My son is 3 yrs 3 months old, I am trying to get him potty trained but he has absolutly no interest in it?

Question

I dont want to push him because everyone says thats bad so I am just trying to go with the flow and offer prizes when he does do it, but even when he knows he has to "go potty" and isn't wearing a diaper he'll ask for the diaper and throw a temper tantrum for one and refuses to use the potty. I give him the diaper because I dont want to pressure him. Is it normal for him not to want to use the potty yet? Most of the kids in his preschool are potty trained already? Any tricks or tips?

Answer 1

I think you should throw away the diapers and don't look back.  Keep mopping up the messes and hope for the best.  3yrs is a little old I think to be still in diapers.  If he throws a temper tantrum, let him throw one.  You are the boss not him.  Show him lots of love when he goes potty, but don't be standing for any temper tantrums!  I don't!  If my girl throws a tantrum and I know she is well fed, has a clean diaper and she is not in pain or anything, and she is not tired, then I don't listen to her, I'll try to soothe her once and if she keeps at it, I put her in her play pen and go about my work!

Good luck, I hope that doesnt sound harsh to you, but that's how I was raised and I have a healthy loving relationship with my parents, then and now.  Maybe also a new and interesting looking potty might also work?

Answer 2

I don't want to admit this, but my son was around 4 when he was potty trained. I was so frustrated and one day out of the blue, he said "mommy I am going to try to use the potty today" and he did and has been using it ever since....give him some time, sometimes they are just not ready, and believe me, I tried every trick in the book and nothing worked.

when he is ready, I think it will just happen.

Answer 3

I think you are being patient and consistent and thats what your son needs right now. Don't give up and consistency is the key. I have 4 children and for one of them I had a bye bye diapers day. We went shopping for underwear (training pants are best) but if he can pick out his own undies, you can praise him for being a big boy. Remind him about the special day (No more diapers) and have him replace them with the training pants. There will be accidents, just let your patience kick in and remember, consistency :)

Answer 4

We bought some of those "big kid" potty training books for our kids and would show them how "big kids" use the potty.

For both of ours, we would give them a jelly bean for everytime they used the potty at first.  My youngest loved it and it worked great for her.  We also used a sticker/magnet chart for her as well.

Answer 5

Every time his dad is home & using the bathroom, have him bring your son in w/ to watch.  (Your husband will just have to sit to pee for awhile).  When your husband is done, have him show your son that he went pee-pee in the potty.  This will help your son understand the concept, & boys look up to their dad's so it will also help him want to be like dad.  

I had my son were bottoms, but no diapers.  So that if he went in his pants, he felt it.  Do not give in & give your son a diaper - he is old enough to learn how to do it now, & if you give in you're making no progress.

Don't yell at him if he goes in his pants.  Simply say this is where we go potty, bring him into the bathroom, & sit him on the toilet.  Every hour ask him, do you have to go potty?  And sit him on the toilet.

It takes a lot of time, but you just have to be calm & nice about it or he will resist you.

When he does go in the potty, give him a "treat" - let him put a sticker star on a chart that shows when he goes potty or something & praise him, call him a good big boy.

Answer 6

My son tried that on me!  I solved it by taking him to the store and buying "big boy pants".  The disposable kind and the cloth style.  I refused to buy ANY diapers, period. Since it was summer, put him in the cloth kind and let him out to play.  I would let him come in to "try" to use the chair, he never went.  I found out he would "go" all by himself....outside!  My son was officially housebroken.........before he was potty trained.

Answer 7

I was nearly 4 before I was potty trained. Now 22 with a child of my own, I can promise you that my mother went through similar frustration!

Let him do it on HIS timetable. Don't let the fact that others in his preschool class are potty trained influence you. He's obviously not ready.

I got lucky - after a year of disinterest from my daughter, she got up one morning in January and wanted to wear her big girl panties that we'd bought her for Christmas.

Try that - let him see Daddy (if there is one) in his big boy underwear and see if that will spark his interest. Put big boy underwear out for him and let him choose when to wear it. Be prepared at first for some accidents, and send extras to preschool.

I wish you the best of luck with your little guy! And I promise - no matter how late they potty train, they don't go to college in diapers!