How can I get my 2 yr old son to potty train?

Question

My son is 2 1/2, and I know hes ready for the potty since he tells me what he has done in his diaper, takes it off, and hands me a new one.

He was scared to death of the adult potty, so we made a big deal out of getting him his own small version. Well, he vetoed that as soon as we got it home. (screaming, crying, wont go near it.. pretends its not there...)

Weve been very positive with the training, lots of praise and encouragement... even tried bribery with stickers and such...

Does anyone have any ideas on how to get him out of diapers? Id appreciate any stories, tricks, or advice!!

Thanks!!

Answer 1

Okay, sit him down with the last bag of diapers.  Count all the diapers so you both know how many are left.  Tell him that when all the diapers are gone, they are gone, and you are not buying anymore.  Tell him that he will then be a big boy.  Every time you use a diaper, do a "diaper countdown", so he knows how many are left.  Continue trying to get him in to the potty.  Best times: right in the morning (if he is waking up dry then for sure he has to go) sit him on the potty after he eats to get him to p**p.  

It is difficult.  When there are no more diapers, he is not going to have a choice.  Good luck.

Answer 2

It's time for a potty break.  Wait a few months without pushing the issue.  He seems physically ready, but not emotionally yet.  While you are taking a break from trying to get him to sit on the potty, at least keep things potty themed.  Allow him to go in the bathroom when you go, let him watch a potty DVD (they even have one with Elmo!), talk about bodily functions when you change a diaper (You pooped in your diaper!  When you're a big boy, you'll p**p in the potty!), etc.  Then in about 3 months or so, try again to have him go on the potty.  :)

Answer 3

Just because he is aware of what he's doing, doesn't mean he is ready.  My son started going to a certain spot to take care of business when he was not quite 18 months....when we ask him what he was doing, he would state, "going to my stinkin' spot"!  I thought for sure he was ready, but our pediatrician explained that he was just aware of what he was doing.  I started asking him every morning (only in the mornings, not every diaper change)..."big boy underwear or diaper"....I did not make a big deal about it, just a question with no wrong answer.  One month after his 2nd birthday, he surprisingly said, "big boy underwear"!!!!  It was his choice and he was proud of that!  He had very, very few accidents after that day....maybe 3 or 4 times.  He was ready!!  My daughter on the other hand....lol....completely different situation....she was almost 3!

Answer 4

try potty books. My son sits on the potty and we read all kinds of books about being a big boy and going on the potty. :)

Answer 5

you sit him on the toilet every three hours or so.. and just keep him there until he goes. eventually he'll tell you when he has to go and when he doesnt have to go becuase he'll hate to sit on the toilet for a long period of time.

also use it as a punishment.. like if he wetts himself set him on there and tell him firmly that the toilet was where he needed to be.

Answer 6

2 1/2 is pretty early for a boy - but if he's ready then more power to you. Just because he's aware doesn't mean he's ready though. If he's scared of the toilet, I would pretty much say he isn't ready. Don't use little potty seats - they are a huge pain and messy.

With my boys (3 of them now who are all potty trained), we just had them wear unders all weekend when we thought they were ready. It works really good in the summer because you can play in the back yard and if they have to go they can just pull down the unders and go on the fence or the tree. They get the idea pretty quick. But if they don't get it then don't push it.

The best trick is to be patient. It could take until he's 4 as it does with a lot of boys.

Answer 7

Wait until he is 3.  Even though he obviously doesn't like diapers, he's clearly not ready.  My boys weren't until they were 3.  Our second seemed ready, showing all the signs that you mentioned, so we started him in April of 07 (he was 2-1/2) and by July, he was still pooping in his underwear.  Then he completely regressed and wouldn't wear underwear and I soon discovered that pressuring him to go was making him more reluctant.  I finally caved and got him pull-ups (something I swore I'd never purchase for any of my children), and that was enough to give  him some autonomy to choose when he went potty and when he did the diaper thing.  He was 3 and two months when I did this.  After that, he potty trained himself in about 3 weeks and has been completely potty trained ever since.  If I had just waited, I could have saved myself MONTHS of hassle (April to December, 9 months).