I'm having a very difficult time potty training my 3 1/4 year old son!?

Question

I've tried everything. Putting him on the potty with a timer, offering smarties if he sits - he tells me to eat them. Offering to buy him Superman - he tells me he doesn't him. I'm losing my patience and I just don't know what to do next. He's absolutely not interested and would rather wear a diaper. He'll be starting pre-k in about a month and I would love to send him with underwear but it doesn't seem likes it's going to happen. My other two children were not this difficult. I need some advice - HELP!

Answer 1

Agreed, cheerios in the toilet works great for learning to go pee in the toilet. Tell him it is his job to 'sink' the cheerios. There is also targets they sell that are flushable, but cheerios are far cheaper. Here ia a site that offers some items to help you out.
http://www.pottytrainingstuff.com/pottycharts.htm

There is a book called "Everyone Poops" that I would read to them and it seemed to be the thing that got them to go.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0916291456/104-7090107-4898347?v=glance&n=283155
Biggest part of it all? Patience and not making a big deal about it either with your child or when talking to others about it. Reward them only when they do something correct (like no accidents) with something small....but don't tell them "you will get this if you do this!" that seems to always backfire.

Answer 2

This is goin to sound crazy, but it works! My son was the same way, he would do good then not want anything to do with it. He would put his underwear on his head and sing happy birthday while sitting on the potty.

Well, I read somewhere in a magazine and I tried it and it worked. I made a chart for my son using the potty and Daddy taking out the garbage and gave them a star. My son was so happy at beating Daddy at something that he was fully trained within a week. He even asked at the end of the week to wear underwear to bed. He has had maybe 3 or 4 accidents at night since then and that was 8 months ago. It was amazing, it only took a week and no toys involved. I had tried everything before, stickers, cars, you name it.

Try it, it will be well worth it.

Answer 3

At this age my sister was trying to go back to diapers. My mom just kept her in the panties and left her in them when she was wet. Do NOT give him diapers and put him in underware and tell him that it is time for him to be a BIG BOY if he wants to go to school! Leave in the pants no matter what he does. Give him the cherrios to shoot in the potty and don't bribe him.

Also he is old enough for time out. If it gets REALLY desperate sit him on the potty and don't let him get up until he goes. My friend did this with ALL her kids and they were ALL trained by 14 months. I am training my 19 month old with a musical potty and not letting her get up, it is working so far!

Answer 4

I had a really difficult time with my son, too - have you tried letting him play around the house naked? I know it sounds weird, but for my son, if he didn't have a diaper, he would run into the bathroom and go. Also, maybe he just doesn't like the potty chair. I know some kids who just want to sit on the regular toilet and hold on to keep from falling in.... Good luck!

Answer 5

Some day take him to one place he's never been before - like a different store or a bank or a new park. Tell him, "We going to x, but you can't wear a diaper there. You can wear your diaper when you get home, but you have to wear pants until we get back. If you need to go let me know." He's the age he is. He is probably entirely capable of holding it if necessary.

Keep him out for 45 minutes or so and ask if he needs a rest room. If he says "yes" bring him. If he says "no" ask if he's ok with staying a little longer or if he wants to go home and get his diaper back on. He'll let you know. Keep the outing down to an hour or two.

Every chance you get, take him out somewhere and increase the length of time you're out. Even if you just use the park as the place you go or even your yard if necessary.

After you do runs of a couple of hours and it goes well, tell him, "Wow. This is really working out - the way you don't need the diaper for quick trips out."

Build to longer trips out (four hours). Tell him where the rest rooms are if he needs one.

Whenever you get back from your trips make sure you ask if he wants the diaper back on or if he wants to wait until later, maybe bedtime. If he wants the diaper let him have one.

You can build to having him spend his days without the diaper and only sleeping in it. Let him sleep in one for as long as he wants. Some kids are so afraid they'll have an accident they feel anxious without the diaper.

Another thing is if you know that tomorrow you'll be going to the grocery store or park or bank, you could prepare him by saying, "Tomorrow we're going out, and you aren't going to be able to wear a diaper when we do, but you have no problem with that...."

Worst case, he's not going to want to be wearing a diaper after he's four or four and a half. By then he'll be good and trained anyway.

Just announce that they don't let people three wear diapers at the park you're taking him to. (For my daughter it was dancing school.) Tell him, "Hey. I know of a new park; but the only thing is if we go you can't wear a diaper. "

If you change your tone from suggesting, begging, pleading, encourage, etc. to "just announcing" you need a new situation so that he'll focus on the new situation rather than your new approach.

Just announce, tell him the rules, promise him he can have his diapers back when he wants them, and just make it like it not only isn't a big deal but its a new thing the two of your are doing that is working out quite well.

Answer 6

Listen, this is very important what I tell - although you may not want to hear it.

He will do it when he is ready. Do not apply too much pressure, or he will continue to rebel. Always offer it as an option, but do not force him.

Do you know any (non mentally challenged) 20 year olds that poop in a diaper? No, that is because they are all potty trained . . . . . it just occurred at different times.

I know this isn't what you want to hear . . . you are looking for a miracle solution, but there is none. The fact that your other children got trained quicker is irrelevant. Your youngest is an individual that is going to do things at his own pace . . . . sometimes quicker than others, sometimes slower. Accept him and love him for who he is, and let him do things at his own pace.

I'm sorry if I sound like I'm preaching - I'm just trying to help.

Good luck to you

Answer 7

Does your kid tell you through phrases, facial expressions or posture when he or she demands to go?
When you discover signs that your child might need to have to use the toilet — such as squirming, squatting or holding the genital area — reply rapidly and assist him/she turn out to be acquainted with these signals, stop what he or she is performing, and head to the toilet. Praise your kid for telling you when he or she has to go and to learn a lot more about potty Training you have a excellent assist with this manual https://tr.im/wrro7 .

Start potty Training is a on the web manual that aids you know all the secret of the potty Training so that you can effortlessly previous this phase in only 3 day, the dream of every single parent.

Answer 8

All kids are different, give him time, don't push it. Just keep asking him if he needs to go potty,I read potty books with my son, that seem to work for me. We would go in to the bath room I would put him on the toilet and I would sit on a little stool and read to him for about 15min and I would do this about every hour to two hours, he was potty trained by 2 1/2.
Good luck, Be patient, he will do it.

Answer 9

The cherrios in the toilet thing will only work if you haven't already had a talk with your kids about why they are not to throw things in the toilet.. otherwise you may upset them..

Stick him in underwear.. but put those plastic pants on him. If you just stick him in underwear you'll be cleaning up your floor and your couch and your chairs and everywhere else he decides to go.. plus the plastic pants will make him feel wetter than just underwear.. he probably wont like this..

Make sure you check with his pre-K.. some do not allow kids to come if they aren't potty trained.

Answer 10

You are NOT alone! My oldest son was nearly 4 before he was completely potty trained and he's not had one accident in the nearly 2 years since. We tried EVERYTHING - and I mean EVERYTHING....when HE was finally ready - he did it! I believe that by the time they are 3 - they are intelligent enough to understand "how" to do it - it is just a matter of their "will" to do it!
Now my nearly 18 month old son is potty training! Wonders never end! Good Luck to you!