Leave the potty chair nearby in case he needs it. That way, he doesn't have to pull anything down, he can just go to the bathroom himself.

Katie - posted on 05/27/2012

I tried the sticker chart. It didn't work. The only time he is in pull ups or diapers is nap/bedtime. I put him in one today after him pooping his undies 3 times with in 2 hours

Brittney - posted on 05/26/2012

Stop using diapers/pull ups completely. He will regress once he starts school too. Just because it is something he is unfamiliar with. Use a sticker chart and after 5 stickers in a row, let him choose something he doesn't normally get to do. (like go to a water park)