Potty Training Tricks

I can relate to the problem. When my grandson was that age, he absolutely hated the potty chair too. Finally, we bought him one of those little toilet seats that fit over top of the regular toilet seat (not the huge/sided kind, it looks like a little miniature seat.) Then we got him his own stool so his feet had something to rest on. Worked good, we sat on a chair right next to him so he didn't feel like he was falling off. One other thing we did was let him in when Daddy was in there and let him have a book to look at while he was in there. Kids learn by example, and by watching. When he had that down pat, and was no longer afraid, then we progressed him towards standing to pee (around 2 1/2 or 3..once he was tall enough to aim (like he saw his Dad do.) For that, my s-i-l gave me the greatest hint. Our biggest problem was that if a toddler sees something else in the room, then they'll turn their head (as well as their body) and everything gets wet lol. So, she suggested we keep a little ziploc filled with Cheerios in the bathroom, and each time he was going to go to have him throw one in to 'aim at.' That worked so great I can't even tell 'ya haha. We never had a wet floor or a wall after that, and he learned quick how and where to aim. I guess because it was kind of like a game instead of a 'lesson' he was quickly more interested?! We also used a star type chart. Whenever he'd go one, or two, on the potty, we'd have him lick and put a star in the right spot on the chart. Sticky stars or other stickers are cheap at the dollar store where we bought ours. There's something about the reward that is pleasing to them. Don't know if this advice helped, but this is what we did and it worked great. Good luck!

He will tell you when he's ready. You cannot force him to try or be ready.... it will only take longer! They say 3yrs is the new age to start (or older especially for boys) but if your child gives you the cues that says he's ready then go for it. I think you will have to give him some time to get over the talking potty. Get the most plain thing you can find and offer him to sit on the potty when he follows you in the potty. Even if he doesn't pull down his pants & go he'll get comfy and familiar with the bathroom and potty.

First thing is get a potty chair like the one in the picture it is so much easier. I have a lot of experience potty training because I used to work in a 2 year old classroom for several years and I've potty trained a lot of children. My son began potty training at 18 months and now about 5 months later we only wear diapers at bed time with only occasional accidents. The good news is if your child is smart enough to go and hide the fact that they are peeing in their pants then they know they should not be doing it. That is actually a sing they are ready to start potty training. It's really important that you and anyone else who watches your child do the same techniques so he does not get confused. Constancy is VERY important. First you are going to need lots of training underwear and pants. Be Prepared for accidents. Start by explaining to him that he is a big boy now and get him really excited about his big boy underwear. Make a big deal about it. All the adults should make a big deal about their underwear too. It helps him want to be wearing underwear like all the big boys and girls. Tell him that diapers are for babies and he is not a baby anymore. I remind my son of the above often. I always ask him do we Pee pee in our big boy underwear and he says "No Way". Also use the example of other big kids and adults. I always say "You go potty just like Daddy, Daddy never pee's in his big boy underwear" or "soon you will never need diapers like your cousin Jackson He's a big boy". Also it is weird but it does help when he see's that you also use the potty. When you make the commitment to potty training there should be no more diapers or pull ups unless he is sleeping. If we are going out for a while I put a diaper on Jameson but I tell him it is just in case he has an accident not to pee pee in them we will go to the potty when we are out. It's good for them to see that their is a potty every where you go so there is no reason to have accidents. Just be prepared for the accidents. Start by taking him to his potty every 20 minutes. Set a clock. I use a watch that beeps so no matter where we are we hear it. Whenever the clock goes off you can make it fun by singing a song and doing a dance. I sing "Tick tock, tick tock I just heard the potty clock" Then take him to the potty and tell him to push out his poopies and pee pee's. At first he might not know how to make him self go but set him up for success by giving him plenty of liquids. When he goes every 20 minutes he will learn what an empty and a full bladder feels like and so he will know when he has to go in the future. I tell my son if he has to go potty again before the clock goes off he should tell me and we can go early or he should hold it in. You'll defiantly need a potty chart. If he goes pee pee give him on sticker and one M&M. If he goes Poopie give him 2 stickers and 2 M&M's. When he fills the chart give him another reward. We always give him one of my husbands old toys and say it is a big boy toy because he is a big boy now. When he does go potty sing and dance and celebrate it each time. Clap and cheer it is a big accomplishment. Make sure to tell him how proud you are of him. Also have him show off his potty chart to people and make sure they praise it and make a big deal about it. Jameson has to show his daddy as soon as he gets home from work and during the day I say wow I can't wait to show Daddy how many times you went potty. He is going to be sooo proud. That will encourage him to keep up the good work. If he does not go potty that's okay just say good try. Reset the clock and repeat every 20 mins no matter what, even when you are out. One of the Hardest parts for the kids when they potty train is not wanting to stop the fun they are having to go to the potty. Going every 20 mins when the clock dings will teach him that being a big boy means having to stop playing to take care of business. If he has an accident which he will. Don't scold him just say something like "oh no you should have went in the potty". Make him take off his wet pants and underwear. He should do as much of the work as he can. Say if you had gone in the potty we could be playing instead of having to change our pants. The inconvenience and the uncomfortable feeling will help him to realize going potty is much faster then having to have a diaper or pants changed. Sometimes when he does go potty say that was so much faster then having to clean up after an accident. When he is being cleaned up from an accident I always try to say "it would have been so much faster if you had just went potty instead of going in your pants". They say after 7 days they should not be having accidents but having worked with so many different kids that's not true. Some are faster some are slower. It is annoying to have to go to the bathroom every 20 mins but every time he goes to the potty that is one less diaper you have to change. Plus it will help him learn how to release and hold his pee and poo. Once he is having no accidents you can go to every 30 minutes and once he is more comfortable and independent with the potty process you'll be able to just tell him to go try to go potty. He'll be able to do it all by himself sooner then you think. I hope that makes sense. Any questions you can always ask me. It is hard work for everyone involved but it is really great to see how proud they are of being a big boy or girl and using the potty. Good Luck

Well Huggies has a Pull Ups Potty program. You can get the DVD for free. They also have tips and all kinds of things on their website. Do you have a doll that perhaps he can teach to use the potty? That's what my cousin did when her son was afraid to sit on the seat. Here is a link to Huggies. http://www.pull-ups.com/na/default.aspx Hope it helps.

hi glords...maybe your baby just so scared of that talking potty. my son's now 3 and i have no problem regarding potty. as early as 1 year old, i bought him an elephant-shaped potty where he could sit if nature calls. now he already outgrew it and he's using the regular toilet bowl when he needs too.