potty time just not happening!!!!!!!!!!

Jeanine - posted on 06/06/2009

HANG IN THERE I KNOW JUST HOW FRUSTRATED YOU ARE BELIEVE ME. I WOULD ASK ALL THESE PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN AROUND MY DAUGHTERS AGE AND THEY WOULD SAY AT 2 YEARS OLD THEY WERE POTTY TRAINED! I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT! THEY CAN'T REMEMBER MUCH AT 2. I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SAY THAT DON'T KNOW THE REAL MEANING OF POTTY TRAINED. IT MEANS THE CHILD DOESN'T NEED REMINDERS! SO LONG STORY SHORT, THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT. WE HAVE BEEN SERIOUS WITH OUR LITTLE ONE SINCE SHE WAS 2. SHE IS NOW 2 WEEKS AWAY FROM TURNING 3 AND FINALLY SHE HAS JUST THE OTHER DAY BROUGHT HERSELF FOR BOTH 3 TIMES. TODAY SHE HAS DONE IT TWICE! OF COURSE SHE WILL HAVE HER ACCIDENTS STILL BUT SHE NOW HAS THE ABILITY TO BRING HERSELF FINALLY! I THOUGHT THIS DAY WOULD NEVER COME AND THEY SAY GIRLS TRAIN FASTER THAN BOYS! I THOUGHT I WASN'T DOING ENOUGH.

HANG IN THERE IT WILL HAPPEN.

Sairah - posted on 06/04/2009

My son is 3 1/2. He is just getting trained now. They know when the time is right.

Michelle - posted on 06/04/2009

Hi, I am the proud mum of 4 children and potty training has been different for all of them!! I was lucky with both my boys, although did leave it till they were around 2years 9 months. I think the more time you can give them the better. My 4 year old daughter still has not got the hang of the night time, i have been using pull ups and I will never again!! I think they like them coz it makes them feel grown up but they actually make them lazy! she is dry in the day completely but at night she still does not wake up when she needs to go!! So i just put a nappy on her!! On the flip side my 2 year old is using the toilet and tells me when she has done a wee!! The Point is that all children are different and maybe your son is just not ready yet? Its difficult to know but just go with your gut instinct, If he can't be bothered or just loses interest then you will never win. I suggest leaving it for a while longer and then try again. I think when the time is right for that child it will happen without a hitch. Good luck.

Trish - posted on 06/04/2009

don't worry they all use the potty at different times, both mine were almost 3 before they started useing the potty. and at 2 and a half my daughter refused point blank to sit on it. my son turned 3 a month ago and he's only been out of nappies 3 months. your son will do it when he's ready just don't push him too hard (I made that mistake with my daughter and I think it made he scared of it), let him do it when he's ready but really praise him when he does get it right and he'll get there.

Carmen - posted on 06/03/2009

Quoting Julie:

Judy, I think we have the same son! Our situation is EXACTLY the same! People keep telling me, "just wait until he is ready. It is a battle if you try before he is ready, but when he is ready it will be a breese." I am ready for my breese to show up! I also have a 7 month old and having 2 in diapers is killing me!! Being a working mother also makes it difficult. I can do everything that is suggested here, but I doubt my daycare is going to put him in underwear and allow him to tee tee on the floor all day! I wish you luck and when you find it, send some my way!!

Julie....I just wanted to tell you that where I live and where I have worked, as a childcare worker, we would rather the child be in underwear.  That is if the parent is truly trying and staying consistant.  ie...trying underwear at home too.  So really ask your provider, you might be surprised!  Just thought I'd let you know.  Good Luck! Carmen

Shauna - posted on 06/03/2009

You can lead a toddler to the potty, but you can't make them go. There is a lot of competative parenting out there and it puts a lot of pressure on you. Ignore all that. That last post is correct. There has to be a certain amount of neurological developement for bladder control. I was so frustrated with my daughter, totally went back to diapers for a while (for my sanity and her happiness), then bam. She just wanted to and the universe was happy. Boys take a bit longer. He will get there. Don't sweat the small stuff and put the potty in the living room for him to just play with. As long as he is interested, I say go for it. Don't let it turn into a power struggle. Hope that helps.

Bel - posted on 06/03/2009

I was advised by my health visiter that all children develop bladder control at vastly varying times. This is not reflection at all on the childs development mentally - bladder control is a purely physical development which can occur at any time between the ages of approximately 2 - 4 years of age. If your child cannot or will not pass water within a week of trying the potty training then stop trying for a couple of months and try again later. It will happen - so don't worry about it!

Julie - posted on 06/03/2009

Judy, I think we have the same son! Our situation is EXACTLY the same! People keep telling me, "just wait until he is ready. It is a battle if you try before he is ready, but when he is ready it will be a breese." I am ready for my breese to show up! I also have a 7 month old and having 2 in diapers is killing me!! Being a working mother also makes it difficult. I can do everything that is suggested here, but I doubt my daycare is going to put him in underwear and allow him to tee tee on the floor all day! I wish you luck and when you find it, send some my way!!

Ariel - posted on 06/03/2009

If you can find a reason for it go with the advice that best suits the reasoning. My daughter took until she was 4 to completely potty train. She just got so into what she was doing that she wouldn't get up and go to the potty. I started doing the method of taking her in every hour or so and she would go without any trouble. If there is any kind of upheaval at home, like moving, a new schedule, a different babysitter it can also lead to regression and it's best to just wait it out and let him put himself back on schedule with it. Also, I agree that pull-ups are pointless, let him go bare at home or in big boy undies and just be prepared to clean up messes for a while. It makes it easier for him to recognize when he needs to go. He may just not be ready either, some kids take longer than others to hit that milestone and putting on the pressure can cause them to balk. So long as he has it figured out by kindergarten he should be fine.
If you haven't done it yet, it may help to have Dad show him how to "do it like a big boy", and drop a Cheerio in the potty for him to aim at. It can make potty time more like a game. (Wish there was something similar for girls that I knew of.) Again though, be prepared for the mess that a 2 year old will leave while trying to shoot the Cheerio...

Christina - posted on 06/03/2009

Trust me he will go when he ready.My son had this same issue.

Sandy - posted on 06/03/2009

Give him time. I didn't even start potty training my boys until they were three years old. Boys take a little longer to develop - don't compare them to girls on this part. My oldest trained at 3 1/2 and we did it in a week. He was ready. My youngest was 3 1/2 too, he took about three weeks. The middle one has developmental delays and we didn't get it done until almost 5 and still have trouble at night. But each one is different. Let him lead. Good Luck.

Claudia - posted on 06/03/2009

my son was the same in the end i left it for about 6 wks, then i started again and used a reward chart. lots of praise and i brought pants of his favorite charaters. it took 2 wks he is now clean and has a few dry nights he is 2 and 4 months. it hard but keep going you get there soon.

Carmen - posted on 06/03/2009

I used to be a two year old teacher...so I have potty trained my share of kids, plus I have three. Anyhow...biggest advice real underwear, no pull ups. I hate those things, they actually are worse than a diaper, it gives them the big girl or boy feeling...that you can potty in! how confusing...no natural consequence and that uis how we all learn. Buy a whole lotta of underwear...lots! Stay consistent for an entire week, even if they don't potty in potty at all that day, keep putting fresh underwear on. If they have a fave character definitely buy that brand, I know undies are expensive so buy some character and some of the cheaper ones. When they potty on Elmo you can say oh my Elmo doesn't like to be wet and now he is dirty we will have to wear these plain one's or whatever. Big tip in potty training is lots of patience and do not harshly scold child, it is always a uh oh now we have to take time out of what wwe are doing and go change cuz your pants are yucky. Just real matter of fact and remiond them where the potty is to go. That is it, no spankings, no time outs, no yelling fits. that will set the child so far back it is not even funny...they control their potty not you, so you could definitely make it a battle of wills if you go that route. If after 1 entire week no improvement, take a week or 2 off and then try again. But the weeks you are on, be all the way on...even when you are running errands and stuff. The reason I say take a week or 2 off is because you do not want to make the child feel like a failure and maybe they are just not ready yet...but a week or 2 is a long time for a child and they might be ready...maybe not, just keep trying in a loving yet matter a fact kinda way. Just so you know my daughter was potty trained at 18 months, my 2nd boy 2, and my 3rd boy 2 1/2, the last was the hardest. Especially for me I am suppose to be the potty training queen!!! LOL!!! Good luck and Lots of patience!

Marisca - posted on 06/03/2009

I have three little girls and got the greatest advice from a friend when it came to potty training. It worked with all three, they were off the nappy in no time. Keep a box of smarties or a fovourite sweetie in the bathroom cupboard. Every time that they wee they get one sweetie, when they pooh they get two sweeties as reward. My kids loved this and went to the loo just for the sweetie reward in the beginning. Pretty soon going potty was second nature ... hope this helps, lots of love Marisca

Riana - posted on 06/03/2009

not worry to much about it ,it will all fall in place.my son Reese is 3 years old now.he does use the toilet to wee-wee and does not wear a nappie in the day but he still wears one at nite,and he will just not poo in the toilet.im not going to push him to hard.

i really think he mite be a little to scared to poo in the toilet but thats ok,im sure he will get passed that.:) GOOD LUCK.

Nicole - posted on 06/02/2009

Consistency is key! Put him on the potty every hour and a half to two hours. Put him in underwear (not pull ups, its the same thing as a diaper) that way when he has accidents, he feel uncomfortable which will further motivate him to use the potty. I know it's more work for you, cleaning up accidents, but it makes a huge difference for him. Before bed, put him on the potty one last time for the day and then put a diaper on him so he doesn't wet the bed, until he gets the hang of it. (Even fully potty trained kids have accidents at night once and a while) Also, when he has an accident, make him help you clean it up, not as a punishment, but to help him understand that using the potty is his responsibility. I also used M&Ms as a reward, one for every time they did pee or poop in the potty. I had them pour the M&Ms in a clear jar themselves and put it in the bathroom where they can see it. I hope this helps! Good Luck :)

Tracy - posted on 05/29/2009

i left mine till he tells me he weed in nappy he still has accidents but getting there dont push him try on tiolet he may not like potty