Is 3 1/2 too old to be wearing diapers?

Question

My nephew is 3 1/2 and still in DIAPERS not even trainer pants. I asked his mom why he does not wear trainers and she said "He wont let me put training pants on him, only a diaper" I am afraid this kid is going to graduate high school wearing Depends..any suggestions?

Answer 1

No. Some kids just need more time. My son is 3 1/2 and just got potty trained. It kept him out a couple schools I would have liked to put him in but he was not ready yet and still peed at night. Apparently, boys are harder to get out of diapers than girls. Just keep working at it (but don't push hard) and he/she will get it eventually. Also, has anyone tried the trainig pants with his favorite character on it? Another thing that may help but is somewhat tough love is to not buy daipers anymore and only offer pull-ups.

Answer 2

No, it isn't too old. Each child potty trains at their own pace. Granted parents and care takers should encourage using the potty at all times. My Nephew didn't potty train until he was about 4. My son is 1 1/2 and when my husband and I go tot the bathroom, we bring him with and make a big deal out of it. "Look! Mommy/Daddy is pee peeing/poo pooing in the potty!" We also have a potty chair in the bathroom and even though he is fully dressed we sit him on it while we are going so he gets that that is where he is supposed to be when he does potty. These are just suggestions for starting your nephew on the road to potty training. A few child care places won't accept children at a certain age that are still in diapers. But you have to remember also, that his mom is just that. His Mom and it is her decision as to whether the child continues to wear diapers or not. Good Luck!

Answer 3

I've heard a lot of complaints about potty training boys, his mom is probably worried about it, but may not let on. It's not unusual for boys to take a long time. Most children are potty trained around 36 months, he's not that late. More than likely he needs a reason to start using the potty. My nephew decided that potty training was really important when he wanted to go to preschool. It only took a few days then.

Answer 4

This is not your responsibility. The child's mother knows him best, and will probably resent you telling her what is right or not for her child. 3 1/2 might be a little old to be wearing diapers, true. But forcing a child to potty train before he is ready is going to cause serious psychological problems in the future. It might be more constructive for the child's MOTHER (not you) to take him to a playgroup or preschool where other children his age are using the potty on a regular basis. Seeing this, he may decide he is ready of his own accord. Another for the child's MOTHER to try might include a reward system for using the potty or keeping underwear dry.

Answer 5

I guess it if the mom wants to keep changing diapers that is her choice. My son is two and a half and after potty training ( with a lot of resistance) he is finally potty trained. Let me tell you there is nothing like not having to change any diapers. Plus if she plans on letting this child go to preschool she needs to get a move on with the training. My child wore training pants for about five starting the day of his birthday they did not seem to be working well so i decided to go strictly underwear and in about four days he was completely trained.

Answer 6

A three-year-old does not get a vote! He should not be making decisions like that. It's definitely time for training pants. On the other hand, boys are notoriously slow learners and he probably likes all the fuss that is being made over his potty training issues. As he gets older he'll see that other boys don't wear diapers: that'll help.

Answer 7

Yeah, you should definitely start potty- training the kid, or it will hard to get out of that stage. You have to STAND UP to him, he's just a kid for goodness sakes... Tell him that every time he pees in his trainers, he gets something taken away. Don't listen to the people who say that he isn't too old, they probably don't have kids. My mom used to make me walk around naked, lol, so I didn't have a diaper to pee in... That only works if you have hardwood floors, though. Make sure you make him sit on the potty before he goes to bed, and a half hour after he eats. Trust me, this works.. I had to potty train my brothers kids while they stayed with me... Good luck, hope he learns soon...

Answer 8

This is your sister's attempt at keeping her child as a baby. All she has to do is stop buying the diapers (she will save tons of money if she doesn't have to buy diapers anymore!) and then he won't be able to wear them anymore. Or, perhaps, she has no idea of how to go about toilet training her child in which case her pediatrician or a trusted friend, mother or sister would be a great help. Boys are so easy to train! And summer is the best time to do it.

Answer 9

I think that every child is different, and it depends on how much time you have to spend working on it. I would be careful about judging too harshly, though, if you don't have kids, because there's nothing more annoying than a person without children telling us how to raise ours!

My three kids were trained before they were 18 months, though, and I can't imagine my 3-year-old son going in his pants now. He can't even remember going in a diaper.

Answer 10

I wentb through the same thing with my son when he was 3.

He only wanted to wear diapers because he liked being the baby.... and would tell me so.

I had to start doing things like "nope, babies don't get cookies" or "you have to because you are a baby"
The diapers didn't last long after that.

Once he pottied trained,
he NEVER had an accident,
never even peed the bed ONCE.

I was glad I didn't push him too hard or too much younger. It worked out great.