Potty training tips and techniques please help!?

Question

Hi my situation is that i have a 2 and a half year old son. I have tried potty training him and he has gone pee-pee in his potty a couple of times missed but at least tried. i take off his diaper and just let him wear shorts and tell him to tell me when he wants to go but he doesn't and ends up going on the carpet. what can i do i have to potty train him beofre my other baby comes due on november. Can somebody please let me know how did you get your toddler to start using the potty and am i doing it right?

Answer 1

I used to work in a pre school with toddlers so i know your pain.. you have 1 boy... try training 8 -10 at the same time. lol. We do have to remember all children are different and figure it out all at different paces.

what you have to do (if you have not already) is make it fun. i would invest in the pull ups (i like the ones that cool when you pee in them). he has spent 2 and a half years going to the bathroom in the diaper so its still kind of confusing to him to be 'free ballin' all of a sudden.

Another thing is we cant rely on toddlers to 'tell us' when they have to go because they still are figuring it out. What you will have to do is ask him "do you have to go potty?" about every hour or every hour and a half. For the first few weeks, if he says no... make him go anyway. If nothing happens after 5 minutes or so then let him up or let him pull up and go on about his business. After a while he will get the hang of it. what it takes is time and commitment and BRIBES!

My potty training kit is:

The bathroom
Stool (for stepping up to the toilet... i dont do potties, you will learn to be a big boy or girl with the big toilet because im only cleaning ONE! lol)
Stickers
Cherrios (for boys who are standing to wee)
a fake smile and enthusiasm. lol

for my boys i would let them stand on the stool (if they were standing to wee) and plop a few cherrios in the toilet bowl. I would tell them the cherrios were fires and he was a fireman who had to put the fire out. this helps with aim! (i only wish i can do this with adult men)

When they do go, they get a sticker on the forehead or hand or whatever as a GOOD JOB.. claps, hugs, and a stupid song i made up about going potty (im so glad i dont remember it all. it haunts me like barney)

you have to be very consistant. If he is in daycare, you have to get them involved also. if not, when he is down for a nap, wake him up in the middle of it and sit him on that toilet if he is not staying dry during naps. if he is, wake him up about 5 - 10 minutes before his nap is over and make him go to the bathroom. This will also get him into a good habit of going to the bathroom.

When you introduce pull ups tell him they are big boy pants and he cant use the bathroom in them. Only babies do that. and whatever you do... dont turn back and go to daipers again. this will only confuse him.

good luck! feel free to email me