Potty Training 2 1/2 Year Old Boy

We hung a little gift bag above each potty with random little cheap toys, candy, etc... it was always there. He would not get anything out of it until he went in the potty. He would literally sit there and cry cause he didn't have to go to the bathroom but wanted something so badly out of the bag...he trained real quick. Plus buying the big boy boxer briefs is a fantastic idea! Something to try anyway!!! Take care and good luck!

He knows that you want him to use the potty but he knows that he can control this. Introduce the pee party and let your husband taking your son to rest room. Do not use pull ups they are to close to a diaper and not much discomfort. Use the training pants that are thicker and follow up with the plastic pants so your laundry doesn't multiply to quickly. Does he show any interest in school. Let him know that big boys who use the potty go to school. Let him help in making decisions so he feels that he is just as important. We know that he isn't being replaced but continually reinforce that. Ask what he would like to name the baby. Let him know that you need him to be best big brother he is a big boy... Make sure that he doesn't have a bladder infection it might be hurting him to go and if he is constipated that could add to it. Let him read and sit him on the potty while you are getting ready so he isn't feeling pressured. Good Luck!!!!!!

This is something that worked when I was potty training my daughter. I put up a sticker chart in the bathroom with two columns, one going #1 and the other #2. Everytime my daughter goes to the bathroom I give her a sticker and she places it on the chart under the correct column. I know this is something really simple, but my daughter loves getting stickers and it worked. She has been potty trained for about six months now and I still continue to giver her stickers and she is still as excited as she was when we first started.

I agree with Lisa R. This is turning into a power struggle and no matter what, he will always win because you can't control his body. When he has an accident just say "no problem". I know you must be super frustrated but try not to let it show. Instead say something like "oh it feels so yucky to be dirty. Let's get you into some clean pants (underware, pull-up, what ever)".

It is normal to have set backs. Hang in there. People get so stressed when their kids aren't potty trained by a certain age but do you ever recall anyone asking you at what age you were potty trained?

Of course he's being affected by the "new" baby coming. In his mind, he's your baby, so this is confusing to him and he's dealing with it by doing what makes sense to him; by being your baby!
This is a great opportunity for him to feel grown up and successful when the baby does come. Involve him as much as you can in the baby's care. If you have another boy, he can be the baby's "teacher" in showing him how big boys go potty. (I mean, really take the baby in their and let him "show" the baby how to do it!)
Never the less, the problem will solve itself a few months after the baby comes, and you have taken the time devoted to him to let him know how important and well loved he still is, in spite of the "new kid"! Good luck and enjoy those precious children.

M.,
Don't give up. Just take a deep breath and start again. My oldest (now 12) had a short time of accidents after she had been potty trained for several months. I just made her clean herself up (then had to finish the job) and after one time with dirty under wear she learned how it is not fun to clean up. I am back potty training my 3rd child and understand the frustration. Stay the course and keep consistent with whatever works the best for both you and your son.
Good Luck!
A.

Pack everything up & STOP. Sounds like he's turning it into a power struggle & if so, he'll win for sure. Make sure the potty and/or pull-ups are available but leave everything else alone. Don't take him to the potty unless he prompts it.

I completely understand. My two boys are a bit closer in age (27 mo.) We started potty training about 2 months after the baby was born, but it was still too soon. After crying tantrums to go to the potty, I stopped pushing it. We read books about going to the bathroom. The one that seemed to sink in with my son was "I Don't Have to Pee". Then we started "Big Brother Points". This helped return my son back to helper status. Everytime he helped mommy with the baby, with dinner, with whatever, he got a point. I also included points for telling us that he had to go potty, for peeing on the potty, and double points for pooing. When he got to 10 points (or whatever point you deem worth), he got a prize like a piece of halloween candy or a toy back. (When he misues a toy, it gets taken away). At first it took him a day or two to earn points. Then after about 2 weeks, he started earning almost all 10 points in a day. Not only could my son see his progress on the chart, but it also allowed me to focus on the positive actions he was doing. I hope this helps.

Even though I had potty trained three boys already (I had them "shoot" at floating Cheerios), I saw a great idea on Dr Phil back when he was a new and helpful show...

Have a male family friend or relative pretend to be a favorite superhero and call him on the phone. The "superhero" congratulates the little guy for becoming a big boy and using the potty. You could then have a surprise for him from the "superhero" for when he uses it next. Maybe a follow up call. Little imaginations work wonders to a mom's advantage!!!

Hi M.,
I know they say boys and girls are different with potty training, but I had a rather tough time training my girl. She was 2 1/2 when I brought my new baby home and VERY willful. We tried to have her trained before sister was born, but when I realized it was turning into a power struggle and wasn't going to happen we backed off. When I was pregnant I was tired and hormonal and grumpy- not the best combination for trying to coax a child discovering his or her individuality. Anyway, we picked up again at the age of 3 when the baby was 6 months old and slightly less demanding of my time. I couldn't imagine interrupting a nursing baby to put my toddler on the potty. Anyway, my oldest is now 3 1/2 and it clicked right over Christmas. We found the right combinations of reward and encouragment. We went to a dollar store and bought a bag full of tiny horses and cats (shes loves these). For each day she stayed CLEAN AND DRY she got to pick a horse. The days she had an accident she was crushed but we held firm and said "it's OK, you can try again tomorrow". She really started paying attention not just to using the potty but what it felt like to need to go. Good luck and hang in there. The best advice anyone ever gave me on this topic is that you shouldn't stress over it. It's not like he will be going to kindergarten in diapers!

I have two boys 3 years apart. We tried to potty train the oldest forever. I thought for sure my second son would be born and the first would still be in diapers. Finaly we just kept involving my oldest in all the baby stuff and telling he he was going to be a big brother. We told him all the things big brothers got to do, and teach the baby. He started to understand that baby wore diapers, and big boys wore underwear. We also got him boxer briefs so he had big boy pants like his dad. I put a calendar in his room and any time he used the bathroom he put a sticker on the date. He loved to se all the sticker on each day. At the end of the week he got to go to the store and pick out toys only big boys can play with. My mom also bought him character boxers and told him that the charcters were realy sad when he peed on them. The pull-up thing didn't work because he thought it was his diaper. It took a while and many methods, but he was potty trained before he tured three, and before the baby was born.

Katie has a fabulous idea there! My son is three years old and he's barely interested in the potty now. He does go pee in the potty in the morning after he wakes up, and goes just before bathtime, but I'm having a hard time getting him to tell me he has to go during the day. I'm going to try that gift bag idea. :-)
Good luck, and congrats on your new baby!

I went to a wonderful potty training class at Babies R US. It helped so much and my son was potty trained in about 2 weeks. He did have a few set backs once his sister came a few weeks later, but the course just encourages you to not use training pants, to only reward with stickers or a sticker chart and to not give up. Once you start, you don't turn back. Tell him it's coming and just keep moving forward with it. If you have a Babies R US around, you might want to contact them to see if they have any classes that can help. The lady who taught ours had 3 kids and all were potty trained by 18 mo. Anyhow, it worked great for me and my sister. Good luck to you!

My husband and I potty trained 3 boys. Each was so...different. None was successful before the age of 2.5. One as late as almost 3.5. We found that each went through a rebelious stage, to show us THEY were in control. Often these stages accompanied changes in our life (taking them out of a crib, a new brother on the way, etc.) Good news was, those stages passed, and often right after, they were potty trained for good.

My oldest potty trained himself immediately after we brought his baby brother home from the hospital. He, as young as he was, KNEW that was one way for him to get positive attention. Every time he went in the potty, we made a big deal out of him being the BIG brother, not like his baby brother going in his diaper, and it worked! Hopefully, you'll find the same thing!

Have you heard about introducing your oldest to his new sibling in the hospital to make him feel special?!?! We got some GREAT advice and used it for our oldest boys when the 2nd and 3rd came, and it worked GREAT! Let me know if you'd like to hear it.