topic Re: Potty training in Mom to Mom

Potty training

meme1 — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 18:33:21 GMT

My grandson is almost 3 and won't use the potty. He cries when my daughter puts him on it. Any suggestions? What ages did your little boys start using the bathroom?

Re: Potty training

on the bay — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 18:55:39 GMT

Hi~

I think every child is different and after 3 children, my first a boy, I realized no matter what you do, they end up being "trained" when they are ready! My son seemed to have gotten the hang of it before he was three, but we moved when he was three and he reverted back and had some "accidents". Soon after, however, he got the hang of it again, so maybe it was just the anxiety of change.

I pretty much learned (after the fact, I admit) not to worry about it. He was the first one to talk and the last to be accident free!

Re: Potty training

Shelbelle — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 19:29:46 GMT

I was very lucky, my son was trained by 22 months. I put him on there one time, he just happened to do his biz on there and took to it. He was the only one in his preschool who was trained. I considered myself very lucky. Even my pediatrician was shocked when I took him for his 2 year visit and he had undies on. But every child has his strengths and weaknesses, my son had speech issues, so you just need to tough it out, but dont give up, keep trying and offer incentives.

Re: Potty training

Suzeecat — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 19:55:47 GMT

Potty training - ugh. My mother always told me that my four sisters and I were all trained by our second birthday and that was the standard. I wrongly let that influence me and probably stressed way too much over my sons not being consistent until around 3-1/2. It's the one part of motherhood I wished that I could have paid someone else to deal with.

It's tough to deal with and I will be the first to admit that I made mistakes therefore have no advice to share. You WILL get through this, that's all I can say!

Re: Potty training

Another new name Sue — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 20:06:35 GMT

2 years 9 months, but every child is different. Your daughter should back off for now because no good can come of the crying and forcing him to sit on the potty. She needs to relax and give it a couple more months. Assure her that he won't be in diapers forever. When he seems more interested, maybe dad or another male could help.

Re: Potty training

pattypeep — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 20:09:45 GMT

Is he being trained to stand up for number one and whiz in the toilet? Or is he sat down for everything? Does he watch daddy? I agree with the others. Don't push it and don't stress. He'll do it when he's ready.

Re: Potty training

DJs mom — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 20:10:16 GMT

I think my son was 3 years old when he was fully potty trained. I stressed and stressed over it but he was not interested. In fact when other kids at his daycare would say to him they went to the bathroom by themselves he would say "so what, my mom said I can pee in my pull-up if I want to" (by the way I did not say that....), but anywho he went to the potty when he was ready. All kids are different and I had to keep telling myself not to judge him by what other kids are doing. I would stress to anyone who would listen that he would not go to the potty, finally my supervisor gave me the best answer. She said her pediatrician told her not to worry, he can guarantee that he won't be wearing diapers when he went to college. After that I stopped stressing and let my son progress as he chose to. Don't fret your grandson will go when he is ready.

Re: Potty training

busygirl — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 21:01:33 GMT

Not sure about boys but my daughter was two but her daughter fully potty trained at 4. She had trouble with #2 and it scared her. Just had to work with her and try and find solutions and finally I can say no accidents and goes when she has too. Took forever and I stressed over it but you also have to work with them on a regular basis. Both parents work 2nd and we watch her and doing our part but they needed to do their part. I said no more diapers at our house and if she does it in her pants so be it.

More water and more fruit in her diet too. It as difficult for her to go and scared her too. She would go and then not go in the potty again and kind of on and off but I have to say all under control.

I guess the main thing is not to worry about it and it will happen and patience and keep at it.

Re: Potty training

Hayfield — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 14:02:49 GMT

My children didn't use the potty until they were both a little over 3 years of age. I didn't push it and when they were ready, they just used the potty, it was easy and not stressful at all. They also didn't have accidents when we were out since it might take a few minutes to find a restroom and they had the control to "hold it" until I got them to the bathroom. Until my children reached middle school age I thought they were a breeze to raise. They were good eaters, sleepers, etc. I kept them on a schedule though, children do better with a schedule. It's the middle school and hjgh school years that were tricky. They're 28 & 24 and great adults. It's easy again, yeah!

Re: Potty training

FranandZoe — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 14:39:35 GMT

My grandson wasn't potty trained 'til 3.5. If your grandson hasn't already transitioned to pull-ups I'd start using them pronto. Then introduce regular underpants. Especially ones with cartoon characters that he loves. My grandson's preschool teacher suggested the underpants. Once he started wearing those he seemed to understand he HAD to go potty. Good luck - he'll get there - they all do. I think sometimes it's just a control issue - and they refuse to be controlled.

Re: Potty training

karil — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 21:17:25 GMT

My son is 4, and only at about 3.5 did he get interested in using his little potty. He didn't like it being in the actual bathroom, so for a couple weeks, we had a potty chair in our formal entry way. I think he didn't like being "away". I moved the potty towards the BR, and now it's fine.

Re: Potty training

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 21:51:35 GMT

My grandson is almost two years old. I watched him the other day. He keeps taking off his diaper (that's a sure sign he's ready). He has an 8 1/2 year old brother he worships.

I don't think my daughter will have much trouble with him. They will all go to the potty when they are ready. It is the adults who have a problem with it.

I remember that I used to go crazy when one of my daughter's wouldn't use the toilet. She didn't want to wear a diaper but we'd be out somewhere and she'd say in her tiny little voice, I can still hear her....."Oh! Oh!". The pe(e) would be still running down her leg into her little lace socks and her wonderful white shoes! We'd be out somewhere. I'd pick her up, go into the bathroom and with her standing up change everything.

I had the largest 'diaper bag' you've ever seen (always spare shoes, socks, underwear, pants, etc).

That was a trying time. I'd go back there in a minute. I often say to these young mothers who are going crazy, "You don't know it. You think I'm crazy right now. But this is the best time of your life".

The difference is that I was lucky enough that I realized it when I was a young Mother. I loved being a Mother. I still do and I love being a Grandmother. My daughter just called and said the 'girls' (ages 11 and 12) are free if I want to 'do' lunch and go to Pier One for redoing the 12 year old's bedroom for her birthday (my idea).

Good grief! Enjoy every phase of the children's lives, it goes so quickly. I know the Grandma (OP) knows that. We grandma's are pretty smart. Ha!

Re: Potty training

ECBG — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 22:39:21 GMT

DH and I reared two boys. Girls are easier to train than boys. Anything that happens, girls just sit. A boy on the other hand, has to learn to control the spincter muscles for solid. That growth is usually between two and a half and the third birthday. Sometimes you hear young parents gush that their child was trained at an unusually young age when muscle growth can't have possibly happened. That's when the parents, not the child is trained!

Re: Potty training

ccassaday — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 22:50:53 GMT

My sister's two kids one a boy and one a girl were both completely out of diapers by 2 and a half. Thy both started saying they had to go potty and showing interest before there 2nd bday. My sister would just put them on and they might of gone or might not of. So by the time they were and two and a half they were out of diapers even at night. Now my other sister's son just potty trained about a month ago and he will three at the end of the month

Re: Potty training

RedTop — Mon, 04 Aug 2014 16:32:43 GMT

Potty training my brothers and nephew was not a big deal. Once they were walking, they spent a lot of the warmer months outside, without a diaper, and were given the freedom to whiz in the great outdoors. Little boys take to whiz zing in the great outdoors like ducks take to water, so once they got comfortable with letting go of number 1, they quickly mastered number 2 with the potty. No potty was in the picture until they were ready to train for number 2; our boys learned to whiz standing up outside, which made for easy transition to inside---they were never made to sit to pee. All 3 of them were taught the same way, and all were quick learners, and trained long before they turned 3. We live very rural, so we never had to worry about our surroundings as far as neighbors and traffic when the boys whizzed off the front porch or watered the trees and shrubs.

Re: Potty training

goodstuff — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 21:59:18 GMT

Psychologist/parenting expert Dr. John Rosemond is my favorite common sense voice when it comes to child-rearing questions. He thinks parents make too much of potty training, tend to wait too late, and are unnecessarily worried about "traumatizing" their offspring.

Here are a couple of Dr. Rosemond's articles on the subject. Hope you'll give them some consideration:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-health-late-potty-training-story.html

http://www.kidspot.com.au/toddler-development-the-traditional-potty-training-technique+3590+26+article.htm

Re: Potty training

MsLomo — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 01:57:34 GMT

I used to read John Rosemond's column when my son was very young. Some advice I agreed with, and some I didn't. Our pediatricians were rather shocked at some of his advice (but not all of it). His toilet-training advice you might want to take with a grain of salt, although if it works for you, great. I do think boys are slower than girls, and I advise, as so many others have here, that your daughter not worry about it. It will happen in the fullness of time. The pediatrician gave my son a nose spray for #1 accidents, and it worked. Apparently, it's a missing chemical (developmental). It really helped because he was worrying about wetting the bed before he went to sleep at night. It didn't take long at all before the accidents stopped, and I was very thankful for that nose spray. We never used a "potty" chair -- just the regular toilet. Regarding your grandson, I think "almost 3" isn't that old and anything that causes him to cry can't be good. I'd tell your daughter to ease up on the little guy and let him handle when he's ready.

Re: Potty training

trixie — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 08:36:27 GMT

DD was easy she was done by age 2. She didn't like diapers. DS was closer to three and a challenge. We were shopping at Target and DS grabbed diapers, diaper creAm and wipes. DS told me these are the brands he likes, not what I normally buy. He was ready he just didn't wasn't to stop playing to take care of business. Best advice I got, Rubber under pants. Big boy underwear first then rubber under pants. Pulls doesn't let them feel being wet. A couple of days of rubber pants and we were done potty training.

Re: Potty training

luvdoodles — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:07:04 GMT

I think boys are more difficult to potty train. Both my grandsons didn't catch on until around they were going on 4. My daughter was super easy around 2 1/2. I just saw a segment on tv yesterday where you can hire a woman who will potty train your child in two day for $1700. She said it well worth it if you are at work all day and don't have a consistent routine. I know I would not pay for potty training.

Re: Potty training

BichonEmma — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 12:43:04 GMT

If he is crying about sitting on it take a break. The biggest reason why kids are potty training so late is diapers and pull-ups are so absorbent that kids don't know when they are going. That is step 1. It's summer so some bottomless time in the yard or try putting on the thick cloth training pants. Once he understands what it feels like when he has to go then it's time to start changing the place he goes to the toilet. I will say that from my experience boys have more trouble staying dry at night so don't be discouraged if he still needs a diaper at night