How to potty train a 3 year old?

Question

he just refuses to sit on the toilet or his training toilet, yet he goes into his room to p**p in his diaper. slams door shut if we try to intrude. HELP??

Answer 1

stop buying diapers for one and make him wear underwear when he goes on himself he won't like the feeling of being wet or poopy so he will go on the toilet and make him clean him self up

Answer 2

Be tough on him

make him clean up his own diaper and make him smell it and throw it away

Answer 3

Both of my boys were difficult in there own way.  My oldest just didn't get it.  Loved sit on the potty, read books, and poo in his underwear.

The youngest one went potty often, and I thought we were done, and then he back tracked, and wouldn't even put on underwear.

Amazingly enough, making them clean themselves in the shower works.  They don't like it.

There are many ways, including positive reinforcement, to not responding at all to negative behavior.  It depends on why he's doing it.  

One idea that also works for some is to let them go in their underwear, because it's way more uncomfortable than pooing in the diaper.

It sounds like he wants attention if he's slamming the door.  I would just change him like nothing happened.  Don't give him any attention for it.  Then out of the blue talk up going to the potty.  How big boys don't need those diapers, they get spiderman underwear ect.

I would try everything you hear until something clicks.  It's different for all kids, and boys are harder!

Answer 4

Toilet targets for him to aim at when he pees. Or if he likes elmo, there is a potty training video you can get. It runs around $5 for a used one on amazon. For my daughter we used once upon a potty for her, but they have a for him also. if you buy a matching potty chair (about $8 from the discount store) he will be more likely to try it. By complete accident, my youngest has the exact same potty chair as elmo (I got it at walmart) !This gets her so excited when we play the dvd and she sees that he has the same thing. If you are not sure about the video, you can usually see parts of them on you tube.

Answer 5

OK this is what I did to potty train my 3 1/2 year old. He did EXACTLY the same thing. He would go in his room, shut his door and p**p his pullup. I was getting very frustrated. So I went to the dollarstore and bought like 20 toys and put them in a big jar. I told him every time he went p**p or pee on the potty he would get to pick a toy. He would go "I'm gonna go p**p now so I can have a toy". And I would say, "sure, go ahead". The point was, just to get him in the habit of going. I dont care if he was only going because he knew he would get a toy, he was GOING nonetheless. Eventually he just kept going on the potty, till he was completely trained, and needless to say, about 3/4 of those dollarstore toys ended up in the garbage. And I do not care that I had to buy him toys to get him to go potty! He did it! and now he doesn't need toys, because he got into the habit of doing it, and now goes completely on his own.

Answer 6

Making him clean his own diaper and smelling it is pretty harsh in my opinion.With our daughter if she runs to hide to take a p**p we just grab her hand and tell her we'll walk her to the potty. I think if it's forced on them the they'll resist it even more. Have you tried having him go to the potty when you go? My daughter likes to mimick what she sees mommy do, so that works for us. The major thing is to just be patient, it's not easy, but eventually he'll start.

Answer 7

I'm having similar problems with my son - he's not quite 3. This is my second attempt at training him. We've had pants on which he was excited about at first, but then gets hysterical (not tantrums - he's actually frightened) after about half an hour because he knows his nappy isn't there to poo or wee in - so he panics. I've tried rewards etc, they don't work for him, he just cries in fear each time I mention the potty or the toilet. If you haven't already tried it I would attempt rewards such as a sticker chart or if that fails maybe a sweet for each 'try' on the loo. Sorry I can't help any more than that but you're not alone :-(

Answer 8

take away his diapers and make him clean up all his messes or leave him in his poopy diaper for and extra 5-10 minutes every time... he should be starting or already trained by 3...

Answer 9

Get yourself a way back machine and train him when he's two.

Waiting is a big mistake.

Oh, and as long you buy diapers (pull ups are diapers b.t.w.) he's not going to use the bathroom.  

Answer 10

My son wasn't fully potty trained until 3 1/2.  NEVER make potty training a punishable offense.  It may lead to problems in the future with wetting the bed at night.  I would switch him completely over to pull-ups.  Just like with a new puppy, forgive the analogy, you have to make him sit on the toilet every hour to hour and a half.  I wouldn't use the little potty because then he may have difficulty transitioning to a regular toilet.  Take him into the bathroom, pull down his pants, and sit him on the toilet for a few minutes ( I did 2-4 minutes).  Just ask him to try to go potty.  If he does, praise him.  If he doesn't, just tell him that's okay and you'll try again soon.  If he squeals to get up, tell him to count or sing a song with him.  You will have to stay with him.  He needs to develop the ability to tell when he has to pee and associate it with sitting on the toilet.  I did this for about 3-4 days before he would start going on the toilet.  After 2 or 3 weeks, he would tell me he had to go.  He'll come around.  Good luck!  Also, my son will be five next month and still wears pull-ups to bed.  No shame in it.  Every kid is different.

Answer 11

You have to use reverse psychology. Make it fun. Put his potty chair right next to the toilet. Tell him Daddy's going to go potty in YOUR chair. Tease him a bit. Let him think it's fun and a pleasure to p**p in his potty. If that doesn't work, don't let him have treats all day but when and if he goes, make a party out of it. Tell him it's a niiiice looking poopie. He deserves a treat. Clap for him and dance, etc. When he goes in his room to use his diaper, tell him "Oh oh!! No treats for you. Only if you go in your potty." Once he gets used to going where he's supposed to, give him the treats less often.