My son is 27 months old, and in the process of potty training. My problem is this....no matter how consistant I am, he will do marvelous (staying dry all day, even nap times, even doing #2 in the potty...even stays dry during naps.) for about three or four days,and then he will have about two days, where he REFUSES to use the potty. Then he will go three or four more days on the potty. I am a young(22) single mother with sole custody. My mother helps me with him alot, and even she said that none of the other kids in the family did like that. What am I doing wrong, or what should I do differantly? I know all kids develope this skill at differant paces, but im at a loss as to why the gap. Could he just be stubborn? Also, with a house full of females(myself, my mother, and my sister) my son wants to sit down to pee alot of the time. He just recently, after a visit to my brothers house, discovered standing up to pee.....how do i encourage the standing up?
2006-12-18 19:50:02 · 12 answers · asked by onearkansasmommy 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
First and foremost, relax. He's going to get it, just in his own time. Every little one is different. My daughter didn't become fully potty trained till she was about 3 and 1/2.
You may want to try the "sticker" routine where when he does go, he gets a sticker on a pretty chart. After a week of stickers, take him to the park or something fun he likes to do.
As far as standing up? Thats another thing he'll get later. I know of several little boys who sat down to pee, not necessarily because there were alot of females in the house, but just because its easier at that age because they are so little and holding it "down" is easier than aiming ....lol. (Look at alot of grown men. They miss the hole and they are adults!...lol).
Good luck and be patient. He'll soon be old enough to take himself to the bathroom and you'll miss this "baby" time with him.
2006-12-18 20:03:03 · answer #1 · answered by trudy_mac 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is totally normal. He's a toddler boy - unfortunately they are more difficult to train than girls. Our boy did the exact same thing, he would do really well and then go on a streak where he constantly had accidents. he is 32 months old now and has gone almost two weeks without an accident. They are ready when they're ready. Try rewards such as candy, toys, or just simple over the top praise.
As for standing up, personally I don't think that is a big deal right now. Trust me, he'll learn one day. It doesn't really have anything to do with living in a house full of women, he is still really small - can't even reach most toilet seats on his own yet. Give this time, but if you really want him to stand then I suggest going to Babies-R-Us or some other baby place and purchaseing toilet targets.
Toilet targets are foam circles that you place in the toilet and encourage your son to "shoot." They are tons of fun to toddlers and it encourages him to stand up since he can't see them sitting down. It also teaches him how to aim so that he doesn't wet the seat or floor. However, he is still really small and unless you have a toddler toilet in your house, he'll need a step stool.
Rest assured, your experience sounds normal. Your mom may not have experienced this with you or your siblings, but neither are you or your siblings your son. Everyone is different.
Good luck and have fun, these are really awesome years.
2006-12-19 00:48:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is just his age. It's a game to him and he does it when he wants. Try some sort of a reward like a sticker chart for each time he goes in the potty, or a special toy he can play with for a half hour after the times he goes or cheerios. What about buying him some of the disposable targets you can place in the water for him to aim at to make it more fun? You are lucky to have him potty training this early. My daughter was easy, but my son wouldn't even SIT on the potty until he was 3, almost 4 when trained.
Good luck and have patience. He's doing great!
2006-12-18 20:02:22 · answer #3 · answered by Liz 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, don't stress about it too much. He obviously knows that he needs to use the potty, and is probably just being stubborn or even lazy about it. My advice is to give great praise when he goes like he should. When he doesn't, the WORST thing you can do is yell or make a big deal out of it. Calmly (even if you don't feel calm) clean up the mess and in a gentle voice tell him you're SURE he'll do better next time. When he doesn't get the reaction from you that he's expecting, the fun of the game will diminish and he will want to use the potty because children, like adults, love to be praised for a job well done.
2006-12-18 20:03:16 · answer #4 · answered by swttxlady 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most children begin potty training sometime around 18 months to three years of age, so yes, if he is otherwise growing and developing well, it is probably normal that a 2 1/2 year old does not want to use the potty.
Although many parents feel like 3 years is a magic age by which their child must be potty trained, that is not always the case
Even in an older child, it is important to look for signs of readiness before you begin potty training, including:
> staying dry for at least 2 hours at a time
> having regular bowel movements
> being able to follow simple instructions
> being uncomfortable with dirty diapers and wanting them to be changed
> asking to use the potty chair
> asking to wear regular underwear.
You should also be able to tell when your child is about to urinate or have a bowel movement by his facial expressions, posture or by what he says. If your child has begun to tell you about having a dirty diaper you should praise him for telling you and encourage him to tell you in advance next time.
Things to avoid when toilet training your child are beginning during a stressful time or period of change in the family (moving, new baby, etc.), pushing your child too fast, and punishing mistakes (treat accidents and mistakes lightly). Be sure to go at your child's pace and show strong encouragement and praise when he is successful.
2006-12-19 01:42:15 · answer #5 · answered by sxe_gal_y2k3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are doing fine. I have found with my son, the same age as yours, that he is heaps more willing to listen when I give him bulk attention. We read stories on the potty, even eat there as it is in the lounge. Now he loves the potty! I even used to call relatives when he did a #2 on it! He was so proud! My partner is away a lot, so I did come across the same problem with standing to wee. I got him a step to the toilet to try. We made a game out of it. He would tell me he needs to go, then we would run around the house to the toilet, screaming like fire engines. It was false alarms more often to begin with, but he loved the praise I heaped on him for #1. Just keep smiling, kids really can feel your tension! Good luck! and remember: They all get trained eventually!!!
2006-12-18 20:06:54 · answer #6 · answered by Whava 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my son has just turned 3 and just about trained now he still wears nappies for bed. but he still doesn't stand he sits but as he's only 3 i dont see a problem with it he starts nursery next month and i'm pretty sure he'll copy his little friends when he see's the boys standing!. Ignore those parents that like to brag about how young their child was when they were potty trained they're trying to show off it's pathetic and although i'm a young mom like you - only 21 i'm far more mature than that. dont worry what others think or say i know kids that have only just got fully trained before school at 4. your little boy will do it when he's ready. my son was like yours he found it fine to do for a couple of days then back to square one. my solution to this problem was to throw away the potty and get him on the toilet now he knows i always go on the toilet so see's it as normal for him to do the same. hope this helps!
2006-12-19 00:50:43 · answer #7 · answered by lorz 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
as for the standing up, don't stress. one good point is he doesn't miss. if you want him to stand, we put Cheerios in the toilet as targets for my twin brothers try that and make it fun. i would try the sticker chart. every child potty trains on there on time. my 1st child was almost 3 my second child was trained by 2. your a single mom (so am i) your doing great. just be patient with him. every child has there set backs. if live in a private area (own your own land, ect.) let go outside. good luck
2006-12-19 01:50:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had my 2 sons potty trained at 13 months.
2006-12-18 21:31:35 · answer #9 · answered by ~*~Tessa~*~ 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
be pacient is part of the potty training process
2006-12-20 02:36:03 · answer #10 · answered by chuy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋