Help! 3 1/2 Year Old Is NOT Potty Trained

Hi D.,

Our pediatrician actually told us that the average age for boys to potty train is 3.5, so your son may just be one that needs a little longer to be ready and able to do so! One thing that helped get our son ready and more interested in the process is reading the book "Everybody Poops." It's a fun book for kids to read and helps them realize that it's a very natural process that all living critters have to do. He was much more interested in seeing what it was all about to go on a potty after reading it a few times! Perhaps that would simplify the process when he is ready. As one of the other mom's mentioned, there is a great book that helps you determine if he is truly ready or if it's just a matter of you being ready for him to potty train! Sometimes I think we're more ready than they are! :O)

I highly recommend reading The No Cry Potty Solution by Elizabeth Pantley to see if he is even ready. It's a very helpful and short read.

Every child is different. My first, who is a girl was nearly 4 when she was pottied train, my son, was just 3. Neither one was ready before that and both were a breeze when they were ready.

Best wishes,
M.

Hi D.! I was very lucky with my daughter who darn near potty trained herself... my son not so much... I have to agree with the candy or treat suggestion. My son (now 9) was able to get trained in a similar way (we had a chart and funny dance) and my nephew who is 4 just recently became potty trained with the treat incentive and he was a tough one to break, my poor sister in law was at her wits end with him, but the rewarding of his accomplishments definitely did the trick... One other thing I did have for my kids was bought this video they would watch (repeatedly) called "Once Upon A Potty For Him/Her", both my kids loved to sing the song when they were sitting on the potty (it can get a little annoying after the first 100 times though). It depends on your son though and what method he learns best with... I hope this helps, Good Luck!

Hi
Have you tried candy??? One M&M for pee, and 2 for poop. Instant gratification!!! Put him in underwear and remind him often. I put a big (plastic) jar of them in the bathroom as a reminder. Once he gets the hang of it you can phase out the candy
Good luck

Don't sweat it, he probably isn't ready - don't make a big issue out of it, when he is ready it will happen painlessly.

Contrary to popular belief, you can't "make" them potty trained, they have to be ready and want to do it. Otherwise what you have is a child who wears undies and goes pee and poo in their undies a lot...I don't know about you but I'd much rather just change a diaper for a little longer.