Potty training my son - should I carry on or is he just not quite ready?

Question

I've read the other potty training q & a, but my situation seems to be slightly different, so I'm here to see if anyone can help!

My son is 2 and 1/2, and I've been potty training him for 2/3 weeks now, either by letting him be naked or using underwear. He tells me when he wants to go, and will sit on the potty to wee and poo. The problem I have is no matter how close I situate the potty to him, (unless it's during one of the many times I encourage him to sit on it), when he wants to pee, he can't hold on for a milisecond and just pees where he is.

He knows he wants to get to the potty and that he's doing a pee, but it's the actual control element that's missing. Is this common? Will it improve if I persevere with the potty training, or is he just not quite ready? I'm unsure whether to continue and see if his control improves, or put him back in nappies and try again in a month or two? I've found that when I do put him in a nappy now, he immediately tells me when he's peed.

Answer 1

Leave him a little longer. Boys are often not ready till much later.

Answer 2

Most boys just aren't ready at 2 and a half to be toilet trained. I had boy/girl twins and the girl trained much earlier and faster than the boy did. I think that girls just have better bladder control. Boys tend to tell you just as they are about to do it. I would still try the potty first thing in the morning, and after meals and nap times. But for sleeping, and going out - might be worth a try to buy some pull up type training nappies (In Australia they call them Pull Up Pants). That way he is out of the "baby type" nappies and into big boy pants. Reward him with lots of hugs and kisses if he manages to use the potty. Another thing to try is a toilet insert that fits inside the seat of a regular toilet. The insert seat stops them from falling in! You may need to use a little stepping block to help him reach. That way he can use the big toilet like Mum and Dad! But don't worry too much - if it becomes too stressful for either you or your son, stop for a couple of months and try again! Best of luck!

Answer 3

hi ya i am going through the same thing with my daughter you have to keep trying what you are doing, also if you know a little boy same age roughly who uses the toilet show your son what this boy does. This worked for my 4 year and he has been dry for 1 year and 6 months. My daughter who is nearly 3 she is getting the hang of it now but it has been difficult trust me on this. There have been times when i just want to put a nappy on her and walk away that's how bad it has been. My other son who is nearly 18 months who i am about to start potty trainning i will do the same thing like i have done with the others. As i know it works. Remeber this parenting is difficult but remember the happy times you have had and the ones you are going to get it will all be worth it.

Answer 4

I'd be inclined to persevere... he knows when he has peed in a nappy as obviously he is wet, but he has to learn to recognise the feeling that he is about to pee - little ones are usually so involved in whatever activity they are doing they do not recognise this feeling in time - but it will happen. Potty training takes time and really the first few weeks is totally up to you continiously putting him on the potty every half hour or so until he recognises the signs of a forthcoming wee!
Good luck!

Answer 5

Yes it's common - persevere - 2 or 3 weeks in a child's life is not very long even if it feels like forever with you - he's not too young at 2 1/2. All child behaviour is learned and some things take longer than others - especially with little boys. Be patient and whatever you do don't yell at him if he misses - be PATIENT and it will happen and is very worth while when it does.

Answer 6

Keep doing what you're doing. Going backwards will only defeat the purpose.
It's good that he knows when he has to go, and what the potty is used for, the control issue should reolve itself soon. He just needs to get used to the whole thing. It will take some time, but 2 1/2 is a good age to start.
Good Luck!

Answer 7

If you stop now it will be ten times as hard to get him back where he is now. Just be patient. teach him to "hold it down" and in the mean time, just clean up any messes. I potty trained my son at 24 mo but he was 27 mo. before he learned to aim, at 30 mo. he still misses sometimes but I wounld never think to put him back in a diaper. It would make him feel ashamed of all the progress he's made. Make him feel like a baby instead of a big boy.

Good luck.

Answer 8

you should perserver because if you stop now you could tottally confuse your son by goin back to the old way this may make a seond attempt further down the line evn harder then,you should say every hour to half hour ask his dioes he need to go and then bring him to the potty and ask him to sit on it.my daughter is potty trianed almost six months now but i still find that i'll ask her does she need to go wee she'l say no but when i sit her on the toliet she goes as if she's been holding it for ages.the more you take your son the more of a routine you'l get him into and eventually he'l prob start using his own intuition

Answer 9

If it stressing you or him, then I'd put him back in nappies, but if you can bear to keep going, maybe letting him wet himself in pants will help him to recognise the urge to wee a bit sooner. I think is it more common in boys than girls that the control developes a bit later on. good luck!

Answer 10

If the control issue is not there then surely this means he is not ready. If you persevere, how will he not grow discouraged and ashamed?

The control issue is about muscle development, therefore I cannot see how continuing to train when he's not ready is going to improve this muscle control.

Enjoy!

Answer 11

At this point, you must keep doing what you are doing, persistence is best and I know cause my 2nd daughter was precisely the same way. His blatter will be better controlled as time goes on. Whatever you do, do not put him back in diapers as he'll then not have to worry about telling you and you'll be back to square one again.