How should I be potty training my 28 month old son?

Question

My son is 28 months old and has not went potty on the toilet yet. He will sit on the potty and tell us when he has to go but has not yet. He also goes crazy when I try to put a diaper, pull-up, or even big boy underpants on him. He just wants to run around naked. This is my first time so I really could use some help.

Answer 1

I have a 31 mos old boy, I let my son go to a store, pick out his potty and his underwear. I got him to wear the underwear b/c the the diapers/easy ups were not helping him. He leaked and peed on the floor for a week and still didn't get it so I gave up. Completely dropped it however, I decided to put him in those Easy Ups with the coolant liner in it (goes cold when they pee in them). That freaked him out, and within a week of using those easy ups, he was on the toilet peeing. You have to find a weakness in him and use it. For me the ordinary easy ups/pull ups didn't work but those easy up coolant-pants worked like a dream. When we go out to a store, restaurant I bring a toilet seat with us and spare underwear and wipes. He refuses to go on the big toilet and actually will hold his pee in two hours. So I think it'll be a slow transition getting to the big toilet but he's on his way. I also reward him by giving him one peice of his fave candy after every successful pee/poop. Only one peice and for him, it's one skittle. He's been training for one month and he's already forgotten about the candy, pees every time on the toilet and even through the night will wake up to go pee on his potty. It really is a case of whether your child wants to or not. You can push all you like but unless your child wants to do it, they are not going to be successful.
Good luck!

Answer 2

He's only 28 months old. That's still fairly young for potty training. (Yes, some boys are ready to this young, but most are not.) And frankly,I'd be quite wary of a preschool that required under 3's to be fully potty trained to enroll. They seem to have unrealistic expectations. Still, fall is a long time away. When a child IS ready for training it usually goes very quickly. So the fact that he isn't ready now (in March) doesn't mean that he won't be ready in June or August ... and then fully trained long before school starts in late August or September. So forget about it for now. Trying to force something that he 'hates' and clearly isn't ready for will just set up long-term problems and power struggles.

Answer 3

What worked for both my daughter and my son is The Potty Stool http://www.thepottystool.com I started by just setting it at the toilet. This stool makes every toilet kid-sized. My kids immediately climbed up on this stool and discovered that they could safely and securely 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. And it really is wonderful having your kids independently use the toilet on their own. The handles make all the difference --both felt comfortable and were relaxed enough to have easy bowel movements.

It really helped my son to learn to pee standing up so he could see what was happening and connect the sensations.

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

Answer 4

Boys usually aren't potty trained until closer to 3 yrs old. Even then he isn't going to do it until he is ready. You can introduce the potty now, and tell him that is where he should go, but dont make a big deal of it yet (unless he actually goes of course). After doing it with my three kids I learned its something you can't rush, when he is ready that will be it. You still have a while before it should become a concern.

Answer 5

Dont put diapers on him, or pull ups. He doesnt want them, and they create a double standard.

let him see you and dad on the toilet, let him know when you have to pee and then leave the door open. "Wow, I feel like I have to pee, I better go to the toilet." Dont tell him tell him, just announce it. Its hard to toddlers to realize that an urge has a reaction. If you leave the door open he will eventually start following you in there. Tell him you're going potty, its what big people do, and you're proud of him that he can do the same.

Encourage him, help him see how and what happens in the bathroom.

If he messes, or rather, when he messes in his pants, tell him thats too bad. He's such a big kid and he can use the potty. Clean him up, ask him if he has to go, he says no, you tell him okay he can go whenever he needs to. Tell him you're so proud of him that he's so grown up and can use his words to tell you when he has to go potty.

You need to be the adult and be sure to remind him and ask him from time to time. DONT MAKE HIM SIT OR MAKE HIM GO, thats just making it a battle of wills. He WANTS to go potty, you're just helping him remember when and how.

Eventually he will make the connection. Just be consistent and ride it through.

Pack wipes and back up underwear and pants when you go out, he'll mess when you're out, and thats just part of it. THrow away the old clothes, it sends a big message.

Answer 6

Here are a few tips that have seemed to work for others in keeping the process running smoothly as well as maintain emotional well being intact for everyone.

1. Concentrate on potty training only. Don't make it hard on kids, but you will have to watch them almost every minute. Do not go anywhere with them for two weeks unless you can take the potty with you.

2. Use stickers as a reward. Let them pick out the stickers at a store.

3. Wrap up small gifts found as rewards after each time they successfully go to the bathroom. Children love to open presents. Put them inside a big box and let them choose the one they want to open. Rewrap them. That's right. Use them repeatedly. After they begin to get potty trained, tell and show them there are only six presents left and then, "they'll be all gone." Each time you let them open one, say, "Look, there's only 5 more left, but we have stickers," -- or whatever else you would like to use -- other than food.

4. Do not use food as a reward. Sweets, candy, or any type of food is not good for a positive reward system at this age. It will only leave them anticipating food as rewards for other accomplishments and could lead to eating disorders later in life.

5. After each successful potty trip, clap and say, "Whoohoo. You are such a big boy/girl! Good job!" Go call someone and share the news. Let the child tell them what a good job that they did. This only reinforces positive experiences for potty training.

6. Make up a calendar with tons of pictures of your child on it. Make the days of the week large squares to have plenty of room for the stickers. Let your child put up a big star each time he/she goes to the potty on that specific day.

7. Put Cheerios in the toilet and let the boys aim at them. Since they are a little more difficult to potty train, there are other incentives on today's market to attract little boys to the potty. Check at your favorite store for such tools.

8. Buy many books during clearance sales. Keep a box of books by the potty. If possible, read a page or two or share a picture book. Read one or two books, if your little one needs to go number two.

9. Monitor food and liquid intake. Take your child to the potty on a schedule. You will have to watch the clock to monitor food and drink intake. Cut out liquids two hours before bedtime and no caffeine -- ever.

10. Ship your precious little one off to grandmas or an aunt's house, if things get too hairy. Sometimes, other folks can potty train our children better than we can. If you have a relative who is willing to help and your kiddo will not "walk the plank" for you, let someone else try. You might be surprised how quickly the job will be completed.

Above all else, let the child show and tell you when he is ready. It may not be the calendar timing you'd like to follow, but the frustration and stress is just not worth the repercussions.

Remember, accidents will occur at the least expected time. Stay cool and anticipate it as part of parenthood - this too shall pass.