My 3 year old refuses to go in the potty any tips?

Question

I have given him encouragement,I have offered treats, I even got him a colorful book about using the potty.he just will not do it. I whould never punish him for it and I dont want to push him too hard! What can I do?

Answer 1

Boys do take a bit longer than girls. Is he an 'old' three or a 'young' three? I wouldn't sweat it too much. You're doing some great things already and are on the right track about never punishing. One thing you could try is taking him on a schedule. For example, taking him every half hour or 45 minutes or something. That way, you are more likely to get results. Another thing you could try is putting a pair of 'big boy' underwear between his pull up and his body. Those pull ups and diapers are SO absorbent, it's not always easy for a child to notice when he's wet. If you put a pair of underwear in there, it makes the child more uncomfortable and more able to feel the wetness, and therefore more likely to go in the potty. Good luck!

Answer 2

Why not skip the potty altogether and have him sit on the toilet. My little one is 3 and we got him a little step combined with a toilet seat (I'm sure you've seen them) and he loves it. He has little briefs with monsters on them which he adores and after he's "gone" he uses his own special wipes, washes his hands with the squirty soap we got him and then dries his hands on his spaceship towel. You need a lot of patience because at first it will be a novelty and they will sit there for 20 minutes and will answer any pleas to come off with "i'm doing another wee wee" so expect 40 minute sittings. It's really good when they get to that stage, shows they like it. Also expect to wait an extra 10 minutes while they wash their hands repeatedly, don't rush him though, it's all part of the fun. Let him see daddy using the "grown up toilet" and tell him it's what big boys do. You could read him his favourite story while he's on the toilet and keep telling him what a clever boy he is. Remember there will be accidents and don't ever punish him for these, just remind him that he has to go to the toilet when he needs to go. Good luck and remember to be patient, Rome wan't built in a day.

Answer 3

I had this same problem and I hate to say, I had to push it real hard. I did not want my child to be the only kindergartner who wasnt potty trained. At this age they can do it, they just don't want to. Buy some big boy underwear with his favorite characters and tell him he can wear them if he goes. Make him sit on the potty when you know he has to go soon {after drinking some juice or water} until he goes and then make a really big deal about it. Tell everybody what a big boy he is. Make sure you sit him on the potty very often during the day, once an hour works good at first. When he gets the hang of it then you can go longer.

Answer 4

my son was like that and he got so bad he was changing his own pull ups so i took the pull ups away and put underwear on him and told him to go the bathroom like every 30 minutes. and if he peed on himself id change it like 5 minutes later. i didnt punish him but i let him know what it feels like to pee on himself. it took us a week to do this and he had 2 accidents since then. potty training is never easy but there is a time where they need to be potty trained. i had to get my son potty trained because of school. and like you whatever i offered never worked. put cherios in the toilet and let him aim for it and let him see your spouse pee also.good luck

Answer 5

never make a big deal out of it.

maybe don't give him any diapers and tell him if you don't go to the toilet..you'll pee in your pants..look at me..I don't need one!

he's 3 years old, so he may understand...but you decide if he can handle that!

good luck

Answer 6

Just be patient with him. It will happen in time. He won't still be in diapers when he gets to Kindergarten.

Answer 7

do what i done........make them stay in their mistake outside alone for an hour...........it never happened again