Potty-Training

Updated on February 14, 2007
A.M. asks from McMechen, WV
12 answers

I'm looking for any advice on potty-training my 20 month old son. I wanted to have him trained by 2 years old. Am I being to much in a rush or is it practical? What are somethings that have worked for other moms. And I'm having trouble knowing where to even start.

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So What Happened?

Well, everyone gave me great advice. My son was showing signs of wanting to use the potty, so I was letting him experiment with it, but I'm just gonna take it slow and not worry if he doesn't want to train until later. My family was pressuring me that most kids should be potty-trained by 2 years but now thanks to you guys I know that is not true, espectially for boys. Thanks so much:)

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J.M.

answers from Louisville on

I tried for a long time to get my son potty trained. Finally when he was almost 3 he noticed the house dog going outside. I looked up and they were both peeing on the truck tires. And from that day on he was broke. He just wasn't ready before. The more I pushed the worst it was.

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J.F.

answers from Elkhart on

This may sound mean,( so I will apologize first).
I think it's quite unrealistic to want a boy to be potty trained before he's two. Most sources say boys learn later than girls, and from everyone I know with boys, your lucky if you get them potty trained by 3. I have a 3 year old that will be 4 in May and is still in the process of learning.
I understand your desire to get past the diapers, but nature doesn't work that quickly. Don't be so anxious for him to grow up, he'll be grown up before you know it.

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S.L.

answers from Muncie on

I have a couple of books about early potty training. Supposedly, most children (including boys) used to be PT by two. That said, it doesn't seem to happen often now. I introduced my son to the potty when he was your son's age. He was initially interested (and liked sitting there to have books read to him) but he had no clue what was going on in his body or that he should go there. When you start so young, you really have to be on top of it all the time, taking your child to the chair often, being able to read the slightest sign they have, etc. I guess it's possible, but it just seemed like too much work to me. LOL My son is now 25 months, and he has little to no interest in the potty. He doesn't show very many signs of readiness. I think I'm going to wait until warmer weather. ;)

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G.A.

answers from Louisville on

it would be nice to have our kids potty trained when we want them to but unfortunatly, as with most things involving children, it just doesn't work that way more times than not. try introducing him to the potty and using postive encouragement and reinforcement for it's used. rushing him will only back him either want to hold on to his diapers that much longer or make him feel like going potty is "bad". we tried a sticker system with my daughter. and a "potty" book that we would save just for the bathroom to read together, it made flushing sounds. i hope that was at least a little helpful.

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D.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

I know what you're going through. I wanted to start with my son at 18 months but he didn't want to so we didn't force it. For Christmas when he was 22 months my mom got him the Potty Time with Elmo DVD, he LOVES elmo so he really loved it, and so does my whole family cause it's cute and hilarious!! A week after he started watching it, he began to tell us he had to go "poop" that is poop and pee. He's not totally trained but it's a start and I'm satisfied that he's come this far ON HIS OWN!!

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W.S.

answers from Louisville on

you might be in a rush. is he acting like he wants to be potty trained? my 2 year old started showing signs before he turned 2, and he's in pull ups and i put him on the potty as much as possible. if he's not, then i would wait. my son's doctor told me that most boys arent trained until after their third birthday.

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M.E.

answers from Lexington on

i think under is a little early to be thinking of potty training. most girls aren't ready till 2 1/2 or so and most of the time, boys are even later that. is he showing any signs of interest in the potty? soes he like to watch daddy go, or try to work the potty,ask about it, take his own diaper off when it's wet or dirty, or tell you he needs to go? if most of the answers are no, then he's probably not ready. does he scream and cry when you try to put him on the potty? if yes, then he's definitely not ready. if you try to force him, just because you're tired of diapers then you might traumatize him and make it even harder later. so just wait a while, set out the potty for him to explore in his own time, then wait till he starts to show some interest in trying it out. and remember...even once you start, potty training can be a 2 steps forward and 3 steps back process so just be patient...he'll get evenually.

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S.F.

answers from Louisville on

This is just my personal opinion, but if he's not showing signs of being ready to potty train, I wouldn't try. It'll just lead to a lot of frustration for both you and him. My oldest son was out of pull-ups right after he turned 3, but our youngest son was still in them until he was 3 1/2. It's different for every kid though. Does he take his diaper off when it's wet or dirty? Does he insist on being changed right after messing the diaper? Can he pull his pants up and down by himself? Does he acknowledge that he has to go, or tell you that he's going? I know that's alot of questions, but those are some signs to look for to see if he's ready. Buy him a potty chair that you can also use on the toilet, and take off those stupid splash guards. Yes, they keep little boys from making accicdents all over the floor, but they also get in the way, and if they're not paying attention, be very painful for them when they're getting on and off the potty. It's much easier to teach them to "hold it down" when they're going.

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A.C.

answers from Evansville on

I agree with everyone that the child has to be ready and show signs. One thing I did with my daughter at 18 months was to let her flush the toilet for me. Then we would wave bye bye to the "potty". I know it sounds silly, but I read that alot of children don't like to go on the toilet because they don't understand where the pee pee and poop goes. We never had that problem so I don't know if what I did helped or not, but it did help her to understand the process better. Also when I sat on the toilet she would sit on her potty chair. When she finally started showing more signs at 2 1/2 yrs, she trained in a week. Night time took a few extra months and a few accidents, but she got there. He probably isn't ready now, but there is no reason why you can't set the ground work.

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A.B.

answers from Louisville on

I was in a hurry to have my daughter potty trained too. But everyone told me that if they're not ready then it's not going to work. They have to want or be ready for it. You can start introducing the potty and making sure they're not afraid. Tell him who uses the big potty, maybe someone they look up to. We bought an Elmo movie all about going potty. And then you can try a timer and a sticker chart. But I wouldn't push too hard, all you can do is build a foundation to start on.

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S.G.

answers from Indianapolis on

i have an 8 yr old boy. the way we got him to peepee in the potty is we threw a piece of cheerios in the potty and told him to sink it... it was alot harder to get him to poopy in the potty... it took time and patience. good luck, and God Bless

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N.B.

answers from Indianapolis on

You can try to train him but boys are sometimes harder and it is ultimately his decision when he gets trained. My kids all three were not trained until they were three. Just make it fun and not so much a duedate.

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