How do I get my son to use the potty?

Question

He will be 4 in September and this is rediculous! I have tried stickers and all and he still will not tell me when he has to go. He even held his poop in one time, and was crying from the pain because he would not let it out in the potty (this is a potty seat, not a big toilet, although I have tried the big toilet and it makes no difference). I finally took him off the potty and put him in the shower because some of the poop had seeped out while he was trying to hold it. He ended up letting it all out in the shower instead. I'm not trying to be gross, I just need help!

Answer 1

Had the same problem with my first son. I tried everything too!
Including sink the fruit loops. Found out the hard way that I was putting way to much pressure on him. Some kids just take a little longer. As hard as it is you need to be patient. Try being a little creative in the meantime. What finally worked for me, putting him on the big potty with a potty topper (you can get one at Target or WalMart) and turning him around, so he was backwards on the potty. As crazy as it sounds, it worked!
Good luck and keep the faith!

Answer 2

Sounds to me this child needs some encouragement from a child his own age. Do you have a relative or a friend's child about the same age as your son that you can keep for about 2 days at the most? Allow the two of them to get aquainted and play for a few hours together, then when the potty trained child has to go bring your son too. Explain to him what the other little boy just did and ask him if he would like to do the same thing. Give the Potty trained child a sticker and MAKE a big deal out of the fact that the child sucessfully went. On this day do not put diapers or pull-ups on your child use real underwear and when this child go ask him do he have to go also. Sooner or later he's gonna want to be like his new friend and use the potty too. Try buying books and toys that go potty like Elmo and get him to want to make you praise him instead of disiplining him for not going potty.

Answer 3

You might be pushing him too hard. I know that at his age you might be getting desperate, but he could be scared or have "performance anxiety" about going. Try to let up for a month or two, put him back in pullups, and initiate it again with the big boy underwear, his own potty, and prizes. My daughter finally started going on her own when I let her pick out candy to eat after. She still has an accident every now and then, but she's learned for the most part how to go, and does it by herself.

One important thing I always hear or read is to never scold them for having an accident, but always praise them for going when they should. If they have an accident, simply clean it up (have them help you, that will prompt him to stop making a mess over time) and get new clothes on. If it's warm and you have a fenced yard, you could let him run around without bottoms for an afternoon. Sometimes when they see themselves going, they get a better idea about the sensations and can apply it when they go on the potty.

Hope that helps. Have patience; he'll learn eventually.

Answer 4

Here it is- it has worked for my 2 kids,and others after I tell them........

1. get m and m's handy
2. get a small potty chair
3. get a couple books about potty
4. you need to be home for about 4-5 days straight
5. now you can start. let them run around bare-but
6. Set the timer for 1/2 hour. Tell him/her to sit on the potty for 5 min. (read them a book in the mean time if it's to long for them.) If they go, give lots and lots of praise!!! I mean go crazy!! Give them about 3 m and m's.
7. Set the timer for 1/2 hour
8. Avoid asking the question "you got to go potty?'
9. Timer goes off- ok! What does that mean junior? Time to go potty again he or she would say, or you say it if they don't
10. repeat process all day long. If they go # 2 in the potty, reward with a handful of m and m's. They are very colorful and kids love them!!

11. Praise praise praise. I do spank my kids for behavior problems such as lying, disobedience, and bad attitudes, but never for having an accident. If there is an accident, clean it up queitly, and don't say much at all. Remind them it's ok, but try to make it in the potty next time, or in your own words.

Good luck!!! Hope this helps you. My 2 year old girl was potty-trained in one day with the method. Took my 2 1/2 year old son a week. Leave pull-ups on them at night just in case.
p.s. if this doen't work at all, try again in a few months.

Answer 5

He will do it when he is ready. My daughter used the potty as a power struggle and I finally ignored it and only mentioned the potty occasionally and one day she decided to use the potty and all I had to do was buy underwear. She had an issue with pooping on the toilet and I told her to pretend she still had her diaper on and do whatever she normally does in her diaper and it actually worked and she went in the potty.

Answer 6

Sounds like something has scared him. Is he wearing training pants. He should be. Tell him he is a big boy now and go into the bath room with him. Maybe the toilet is to high. Get him a small training one. At good will etc. Give him some thing to take with him . Tell him he cannot play with it , unless he uses the toilet.. That will help his mine to relax and he should start using it
Also have some patience with him. Tell him when he get's the feeling he has to go then go in there. Things should work out. Pem

Answer 7

Go to www.onestepahead.com and order their step-stool that has a potty chair seat attached to it. They can climb up to the toilet themselves and the seat goes over the big seat so they don't feel like they are going to fall in. My husband had one for his older kids and he said that it was really easy to potty train and we ordered on last week for our son that loves to climb and will be 2 in a couple of weeks and has shown interest in the potty.

Answer 8

You know it is probably time to call in professionals!!
Maybe there is something medically wrong but it sound more like psychological to me!!
You might need to bring him to a psychologist!!
I'm not saying anything is wrong with him but sounds like he has an overwhelming fear of the potty are just trying to go without the diaper!!
I wish I could have been more of a help!!!

Answer 9

I had the same problems and what I did was play sink the ship, weither you poop or pee you keep a plastic toy ship in the big potty and he get to try and sink it with his jobs, lol Yes it does work, now go sink that ship and good luck!

Answer 10

Sounds like you're both stressing way too much. I think if you stop making a big thing out of it he will eventually accomplish it on his own. With some toddlers it's a very scary bodily function. It will happen one day and you'll wish you had'nt worried so much. Good luck.