Potty Issues - Houston,TX

They say the hardest part of potty training is training the parent not the child. Try as much as you can to sit him on the potty at regular intervals like you've been doing, but don't push it. If he doesn't want to at any point don't make him. He will do it in his own time when he's darn good and ready. My daughter didn't potty train until age 4 basically because she didn't want to. I didn't make her either. I figure potty training is not worth the stress most parents go through. Let your child take the lead and don't worry about it.

Too much too soon... as far as expectations, upon the child from the Parent.

My son, now 3.5 years old, potty trained himself as well, only recently. It was when HE was ready. He still cannot hold it for a long time, before actually reaching the toilet, but he is doing good and wants to. That is key.
We use a potty chair which we put near by, to make it more accessible.
He even take the potty insert and dumps it in the toilet, rinses it, then puts it back into his potty chair. All without my teaching him. He just does it on his own. We did not use rewards/treats/bribes. Just giving him praise and high-fives.

Once a child starts to "withhold" their poop, this is not a good sign. This is anxiety. They WILL get constipated... and this makes it worse, because it hurts, gets harder to come out, gets impacted internally, and so because it hurts, they will withhold pooping again. A vicious cycle.
This is per our Pediatric Gastroenterologist Specialist, which we had to see because my daughter went through that. He said, Toddlers COMMONLY go through this, once they are expected to potty train. Pooping... takes longer to master, in a toilet and for the emotional comfort with it. He said, NOT to force it or make it an issue nor to scold/punish for it. This will only make the constipation worse. Once on a vicious cycle of withholding poop and becoming "constipated"... it it then a biological AND emotional based issue. AND, at least for my Daughter, he said that is can take a minimum of 3 months... to overcome AND for the poop to become of normal consistency etc. We had to give my daughter prescribed things to alleviate her constipation and for her to stop "withholding" her poop, and to overcome the anxiety. We did not "force" my daughter's toilet training nor pooping... but the process can create anxiety in the child, regardless.

Potty training... is a process, over time. And, there will be relapses or regression... or accidents. All normal. They are so young... they will not be perfect. If a child thinks they have to be perfect, it will just give them hang-ups.
AND, night-time dryness or during naps... is a whole other process. It is biological and has to do with the myelin nerve development as well. Night-time dryness does not occur until even 7 years old. Normal per our Pediatrician.
Keep your expectations in line with your child's readiness.
Your son is only 2.5... and boys typically master pottying later.

All the best,
Susan

I agree with both of the previous Moms.

Our son was past his 3rd birthday before he had any concept of what it meant to hold your bladder and deliberately go to the bathroom in a toilet vs. his diaper. We asked the pediatrician at his 3 year appointment, and he said that boys often don't have the recognition of bladder fullness as keenly as girls at the same age.

When he began to go longer periods of time with a dry diaper, we decided that was the time to begin to push more on our end. He initially had to "try" 3 times/day. Then, when he got good at that, we moved to 5 times/day. He didn't get his "treat" (use whatever works for your kid - cars, candy, playtime) unless he hit the goals we'd set for him. If the goal was 5 times/day, and he only did 4, no treat. Eventually, he got it.

We've been fortunate that because we waited until he was ready, we really haven't had issues with regression and only occasional accidents.

So far, our daughter is showing no signs of bladder control, so we're waiting until she's more physically/emotionally ready (I'm hoping that's sooner vs. later).

I agree with Larua B. Don't push it, is my theory. My son trained himself at 3 years old, with very little encouragement or pressure from us. It was very easy for me, and him! One day, he was just ready to do it and I think that's the way most kids are. It can end up being a real battle if it turns into a negative experience or anxiety producing for the child. I know some parents who get all caught up with having their child potty trained by "x" age, but it's not worth the stress to me. Sounds like he's close! Good luck!