27 month old boy and potty training

Candi - posted on 12/29/2010

Signs that your child may be ready to start potty training include:

Staying dry for at least two hours at a time.
Having regular bowel movements.
Being able to follow instructions.
Being uncomfortable with dirty diapers and asking for them to be changed.
Asking to use the potty or saying that they need to urinate or have a bowel movement.
Showing interest in the toilet and/or wearing “big kid” underpants.
When you begin potty training:

Choose a potty seat that your child can easily navigate on their own.
Encourage your child to use the potty at regular intervals - or whenever they show signs that they need to go.
Be supportive and use rewards, such as stickers, when they’re successful on the potty.
Use praise, applause, special songs, reading a special book in the bathroom - whatever resonates with your child.
Let them pick out new ‘big kid” underpants with their favorite characters (Dora, Thomas the Train, etc.) on them.
Use potty-themed books and videos to reinforce key messages.
Avoid pressure - your child will likely have accidents during the process. Don’t punish him for any setbacks.
Don’t begin toilet training during a stressful time (e.g., moving, new baby, starting a new preschool, etc.)
Recognize that your child has control of his bodily functions, and you can’t get him to “go” on the potty until he is ready. Don’t turn this into a power struggle - because it’s one that you won’t win!
Be sure that your nanny understands your approach to potty training and is consistent with rewards, praise, etc.
Nannies4hire

Janice - posted on 12/28/2010

Thanks Marsha! It's just the fact of him actually getting it in the toilet at least once, then I can go from there I guess.

Marsha - posted on 12/27/2010

I wouldn't rush it. Boys tend to take longer to "get it". And since you are looking at adding a life altering situation to his life soon, expect him to regress. My sister has been toilet training toddlers since Jan 1996. She's a toddler teacher and gets a class almost trained, and then they move on (or at least that seems to be the way it works). My daughter trained in 2 days, when she was ready. We tried 3 times in the 5 months before that, with success like you are mentioning, saying after you go. Try a success chart. Stickers on a spreadsheet (I did one for each pee 2 for each BM) and once it was filled she got to get an item that we had agreed upon when starting (a picture of that items was taped above the spreadsheet on the bathroom door). I also used stickers of her 2 favorite things at the time, Thomas the Tank Engine and Elmo. In the end, it was Dora underware that Grammie bought for her (who told her to keep Dora dry and clean).

Janice - posted on 12/17/2010

Thanks everyone. I think it's just that fact too that I'll be having our next baby in April and my hopes was/is to have him potty trained by then. I'll just go with his flow and try to encourage him without too much of a strain. Besides, I shouldn't be rushing him, it's not like he told me to go get pregnant right? I'll give it a while before I try to introduce him again.

Jacquelyn - posted on 12/16/2010

Don't stress! There's nothing wrong with kids doing things in their own time - if you push them too hard there may be reprocussions! My son was 3 1/2 when he finally decided to potty train and he was more than capable of doing so at 2, but I didn't push him on it, he has his own time and way of doing things and is a healthy and happy little boy - and potty trained! You may also see some moments where he does really well, then has accidents. Don't let that worry you, he'll get the hang of it, but make sure you use positive reinforcement, focus on the positive, not the negative! Hang in there!

Laura - posted on 12/16/2010

I have a girl but what I did was block off a 3 day weekend for myself with no plans to leave the house just for potty training. Since you've already been trying I would suggest laying off it for a month or so to get a fresh start at it. Have a ton of new fun underwear then put him in them (regular ones not pullups or training pants and no pants or bottoms otherwise you'll go through tons of pants that weekend too). Give him lots to drink all day long and run to the bathroom everytime he goes and tell him that big boys go on the potty. My daughter had a few accidents the first 2 days but by the 3rd day had none. We also had 2 potties: one in the kitchen/living room area where we spend most of our time and one in the bathroom. Also put him to bed in the regular underwear too (we put down those puppy pee pads between her sheet and mattress protector just to help absorb but she didn't have an over night accident the weekend we did the potty training. Don't forget to make a huge deal -sing and do a victory dance once he finally does make it to the potty. My daughter did back slide with the poop after a couple of months so we ended up having to reward her with a lollypop each time she pooped in the potty (she never gets candy so a lollypop was huge treat for her). Good luck

Amy - posted on 12/15/2010

My son didn't get it till after his 3 year check up and he overheard us talking to the doctor about it. All of the sudden it just clicked with him and he just started doing it. I would just keep what you're doing but don't push it, he may not recognize that he has to go until he has already gone. Maybe give him a month or two and start again.