How do I get my 4 year old out of diapers and to wear clothes?

Question

My 4 year old is still in diapers. He loves nothing more than to run around the house with nothing on but a diaper, and a bottle. He is smart, and always finds the diapers wherever I hide them. If he is wearing clothes, he seaks the earliest time to take them off in favor of just his diaper. One time, he used a towel as a diaper when we hid them. Another time he used a T-shirt. Sometimes he just gets naked and goes outside in the middle of the yard. I am lost... please help!

Answer 1

Maybe it's his "security blanket". Have you talked to a doctor about this? Or else, he's just comfortable in nothing but diapers.

Answer 2

I don't have children yet myself, but it sounds as though he's having trouble making the transition to becoming a small boy, rather than a baby. A 4yr old with a bottle and nappy, what on Earth? I wonder if maybe you shouldn't work out some ways of helping him to realise he's not a baby anymore - stop tolerating any babytalk me might do (ask him to speak normally - he's not a baby anymore), any babyish actions, etc. As he's four, you should be able to tell him that it's time he stopped these things and explained that he's a big boy now, etc. Presumably he also gets a lot of (bad, albeit) attention when he goes around using things for nappies - perhaps do the opposite to that. Rewards and punishments, etc for good/bad behaviour, but when he's being punished perhaps tell him what he's gone wrong, in a non-judgemental way (just matter of factly) and then tell him he's going to be punished for it (ie because you've done something wrong - and this is why it's wrong... - now we'll take this toy/treat away from you or ignore you, etc, for a while. To end the punishment, ask him to explain to you what he did wrong and to say he won't do it again. He's old enough to have things explained and discussed with him now. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 3

I have twin boys who are 4 they got off diapers when they were 3 what I did was reward them every time they would go on their own. I went to the Kandoo website and they send me a chart and stickers so every time they would go I would put a sticker depending if they did the # 1 or 2 (you'll understand what I'm talking about once you get the chart if your interested) I also bought them the kandoo wipes and handwash so they felt like big boys now cleaning their own bottom and washing their own hands and I think that helped them a lot. I would tell them something like "good job" or "you're a big boy" or everytime they would see a sticker on their chart they'd feel proud which does make them go when they don't need to but at least they were going in the potty but just let him know that he's a big boy now and that big boys go in the potty. I hope this helps some and just keep insisting he'll go sooner or later hopefully it's sooner than later for your sake :)

Answer 4

there is no way in hell his big grown self should be wearing diapers. i don't care what no one says. my 4 year old has been potty trained since he when 21 months. and my two year old has been training for the last 3 months. kids are not dumb. they know what they can get a way with. tell him when he goes to school he is going to have to play with the baby because they all need diapers and bottle. or take him where there are different groups of kids and have him sit with you while you ask the little kids his age about diapers and bottles. just start treating him as a baby when he wants to do the big boy stuff 4 year old like to do. and please do not buy another case of diapers.

Answer 5

Okay first of all the boy is 4 years old and he still on a bottle
and still wants to wear pampers. That's your fault he's like that
what were you thinking when after he turn 1,2,3 that's when he should started getting off the ****. How is he supposed to
start pre-school? That starts a the age 3, Seriously what were
you thinking? BIG,BIG MISTAKE!! Stop buying pampers, Stop
giving him a bottle. Give him sipper cup, NO BUTTS!!. Let him cry
he'll get over it. I have 2 daughters, the first one I made sure
she was off everything 1 1/2, My second child was off her bottle
at 11 months, she loved the sipper cup, and for pampers she was
the same age as the first. Buy pull ups instead of pampers.
use them at night time only, buy boxer briefs or briefs, boxers.
show him that he can be just like you. Your the father, his mother
can't show him, you have the same tools as him. It's a guy thing.

Answer 6

Is he potty trained or not.

If not then I take it that your son has had some type of trauma or developmental delay. Being intelligent have nothing to do with slow development. He is still in diapers at 4 years of age which means he will have to be homeschooled because teachers do not change diapers in 1st grade. which also means that he may have to be put into special programs if he does got to school. If he takes off his clothes.. that is normal. he is comfortable.. my 5 year old does it all the time but when immediate family is around and not friends and visitors.


You have to teach him that he has "personal" parts that no one should see. You want him comfortable but not overexposed.
You may need to get him into counseling

Answer 7

first stop buying and hiding the diapers.. then tell him he will be 5 soon and starting school and he has to be a big boy and start wearing clothes and big boy undies. just like his new friends would. tell him he can wear the towel around his neck like a cape but not a diaper and pretend to be a super hero. and tell him he can only be naked in the bathroom before his bath not out in the yard where his friends could see him. keep up the reminders and hopefully he'll outgrow this...

Answer 8

There are new diapers out on the market that get cool (temperature wise) when they are peed in. If he is uncomfortable in them, he won't want to wear them so much. My middle son is 4 and reverse psychology works REALLY well with him right now, so for the clothes you could say something like "I don't really think you are a big enough boy for these clothes" or find things he thinks are cute, dinosaurs, glow in the dark, favorite tv characters, etc... Perhaps let him pick out his own clothes, mismatched outfits are better than stuck in diapers.

Answer 9

Does your little one stay dry for intervals of two hours or longer throughout the day? The is the time from some potty Training and to get the ideal consequence in only 3 days you will need to have this guide https://tr.im/vV9Dc

Start Potty Training is a program that speedily gained popularity. The gist of this system is that you get away all diapers, put on underwear, and don’t ever revert back to diapers.
Start Potty Training is a rather basic plan, straight forward and easy to follow.

Answer 10

Your going to hate this idea, but I swear it works. I potty trained my son with it and so did my best friend with hers. Throw away the diapers for the daytime. Buy some training pants and plastic covers for them, you can get them at wal-mart. Put him in them when he wakes up, he is four so you can explain to him that he is to go to the bathroom and use the potty when he needs to go. When he doesn't do this and he won't at first obviously, leave him in his wetness. Hide the diapers up high for night time use. He won't like being wet for a couple of reasons, one he is wet and cold, keep the air on. Two, he can't get on any furniture, he has to stay in the floor. If he is too wet and you can't handle the idea of him running around like that for too long, take him into the bathroom and put him in the tub. Just tell him that your going to give him a quick rinse since he pee'd himself. Now I know this next part sounds terrible but it will work eventually. Turn on the cold water and wash him waist down with it. He will probably hate it. Explain that when you pee your pants this is what happens, you have to be washed with cold water to get it off. Now if you can bear to do this to your baby, it should work after a bout a week or so. Mine quickly decided he no longer needed his diaper. Also, give him a potty to use if you have'nt already. I bought a video for mine too, he really liked it and it kept him motivated.

Answer 11

One question, is he using them to go to the bathroom in?? It sounds like he is not or you would have said so. He just does not like clothes. Our son likes bathes. He will figure out how to start the faucet (and hopefuly turn it off before overflow), we will just be there to teach/show him how full is enough and how to turn it all the way off. Same son liked to have a pacifier till 2 1/2 years old, we would hide it, he would find it. Had to get rid of it and he found the drink cup and was ok after that. He will adjust eventualy, just keep putting him in clothes and let him pick them out. Be firm but have fun with the transition (not your transition) to himwearing clothes. Better late than never. When is the right time though? 4 might seem old and it might be who knows! Was 2 1/2 years to old for a pacifier, probably but he adjusted just fine. No body is the perfect parent. Only you know that and so will he with your little bit of help and patience with him. You are going to smile a lot when he does it on his own and shows you!!!!! Our son can say the alphabet and pick out the letters and say wich one, but can not write them yet. He will when he is ready and with our patience and help. Get the jist of this. Good on you for asking for suggestions and help. I could not be a stay at home dad with out asking questions and figuring what does and does'nt work. My kids my wife my life is complete