Moms - Can you talk to me about potty training?

[sawyerthedestroyer]

We were doing okay, just keeping the potty available, let DS (2yr 9mo) get used to it, talk about how awesome it is to go in the potty, etc. He used it after baths, but any other time of the day I'd ask if he wanted to go he'd say "no, thank you" (lol). I bought some plain big boy underwear (just like daddy's!), but he hates them, won't wear them, and asks for a diaper. I don't want to push it because I'm afraid he will just push back. I'm not using any particular method, just rolling with it.

The last two days he has just taken off. He's used it several times a day, sometimes he tells me he needs to go, other times I ask because I realize it's been awhile. I've just been really casual, heaping lots of praise when he goes. His diapers are staying dry for the most part; he only needed three today. He even pooped twice today. The first time I think was a total surprise to both of us, the second time he told me he needed to.

He still won't wear the underwear though. And we're traveling in a little over a week. With so much progress in the last two days I don't want to do anything to set him back, but I'm also really nervous with our upcoming travel plans. Any tips, thoughts, advice?



I know it's late on a Sunday so I might bump this again tomorrow morning.

[PeonyParty]

No tips or advice since my daughter (who will be 3 in October) has been ridiculously inconsistent with potty training. Around 2.5 she was all about the potty for a few weeks, then stopped out of nowhere. Now, she is good but will only go sometimes if we ask. Not all the time and she does not say she has to go. It's very frustrating and I just keep reminding myself that she will get there when she's ready. It gets better, right? 3 is not too old to still not be potty trained? I'm all paranoid.

[angelaa73]

If he is waking up from naps dry, green light.

[missmaddie]

We're at about the same level of success as you so I'm curious to see what others say. Around the house I have been trying underwear or nothing but a shirt for the last few days, but have done diapers during errands and to/from/during our nephew's birthday party 2 hours away today. I'm probably confusing him too, but we've had some success doing it casually and the intense 3 day method hasn't fit our life/schedule lately, and we're in no rush (DS is only 2y2m). We also have a 7 hour drive to Chicago coming up in a month...and back. Not sure I want him to be 100% in underwear for that.

[McGavin]

Maybe you can take him with you to pick some out. Does he have a favorite character from anything. ?

[AHappierHour]

What about taking him and letting him pick out his underware from the store? Do you do the sticker chart with rewards for so many stickers?

[sawyerthedestroyer]

Okay, answering some questions.

He's still in regular diapers. I almost bought pull-ups last week, but he wasn't showing any progress yet so I put them back.

He wakes up dry most of the time. Honestly, when he's wet after a nap I don't know if he peed in his sleep or as soon as he woke up if he's been playing quietly and I don't hear him immediately.

I could take him to pick out his own underwear, sure.

We do have a sticker chart. In fact, this sudden progress started immediately after he got a new Hot Wheels car for going enough times to reach a special prize.

He has no issue going commando, I just wasn't sure if that would confuse him when we need to go out and he goes back into a diaper/pull-ups.

[tulip]

Gummy Bears worked for us. I piled DD with juice and water one morning and had her sit on her potty watching the crap on Nick Jr. She peed in the potty and I have her a bag of gummy bears. (Target sells boxed individual very small bags of Hasbro gummy bears) after that she totally got it, I also made a huge deal out of it. Her big thing was how proud I was. She tells everyone how proud mommy is that she uses the potty. Cracks me up.

Yes I know I traded dirty diapers for rotted teeth. I don't care!!!! Lol

[sawyerthedestroyer]

Bumping in case any moms that weren't around last night have any pointers.

He's going commando right now and has already earned three new stickers.

[bugandbibs]

Normally, I am totally against food rewards but the worked for us. DD2 was going on the potty about 75% of the time, but totally didn't care if she had an accident and didn't like pooping on the potty. I broke out some of the leftover Halloween candy in the freezer and, viola!

She doesn't get treats anymore (it only took a couple of days), but we still make a huge deal out of it everytime she goes. One thing that really helped is I don't ask her- I just tell her it's potty time and we go and try. She's really into superheroes right now, so I pick her up and Super Genevieve flies into the bathroom. She's pretty good about telling us she has to go now, even in public so we only do diapers when she's sleeping.