Potty Training?

Question

My son who just turned 3 in March, has no desire to even sit on the toilet. He still wakes up in the middle of the night for milk or water. Then he wakes up with a wet diaper every morning. I am a single mom who works 2 jobs and I know that isn't an excuse, but my sisters daugther who is the the same age is so more advanced then my son. I know you shouldn't compare kids,but I can't help but feel that maybe I am a bad mom. Please give me real tips on how to get my son to actually sleep through the whole night and how to get him interested in potty training

Answer 1

Great question but not an easy one to answer!

About the sleeping through the night, I'd advise letting him have a plastic cup of water in the bedroom with him. There may be a few spills, but water will dry. Don't let him get up. Children are creatures of habit and they will keep doing it as long as they get what they want.

Don't worry about night potty training just yet, focus on daytime first.

My husband and I were very lacksadaisical about potty-training our son until his daycare started to insist upon it. We're tired too, so I sympathize. There are many methods to try and you never know which one will work! Here's what I suggest:

First, get him used to sitting on the potty. Put him on it in front of Sesame Street if you have to. Remember, don't ask him to do it, tell him. Some kids are pretty smart and they know it's easier to just poop their pants than take care of it themselves. If he sits without fussing or pees or whatever you current goal is, reward him with stickers or small candy. Applaud him. Don't pressure him to perform, it IS a bodily function.

After he gets used to sitting on it, take him every hour or so. DON'T ASK. Tell. He must form new habits and you have to make him. I know it's a lot of trouble, so forgive yourself if it takes you a while to get in the habit too - but it will pay off, just think of not changing or buying diapers! Get his day care/babysitter on board with the plan too, since they will be in charge of the effort while you're at work.

Once he starts having dry diapers several times a day, buy a whole bunch of underwear and extra pants and put him in underpants. Be prepared to do a lot of laundry and a little cleaning up. A few accidents and he may catch on.

Browse for some websites too, there are many many methods and you should keep trying them until you find what works for you and your son.

Good luck, and btw you're not a bad Mom. You love your son, that makes you a GREAT Mom!!!

Answer 2

well... create a start chart in the bathroom and everytime he pees he gets a small yellow star...and then if he does #2 then do a BIG star. Also, dont push him too hard. he will only resist. He IS 3! Im a single Mom too and my son is 7 now. I used to have the same problem. Make sure the daycare is working with you and not against you. That was one of my problems. When he wakes for a drink... give him ONLY a small glass. Like fill it 1/4 full. That's what I still do with my son. OH YEAH! And girls sometimes potty train REALLY early! Boys are almost ALWAYS late. My friend has 3 girls and they were potty trained by 1 1/2 -2. I used to also be a 2 year old teacher. The girls are ALWAYS quick. The boys... not so much. MMMMM....Also, if you know an older boy or a man that is close to you in the family... have him show your boy how it's done. I know it sounds funny... but my brother showed my son. make sure it's somebody he looks up to...because if he sees him pee or something.... he will want to do the same thing. I know it sounds funny but I promise it helps. :) Good luck!

OH YEAH WAIT! I remember what the final straw was when I had to get my son to do it. I MADE him wear underwear and he would pee himself...and eventually...he hated being wet. I put a plastic bad under his sheets. I think about 2 weeks of that...and bam...he didn't pee his pants anymore.

I hope I helped....

Answer 3

First of all, make sure that your child does not have a medical problem such as diabetes.

Next only water at night, leave a sippy cup by his bed. Do not get up with him for the purpose of a drink. limit drinks if possible after 7pm or 1 hr before bedtime. get a routine, consistency is everything. Get him up on a schedule to potty, then reduce the trips until it becomes once before bed and once durring the night (if necessary). use plug in night lights to mark the path to the bathroom. (most children are afraid to make that scarry trip through the dark and will simply not get up).

Talk about "big boy pants", under ware. For daytime potty training, I recommend terrycloth under ware w/rubber pants. No mistaking that wet feeling!

Explain that get is getting to be a big boy and pretty soon he will not need training pants or diapers, he'll wear big boy pants. Take him out and buy a few pair of cartoon pants and put them in his drawer for when he is ready. This will give him an incentive. I don't really like bribes, but in this case...
Charts with stars or jelly beans (1 at a time) helps.

Also get a stool (similar to the size of a wooden coke crate). Often second hand stores will carry the step stools used for adult step class. Sit the stool in front of the toliet (this is generally appropriate for 3yrs olds-do not use for children less than 3yrs). teach him to sit backwards on the toilet seat. this is not much different from standing.

Keep a positive, encouraging, but firm position in this matter. Good luck.

P.s. the library has lots of children's books on this theme.

Answer 4

You're not a bad mom, but he shouldn't be in a diaper at three. Don't give him the option to pee in his pants. Announce that he's going to start having big boy underwear and take away the diapers. He knows where the potty is, so ask him to use it every hour or so. Don't force him though. If he does have an accident, supply him with fresh clothes and let him change himself. He will eventually get the idea and get tired of the inconvenience of changing. This has worked with many children I know in my experiences teaching preschool.

Answer 5

I think you need to let this go for awhile. You seem to have gotten yourself into a bit of a power struggle over this. It is your son’s issue and it is best that you do not let him know that you really want him to use the toilet. If you insist, he will resist. It’s a battle that you cannot win because it is something only he can control. Sometimes children will potty train if there is a big reward. You say that you told him that he cannot go to preschool but does he really understand what that means? Maybe a visit to the school will help motivate him.

I suggest that you count out the remainder of his diapers with him. Say to him “15 more diapers left. When these run out you get to use the toilet.” Saying “you get” rather than “you have to” puts the power into his hands. Get him a step stool for the adult toilet if he cannot get up on his own. This is a great one http://thepottystool.com/3.html... Make sure he is wearing clothing that he can easily get on and off without any help. When you think it is about time he should go, say to him "It seems like you need to use the bathroom” give it no more attention than that. If he is successful, do not bribe him with stickers or treats or he will only use the bathroom for the reward and his interest in these rewards will only last a short time. If he is successful, say things like “You did it! You must be so proud of yourself! You went potty without help!" If he decides to go in his underwear or has an accident, don't give it much attention. When he soils himself, say "It seems like you need to change." Hold him responsible for the clean up. He can remove his soiled clothing, rinse them out, put them in a bag in the laundry, clean his body, and put on dry clothing. It is hard to take a step back but if you make this his issue where he is in control where he takes care of this himself, it should not take him long to learn it is much easier to use the bathroom. Be patient and good luck!

Answer 6

No naps during the day, since he has this problem. No more drinks at night-tell him to go back to sleep.
Be consistant with the potty training. Have him sit there for hours if need be, in front of the TV is fine. Make a big deal about it when he potties, lots of praise. You know girls are more mature than boys.... but it is easier to potty train a girl. If you have a brother or male cousin, let him spend sometime with them and let a man that he knows and looks up to show him how its done.

Answer 7

I have 2 daughters and 3 sons. My sons did take longer than the girls to potty train. What I did was to take the boys with me to the store to buy their potty chair. When we were at home it was a big deal when Mommy went potty. I took my little ones with me and we clapped and made it a big deal that Mommy went potty in her potty chair. Then when they used theirs I gave lots of hugs and made it a really big deal. Also, they got to run around nude when no one was around so that they didn't have to take off any clothes when they felt the need to potty. Once they learned to go potty on their own they could keep a special cup with water by their bed just in case they woke up thirsty in the middle of the night.
Good luck, I know it's hard but being patient and giving lot's of positive reinforcement does work.

Answer 8

look for books for kids on how cool it is to sit on the potty and everytime you change his diaper sit him down on the potty and sooner or later he will get the idea...also if you see him start hiding in the corner, more than likely he is trying to have privacy to go potty so you need to take him and make him sit down on the potty...i worked in a day care and all of these worked for my class of two year olds....im not sure on the sleeping thing you might want to talk to your doctor about that....but every kid has different sleeping patterns....hope i could help and good luck im sure he'll get it!

Answer 9

Bribe him, it always works!
Take your son to the toy store and let him pick out a few sheets of stickers, bubbles and a few other toys..
Keep a sheet of paper taped right next to the toilet, on the wall, and whenever he goes to the bathroom let him put a stick of his choice on the paper.
Whenever he goes to the bathroom tell him he can sit on the toilet and blow a few bubbles
When he goes to the bathroom for the first time give him the biggest toy he wanted

Good luck =), don't compare..every child is different

Answer 10

Every kid is different.....He will let you know when he's ready. If you notice that his diaper/pull-up is dry in the morning, that is a sign that he has blatter control. This is what my kid's doctor told me. Once I noticed my son doing this I made it a habit to put him on the potty at bathtime and bedtime. Seems to be working so far.