what would be the easiest way to start potty training a 2 1/2 year old?

Question

I'm trying to start potty training my 2 1/2 year old son, but am having no luck. I am looking for some free advice or free basic step-by-step instructions on how to go about doing this.

Answer 1

With my son we got a potty chair and basicly just started putting him on it. I ask all the time if he has to go pee. You can get these neat ones that are basicly urinals and then a stool and a special potty ring for the big toilet. If you want him to pee standing up be ready to clean up messes. Also you need to teach him to point it down when peeing in the potty. We have had some incidents where he was a good boy to pee on the potty but the pee went out of the potty.... My son is 12 months so he cant communicate as well. Also it is important to put him in undies as the pull ups make it hard to determine when he is wet. They are just like a diaper and wick away the moisture. Make it fun for him let him pick his "big boy" undies and tell him about how now he is going to go potty in the toilet (or potty chair) and how its important not to go pee or poop in his new undies. DO NOT YELL if he has an accident. Calmly say something like, oops next time we need to stop playing so we make it to the potty and not get our undies wet/poopy! HTH

Answer 2

I just trained my second child. I throw away all pull-ups and diapers. Yes, pull-ups are another way for the diaper conglomerate to sell more diapers-for years. Even at night, use thick training underwear with a plastic covering. They can feel a dirty pants, but it's not a big mess. Let them walk around with just undies. Have them sit on the toilet every 20-30 minutes-even if they don't have to go. The first time and for a month after that they go in the potty-make a big freakin deal out of it. Give m&m's for a prize. After an accident, casually talk about how to "make-it" next time. Describe how it feels to have to go potty. For tinkle, show where it "tingles." For poop, talk about how your bottom feels "heavy".

Don't be lazy, this is hard work for your child and it should be for you. Get up in the night to change sheets and clothes. Don't forget to tell your child to go potty.Put a couple extra little potties in strategic places in your place. Get a portable potty for the car. If no improvement in a week or 2-wait, your child is not ready. Good luck.

Answer 3

When my boys were little, and it was time for the potty training (about 2 or so) we didn't use a potty. The boys were obviously too short to stand in front of the big toilet without making a mess. So we would sit him on the big people's potty frequently, only facing backwards. This way he had something to hold onto, wasn't afraid of falling in, and could look down into the bowl to aim at the small sheet of toilet paper we dropped in first. Lots of praises and hugs - and hand washing!! would follow. Might sound silly, but it worked pretty quickly. Also made it a lot easier when we were out in public without access to a little potty.

Answer 4

Mental preparation for any new task for little ones. Next week we're going to start potty training. What's potty training? In and out of pullups, forgetting, mistakes, having a good step stool that he picked out and a nice cover for that big toilet so he doesnt fall in when he has to sit, dont let the feet hang (step stool)
Give em privacy, but keep the door open.
Pullups at night until he can go thru several months without an accident. Lots of praise for learning and mommy's gotta wipe for quite a while! hehe They dont do a good job for a long time and you will need to check on that if they do it themselves...or you'll allow rashes and such to happen. It's a joint effort. Everyone has to participate until he/she's ready to close the door! ;)

Answer 5

The way my mother potty trained all of us was by taking us in the bathroom with her while she used the toilet. After a while she took a training toilet just for us in there. She took us repeatedly into the bathroom and politely asked us to use the potty. Eventually, we got the idea that when we had the urge to go that we should do it on the toilet. I really don't think step by step approaches work because when your child is ready they will go.

Answer 6

Four things we have done which seem to help...
Provide smaller training potty chair rather than expecting child to use big toilet yet. Our chair plays a tune when the child does his business. The kids love that. We got one at the garage sale for $2.

I always have books, cataloges, or magazines with pictures in the restroom for children to look at. They can relax when looking at the pictures and it just comes out. Praise them greatly when they do their business in the right place.

Finally, for boys only, when moving them to the stand up and aim stage, try putting Cheerios or other cereal in the toilet, and let them try to sink the "boats." They get a kick out of this and it helps them with controlling their aim.

Everytime I go to the restroom, the kid goes to the restroom. I simply cover my lap with a towel for modesty ( provide a handtowel to child, if he asks) and read a book while the child sits on his own chair next to me. As old as I am, I make regular visits, so the child does too. This provides the child with good modeling and many opportunities for success. Also, don't give him any beverages for a few hours before bed and get him up first thing in the morning until he is sleeping dry throughout the night. Occasionally, we have even had to get a boy up in the middle of night for a potty break and then straight back to bed.

While every child has his/her own timeline, very few kids actually go to kindergarten without being potty trained. So there is a very good chance of success. Don't let yourself get stressed out over this. It will happen!

Answer 7

I potty trained my son on my own because his father wasnt around-so here's the deal on that. Most boys will start using the potty by sitting down(like a female would) only because it's too difficult for them to stand at first since they arent used to the concept. Take him in the bathroom with you when you go potty-try this for a week or so-then bring the potty chair into it. Let him sit on it(while you go potty) fully clothed. Try this for a week or 2. Then begin having him remove his diaper and sit on his potty. Whatever you do-DON'T reward him with anything other than hugs and kisses when he finally does go. I had a friend that rewarded her son with 2 M&Ms just for sitting on the potty. After a while-he got smart and began telling her he had to go potty(just because he knew he'd get the treat). Hugs and kisses are great rewards and encouragement for children(and they are a great "treat" for us parents too)

Answer 8

I'm an aunt, and most of the little ones I have known - nieces and nefews and my friends childrens - they mostly didn't start to use a potty until 3 yrs old. Maybe you are not successful because you are starting too soon? Maybe there are ways you can start to get him familiar with what toilets are used for or however it can be slowly introduced. I mean what if he is not ready until he is 3 like most kids? It's probably not good to rush him. Good luck.

Answer 9

Try watching the Elmo DVD called Potty Time with him since kids now of days seem to relate to the little red pal.

Answer 10

let him be part of any choices like use the big potty or little potty where he want it at oh yea and the least cloths the better and easier for the both of you