I have a 3 1/2 year old son and we have had no luck with potty training any suggestions?

Question

My son is 3 1/2 and is in daycare but we have no luck with potty training on a consistent basis. He will go pee-pee at daycare , they have to try every two hours. At home when I try this he refuses to sit on the potty so I told him he could stand and he will not do that either. He will cry and scream when I put him on the potty at home, unless it is first thing in the morning or right before bath time. I have tried rewards, he would get a two gummy bears every time he went in the potty. I have tried discpline, if he went in his pull-up then he was not allowed to play on the computer that night (this is his favorite thing). Nothing has worked, and I have read that if nothing else he should be able to go p**p in the potty and he is no where close to that. He does not care if he sits in a poopy diaper, or if he is wet. I even tried big boy underwear once and he peed in them and it did not bother him a bit. He is a wonderful little boy and perfectly normal in every other way. HELP!

Answer 1

Get rid of the pull ups! Put him in real undies with old time rubber pants. Stay consistant with every 2 hours...When he has an accident he needs to clean it and himself up (yes you double check), it's not punishment, he just needs to have some accountability for his actions...

Answer 2

Wow, that's a little old to not be trained -- I will so, though, that my two sons were much harder to train than my daughters.  It's a maturity thing I guess.

The only advice I can give is to keep trying.  Be consistent.  Take him every two hours, before dinner, after dinner, etc.  Eventually his brain will make that connection.  I would avoid punishing -- but I would continue to reward when he does it right.

Hang in there.  Good luck!

Answer 3

Boys are slower than girls in most cases anyway when it comes to potty training.  My son was the same way, he took forever.  Basiclly one day he dicided to not p**p in his pants any more and he wanted to go in the potty.  I tried everyhting, from getting on to him, treats, threats, everything.  Nothing worked, when he is ready he will do it.  The more you push, the more he will push back.  Sorry.

Answer 4

I'm having the same exact problem with my girl.  Who is almost the same age.  

It's just awful.  She's been ahead on the charts for everything except for this and I feel she'll be 18, graduating from high school and running from me because she doesn't want her poopy underwear or diaper changed!!

Answer 5

I feel your pain! My son is 3 1/2 and we are also struggling with potty training. He's getting better about it though. He's now telling us if he's gone in his pull-up. As for sitting on the potty- I usually take him just before doing something he wants to do. If he wants to get on the computer then I tell him, ok, but let's go potty first. As soon as his bottom hits the seat he's telling me he's done. At first I would say ok and let him up, but I've noticed that when I say ok, wait a minute then I find some small chore in the bathroom to do then he usually goes. I make a big deal about it- yeah, good job, big boy, etc then let him up. Hope this helps, I'll cross my fingers for you!