My son is 3 and a half years old. We have no problems with using the potty for pee but he refuses to do a BM in the potty. He waits until bedtime when I put a diaper on him and then goes. I have tried encouraging him and even resorted to bribery but still no go. People tell me he just isn't ready but is there anything else I should be doing to help him along? I would love to hear from other moms who have had a similar experience.
2007-08-21 05:35:22 · 11 answers · asked by DH 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Well, not sure how much of a rarity is but I fully potty trained my son in less than a week. He had been consistently going pee (daycare helped with that) but would not do a BM. Being age 4, it was holding him back from playing with the older children who were all trained, not to mention keeping two kids in diapers and having him consistently get a raw behind from playing with a diaper full of poo.
I used a decidedly Pavlovian approach. Bought a cheap digital kitchen timer, set it for 25 minutes from the moment my son got up. Gave him diluted juice or water at the outset, which he promptly drank. Every time the timer went off, he goes into the bathroom. Even if he didn't need to go, he still sat on the potty. I started on a Saturday morning and continued without failure (maybe 1-2 missed timings at dinnertime) the whole weekend. He was making BMs on the potty by that afternoon, Inside of 3 days, he was fully potty trained.
We kept with the timer in the evenings for a good 7-10 days, and by then he was going voluntarily. We also used a reward system, say, a small Hot Wheels car for the first day he was successful a few times, then another car or similar toy if he went a full week.
He was also loving some gerbils the daycare had, and we promised him a pair of them when he got trained. The daycare nicely gave him the gerbils as a training present (I think they were simply tired of the maintenance). The reward system worked for us in that respect, and we didn't do any of the sugary treat rewards mainly because that's not how we feed him.
Bottom line is every child has a point where they will WANT to train. We had very little luck motivating him on our own until we reinforced his age, his playmates and the fact he wouldn't get to go to big boy school. The logic flow with the kids doesn't always work. The timer thing worked for us. I would hope it can work for you but it's never anything consistent.
2007-08-25 04:40:19 · answer #1 · answered by drizzt870 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just potty trained my son and daughter. I like an approach where I don't have to pressure or push my child. What worked for me was The Potty Stool http://www.thepottystool.com I started by just setting it at the toilet. My kids immediately climbed up on the stool and discovered that they could safely use the toilet. This got them very interested in using the toilet and they were potty trained very quickly. Kids like to use what they know mommy and daddy use.
Sometimes kids get afraid to do a BM on the toilet because they are not comfortable enough. Put toilet paper down across the water to avoid a splash. It really helps boys to learn to pee standing up. So using the stool helps speed up the whole training process.
I like that I don't have to double the steps of potty training by training them first in a potty and then training them to stop using a potty. And not dumping and cleaning a potty each time is great. The best thing is that kids use it for years. I hope this helps you.
2007-08-21 07:28:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
My mom said she had us on the potty first thing in the morning and we always did our bm then. She also said the potty had a tray and she'd have breakfast or snack while sitting there.
At 3 1/2 I don't think it's an issue of readiness. But, I've not began to potty train my son yet ;)
2007-08-21 05:44:15 · answer #3 · answered by Baby #3 due 10/13/09 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look for a book called "The Potty Book" I used it with my four kids and it really helps to cement the whole potty concept. Kids love and learn by repetition. Read it to him often and let him look at it on his own (maybe while sitting on the potty). Hope it works like it did in our house! Sometimes kids feel like their bm is a part of them and it's weird for them to let it go. Just be patient with him and throw a little party when he finally goes. (Not a party with guests...just the two of you lol) Let him know how proud you are of this big accomplishment! Good luck :)
2007-08-21 05:53:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doing BM's in the potty is a rough I just kept at it... and tried to set him on the potty when i saw him trying to push. Have u tried using pullups at night instead of diapers... or leaving him in undies if not for all night.. but a little longer at night cuz if he has an accident he wont really like the feeling in his undies...
....
my son started liking to wave by when i poo in the potty.. and i told him if he went poo in the potty he can say bye to his too.. LOL ... it worked. He does go potty now all the time and if fully potty trained. I also would give him extra gifts for pooing on the potty...
He would get two cars for pooing on the potty...
One for trying and one for actually pooing. (a total of 3 cars.. cuz the third was for staying dry all day.)
with my other two .. i gave them 'pooping candy' .. just a little candie bar like those little minitures or a hersey kiss-- depends on what they wanted that day)
Good luck
2007-08-21 05:48:58 · answer #5 · answered by DrkBreizzy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Getting my daughter to have a BM on the potty was the toughest part for me also. The only advice I have, and the only thing I really did was take my daughter with me whenever I had to go. She saw that mommy was doing it and then wanted to do it herself. Good Luck!!
2007-08-21 05:49:57 · answer #6 · answered by 4AngelGrls 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter started using the potty earlier. But, it did take her just a little bit longer to pooh than pee in the potty. It could be that it is hard to pooh sitting on the potty. My daughter used to go stand in a corner and push. I started giving her more apple juice which has helped relax things so she doesn't have to push so hard. It could be that it is just awkward sitting and pushing..
Good luck
2007-08-24 20:15:03 · answer #7 · answered by charwebb 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter would go get a pullup to poop in it evenb if she was potty trained with No. 1!!!!!! One day i hid them. When she ran around the house like a lunatic looking for them, I held her down on the potty until she did it. It only took one time. I'd give him prune juice or something so he has to go, and be ready. Good luck....
2007-08-21 05:54:43 · answer #8 · answered by noitall 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
since you know when he goes sit him on the potty for a little while give him a book to read and make him sit there til he goes
this is a power struggle out smart him
2007-08-21 05:43:50 · answer #9 · answered by kleighs mommy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is very common for boys, no diaper at night, that is your answer as horrible as it sounds but it will work
2007-08-21 06:05:13 · answer #10 · answered by melissa s 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋