I never want to change another diaper!! ?

Question

My son is 2 1/2, I know many of you out there think I'm a lazy mom for not having him potty trained by now, I've read the other posts.

My question is, how do I start? 4 months about I went out and bought pull ups and a toddler seat that sits on the toilet. Every hour we took him in there, sat him down and explained to him about using the restroom. We did this for 2 weeks with 2 successes. This ate up alot of our time and he was just using the 'potty time' as play time, trying to get to the sink and such.

My husband and I decided to hold off a bit longer, waiting for him to talk better or something so he can express when he needs to go (he's speech is very behind w/o medical problems). Now I think he might be ready, but more then that I really REALLY him to be ready.

I have bought a pack of regular boys underwear (Cars, his very fav) and a pack of those training underwear (like real underwear just some padding to help absorb).

How many do you think i should have? How many acidents should I expect in the first few days? Should I start with pull ups? But pull-ups don't seem to be any diffent then diapers.

I'm hoping to try "If you want to wear these cool big boy underwear you have to keep them clean". But I would love any more tricks or helpful hints people have. I have light colored carpet and my home is a rental so i worry about just putting him in underwear right away.

Sadly my family is useless to ask things like this too. My mom said my brothers and I were easy and my mother-in-law remembers she had one difficult boy to train cant remember what she did to over come it (she had a stroke).

Please help, I'm hoping this box of diapers i bought will be my very last. It's my goal in life at the moment! (lol)

Oh and as a note, we can not yell or criticize him for making mistakes, he has a very very bad temper (and will hurt himself) so we handle that by staying calm and understanding. Hoping that will show him how to handle his emotions. I don't want to change that for potty training. (Our approach is "That was bad because" "Boys don't do things like that")

Answer 1

I didnt read ur question... but ill just say put him straight into pants, throw all nappies awy except for nite time... pull ups dont work half the time because wen the child wee's it does the same job as a nappy...

put him on toliet every 30mins for the 1st few days... if he has accidents just change him... he will learn in no longer than 2 weeks probably... if not then hes prob not ready...

Answer 2

I don't think any bad of you because your son is not potty trained. Children show signs of readiness at very different ages, so probably he just hasn't been ready for it. All of what you said I agree with, I just wanna suggest doing a potty chart (this has worked wonders for a friend of mine) and getting a sticker for points (whatever he likes, character or a happy smilie) and also having a point system. For example 4 points (4 sucessful times in the potty) earn something. You need to make this fun and keep him motivated. Good luck

Answer 3

Be patient with your son,...:)

my 3 year old is in training as well,...

the speech we believe is from last series of shots

she got @ age one,..don't know about you,...but her speech

was a little more developed,...before she got them,....

keep encouraging him to potty,..become familiar with

what he is doing,..what body language is he giving,....before

going to potty,..his body language will tell you,..it's time,..

to take him to potty,...don't become frustrated,..if he makes

a mistake,....if you can afford,...get a carpet cleaner,..from

walmart,...about,...60.00-80.00 dollars,..or you can rent one

to clean carpet,...you may even find a good used one ,..

at a yard sale,....continue to do what your are doing to encourage

him when he gets a temper,....again same for my 3 year old,...

seems more easy to frustrate,..after her last immunization,..

at aged one,...reward him with treats,...coloring books,..etc,...

every child is different period when it comes to raising,..potty,..

training etc,....best wishes,... take care,....

Answer 4

i agree with wee-lo,that is also what i did eith my 2 children,they were both potty trained by there second birthday,pull-ups give the children the feeling of having a nappy on...never did any good for my kids!

x

Answer 5

I have a 2 1/2 year old that I've been working with for awhile. Expect a lot of accidents.  If your child is developmentally delayed for any reason, it may delay his potty training.  

My daughter had about 6 - 7 accidents a day for awhile.  Until we offered her big girl underwear when she stayed dry.  Now we only use diapers for times when she is not likely to remember to go.  I use diapers not pull ups you get more for your money that way.  I encouraged her to go potty in the toliet regardless of what she was wearing on her bottom.

I have a friend who has put underwear on her child and diaper or pull up on top so he could feel the wet.

Don't let those Moms who think that every child should be on a schedule.  It is ultimately  your choice.  You know your child.  If the child is ready wonderful.  If not try in again in a few weeks.  

You may try stickers or a special candy for dry underwear.  That helped with my oldest.  Don't be discouraged.  I am still buying diapers but they are lasting 2 weeks instead of 1.  She hasn't stayed dry overnight yet.  

Answer 6

let me start by saying i dont think you are lazy, each child matures differently and your son just has not been ready. and he still may not be ready. my cousin has 4 children neither of her 2 boys were potty trained before age 3. her oldest girl on the other hand got up at 26 months and flat out refused to put on a diaper and has been wearing big girl panties since then. my daughter is 22 months and i know she isnt ready yet but my husband pushes the point and all that does is create a horrible evening for all of us. my daughter gets upset my husband gets frusterated and im just strung out trying to calm everyone down. if your son has that bad of a temper and hurts himself that needs to be addressed first potty training will happen when he is calmer and more open and receptive to you, good for you for recognizing your childs personality and handeling it in such a way that the whole atmospere in the house is a positive one for him. i understand your frusteration but you have to work on his time table. good luck!!!

Answer 7

We used a jelly bean system with our two and it worked out well.  They use the potty, they get a jelly bean.  But they have to go.

Slapping underwear on him and letting him go should work.  Obviously they don't like having mistakes and having it go all over themselves.

As far as how long it'll take....each kid is different and responds differently.  Key is to be patient, which it sounds like your prepared to do!

Answer 8

I wouldnt criticize you until 4!  geez who are these people

We bribed ours.  With a trip to see the Wiggles.  Only potty trained boys can go to the Wiggles.  And it was AWESOME!

Answer 9

I do know that boys generally take a bit longer to train than girls.  He honestly may just not be ready yet.  Has he started telling you when his diaper is wet?  Potty training CAN be time consuming and frustrating, but time he will learn.  Let him watch daddy use the bathroom as much as possible.  He will see how daddy does it and maybe get the hint.  It would probably be best to put him in "big boy" underwear, and YES expect accidents.  If he does go in his big boy undies let him sit in it for a few minutes. He won't like the feeling of being wet and eventually he will get the hint to go potty.  You could get a potty chart and every time he actually goes in the potty you can put a sticker up on the chart.  (Kids LOVE stickers, so that could be good motivation...) One sticker for pee and 2 stickers for p**p.

He will have accidents but just tell him that big boys use the potty, and it's time for him to use it too.  Patience and lots of love will get you through it.

Answer 10

my son did the same thing and he just turned 2. we started potty training him early, and its been really hard, but the way i did it, is i let him walk around the house naked. when he had an accident i took him to the bathroom and explained to him that he has to say goodbye to the pee, and he learned like that. granted he didnt have very many accidents because he knew when he had to go, but it still helps. or a friend of mine sat her son down on the potty right after he ate and told him that he had to use the potty. she read to him while he sat there and finally he went.  

Answer 11

I bought the training seat that sits over top the toilet when i was still pregnant with my first. When it was time to potty train him he hated the seat we used the cloth training pants like you described and it took some time. Finally we decided to buy a regular training toilet and decided to place that in the family room ( unless company was present) we also had another in the bathroom and placed some toys in that room as well, we figured if he had to go then he wouldn't feel as if he was missing anything and the little trainer toilet was close enough to the floor he could still grab his toys while sitting. After a few days he was able to relax enough on the toilet and go. But until that point we had several accidents. My advice to you is take him shopping for big boy underwear but don't let him use the character ones, let him see them and tell him that he can have the "fancy" ones when he learns how to use the potty like a big boy until then get him plain white ones. That worked for our youngest son, boys are difficult to potty train and no two are alike. I wish you and your husband ( and son) the best of luck, just be patient, and keep plenty of laundry detergent on hand, you may need it.