Would Potty Training At Four Years Cause Any Long Term Problems?

Question

My Sisters son is going to be 4 next month.

She started P/T around 30 months and it was useless.

He is just NOW showing interest in using the bathroom.

Most professionals say don't force, but encourage.

She was able to get him out of Pampers about 3 months ago.

She did consult a pediatrician and he said no Pull Ups!

Because they are too much like diapers and kids get confused..

Instead use cloth training pants and plastic pants when they are out.

That way he knows and wants dry pants ASAP if he has an accident.

So at this rate he should be completely P/T by 4 and a half at the latest.

She's not into computers so that's why I'm asking.

Is this is a really big deal in the long term for her son?

Answer 1

I agree. I think that as long as he is potty trained before he starts school its fine. My son did not potty train completely until he was 3 1/2 . In my opinion once he is on his way to potty training do not put pullups on him at night either. I say just do it in one swoop and not have the hassle of potty training him for night after he is already potty trained during the day. Put a plastic cover over his bed of course just in case he does have an accident.

Answer 2

They just need to be pottytrained by the time they hit kindergarten.  And the Dr is right the pullups are basically diapers and just encourage them to use them like diapers.  Underware are messy to deal with when they have accidents but they do much better learning not to potty in their pants that way.

Answer 3

Pull ups where the best thing ever when it came to toilet training my daughter, I called them little girl pants from the beginning so she knew no different. And it was great if we were out and she did have an accident. Toilet training is different for boys and girls, but from the day i started with my daughter she was outta pull ups and Nappies all together within a week...she still had night time nappies, but that didnt last long either. With boys if they go in and watch their dad do it they may want to try aswell.....I had a friend that got her son to be like daddy for a day and in the morning had a shave (with just foam and his finger) and read the paper while sitting on the toilet, he was sitting there that long he just pee'd and didnt really mean to. So then she through a potty party for being such a good big boy and going to the toilet. I used a sticker chart for my daughter, for a number 1 she got a sticker and put it in her coloum for the day. It just varies from child to child, but the more you pressure a child you run the risk of scarying them away from it all together.