Potty advice

[MMDad]

My three yo (almost four) is not doing well. He was doing great, but he is seriously backsliding since he started pre-school.

He's out of diapers, and most of the time it's not accidental - he stands in the corner and fills his underwear, then tells us what he did.

We have tried everything we can think of. Rewards, praise, taking away priveleges and toys, spanking, etc. but nothing seems to work. Any advice?

 

[pixiegirl]

My three yo (almost four) is not doing well. He was doing great, but he is seriously backsliding since he started pre-school.

He's out of diapers, and most of the time it's not accidental - he stands in the corner and fills his underwear, then tells us what he did.

We have tried everything we can think of. Rewards, praise, taking away priveleges and toys, spanking, etc. but nothing seems to work. Any advice?

Let him run around in soiled pants for a while. It seems as if it's not a training issue but a behavioral issue.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Let him run around in soiled pants for a while. It seems as if it's not a training issue but a behavioral issue.

I don't like the use of Pull-Ups or any of those "diaper-like" things a child can wear. They're just like a diaper and therefore, children often think it's perfectly normal to release in them. Instead, start off right away with big boy/girl underwear; they'll learn real quick it's not fun with a load in your pants.

 

[MMDad]

I don't like the use of Pull-Ups or any of those "diaper-like" things a child can wear. They're just like a diaper and therefore, children often think it's perfectly normal to release in them. Instead, start off right away with big boy/girl underwear; they'll learn real quick it's not fun with a load in your pants.

He's been in underwear for six months, but we may be changing him too quickly. Maybe rubber pants to save the carpet and let him stew in it for a while.

 

[vraiblonde]

The books say to try and be nonchalant about it ( ) and just matter-of-factly tell them that next time they have to go, they must use the potty.

What we did with our daughter was let her older brother make fun of her when she messed her pants. She wanted to be a big kid like him (and still does), so she'd pretty much do what he said.

 

[mAlice]

I made my daughter clean up her own "mess", at age 3. She was cured in a week.

 

[MMDad]

He just used the potty, and he hasn't had an accident in three days!

 

[crabcake]

He just used the potty, and he hasn't had an accident in three days!

If you're teaching him to aim, toss a cheerio in the toilet first and let him try to hit it, and give him a treat if/when he does.

 

[MMDad]

If you're teaching him to aim, toss a cheerio in the toilet first and let him try to hit it, and give him a treat if/when he does.

Thanks, but he aims as well as I do and my wife doesn't give me treats. It's the other end that's a problem. We were sure he was going to do it tonight, so we didn't let him wear anything. He won't do it on the floor, so he finally gave in and ran upstairs.

He's been holding it in so long that it hardens and he bleeds when he lets go. I'm hoping he'll finally get the hang of it and stop hurting himself, but we're going to talk to his pediatrician about it.

 

[404]

My three yo (almost four) is not doing well. He was doing great, but he is seriously backsliding since he started pre-school.

He's out of diapers, and most of the time it's not accidental - he stands in the corner and fills his underwear, then tells us what he did.

We have tried everything we can think of. Rewards, praise, taking away priveleges and toys, spanking, etc. but nothing seems to work. Any advice?

It may be hereditary, you seem full of it too.

 

[Wickedwrench]

If you're teaching him to aim, toss a cheerio in the toilet first and let him try to hit it, and give him a treat if/when he does.

Hopefully not the cheerio he was aiming at.

 

[willie]

My dog was easier to train than that.

 

[MMDad]

I tried all of the advice, and nothing worked. Then a week ago he decided he was a big boy and he hasn't had a problem since. I guess you just have to wait until they are ready.

 

[dems4me]

I tried all of the advice, and nothing worked. Then a week ago he decided he was a big boy and he hasn't had a problem since. I guess you just have to wait until they are ready.

Hang in there

 

[sweetpea]

My 3 1/2 y/o wasn't allowed to go swimming or watch any tv until she went in the potty. Worked like a charm

 

[baswm]

Working on training our soon to be 3 year old to go on the potty. She lets us know after the fact and we have tried everything we can think of as well.

 

[kom526]

M&Ms for a reward worked for my boy. No __________ until you go potty. Tractor rides were a big thing with him too. Hang in there!