Potty Training....Just getting started, no idea what to do!

Beth - posted on 01/20/2009

I just got my 3 year old Lucas potty trained around Thanksgiving. He was doing the same things as your son. What finally worked for him was to get rid of the pull-ups and just put him in underpants. I took him to the potty every hour and had him sit there. The first day was pretty messy. He wet his pants every time. The second day was better and within the first three days he was good at getting to the potty if he started to feel wet. He makes it to the potty on his own now (but I do have to remind him if he's really involved in playing). We still have some issues with pooping on the potty but he is getting much better. I bribe him with treats if he poops in the potty only. If you try this method just make sure you always take extra pants and underpants with you where ever you go. I also made up a silly "pee-pee" and "poo-poo" dance that I would do whenever he went in the potty. He loved how silly I looked and would request the dance every time. Good luck!

Danielle - posted on 01/20/2009

Thank you all so much!  I wasn't sure what to do and I really appreciate the advice.  My little guy has been randomly saying "potty", so I put him on the toilet and he goes (followed by lots and lots of praise).  He also likes to be on the potty when he has flatulance!  I just wasn't sure how to make the transition for him to go on the potty every time he has to go, not just the times he says potty.  Thank you!!

Danielle

Hollie - posted on 01/15/2009

Hi Danielle I have four children and they trained pretty easy. The first two were 2 1/2 years. I would put them on the potty every 20 min. and I would set the timer. I recommend putting him in underwear you might have a few messes but he will train quicker. My first trained day and night in a week and a half my daughter to trained in that time except at night she still wears a pull-up she has a really small bladder. My other two trained at three years and were trained in a few days completley. David has to wear a pull up at night like his sister and Matthew trained day and night. Good luck to you. The timer is key though.

Tonya - posted on 01/15/2009

I am currently potty training our 2 1/2 year old girl and what I am doing is having her potty chair right in our hallway by our kitchen and she LOVES going pee pee but not the other now anyways when she does go we really praise her and give her a high five. Its easier to have the potty chair near us it seems like but maybe you have a bathroom nearby which helps. We have alittle infant that needs our attention also so having the potty chair near us is really good.. We also take her every half hour to the potty and it seems to go well! We just started a few weeks ago.. She does not like to have a diaper on so than it seems like she wants to go than but just keep trying and it will work eventually!

Lauren - posted on 01/15/2009

When I potty trained my youngest who is now 4 1/2, he sidn't really understand what was going on. I spent about 2 days putting him in underwear during the day. Nap time and such he would be in a pull up but otherwise regular underwear. Needless to say he wet them, on the carpet, the couch...but then he finally realized what he was doing. He figured out what the sensation was and when he needed to go. In less than a week, we were completely potty trained. No more diapers or pull ups...even at night. He was a little older than your son but that is what worked for us.

Also we made a huge deal out of it when he did go. I started a sticker chart on the bathroom wall for the next month, we called grandma and grandpa and let them know he went potty, the whole bit! He was so excited to go to the bathroom each time. I think encouragment is very important.

Erin - posted on 01/15/2009

Be patient and just keep encouraging it. I've noticed with my daughters that one day it just clicked in them and within two weeks they were using the potty regularly. With my youngest, we'd let her run around for a bit without anything on her bottom (because pull ups weren't working). And then she would ask for a diaper (or in worse case wet the floor). When she'd ask for the diaper, we'd run her into the bathroom and have her sit. One day, I had her sit on the toilet for twenty minutes (we sang songs, read a book to keep her occuppied as we waited) she finally peeped. We made such a big deal about it first praising her and making her know that she did something special. Then we followed it up with a trea. That's when she got the connection. After that it was clear sailing. It will happen. Just keep encouraging and putting him on the potty and it will eventually connect.

Abby - posted on 01/15/2009

I just finiahes traing my youngest son.  The way I did it was :

Take him to the pottty about every hour, when he goes get all excited and m&ms are great.  Start spacinmg out the time inbetween, you may even want to start with every half hour.  Try to be cosistant without being pussy.  Example: say time to go potty not do you want to or do you have to.  Also the scheduled ones are great, his body will learn to expect them; Before nap and bed time, before bath right after or before he eats.  He will catch on in time.  Also I read mine a book called the potty book for boys, it made a hugh difference!!  Good luck!!

Abby - posted on 01/15/2009

I just finiahes traing my youngest son.  The way I did it was :

Take him to the pottty about every hour, when he goes get all excited and m&ms are great.  Start spacinmg out the time inbetween, you may even want to start with every half hour.  Try to be cosistant without being pussy.  Example: say time to go potty not do you want to or do you have to.  Also the scheduled ones are great, his body will learn to expect them; Before nap and bed time, before bath right after or before he eats.  He will catch on in time.  Also I read mine a book called the potty book for boys, it made a hugh difference!!  Good luck!!

Abby - posted on 01/15/2009

I just finiahes traing my youngest son.  The way I did it was :

Take him to the pottty about every hour, when he goes get all excited and m&ms are great.  Start spacinmg out the time inbetween, you may even want to start with every half hour.  Try to be cosistant without being pussy.  Example: say time to go potty not do you want to or do you have to.  Also the scheduled ones are great, his body will learn to expect them; Before nap and bed time, before bath right after or before he eats.  He will catch on in time.  Also I read mine a book called the potty book for boys, it made a hugh difference!!  Good luck!!