Potty Training 2 1/2 Yr. Old - Lucerne,CO

I wouldn't worry too much. I just got my 3 year old son trained. My husband was in Iraq and he would go for everyone but me. He wanted to go potty like Daddy, so when daddy came home he took a big part in the training and he got it in about 2 weeks. They just have to be ready to do it. Don't stress out about it. I didn't think I would ever get my little guy trained, but it happened in HIS time. I would also set his potty chair in front of the TV (not the best idea with boys) and he would use it . Once he got that down then it was moved to the bathroom. Now he stands up to pee and has a better aim than my husband most of the time.

There is a wonderful book that you can get either at the local bookstore, at amazon.com or checked out of the local library called, "Toilet Training In Less Than A Day." I worked as a pre-school teacher for almost 10 years and we used this book and suggested this book often to the parents of our toddlers. We got rave reviews! It has a little test sort of that you can "give" your little one make sure that he or she is really ready for this step.
This book was written by a man who used his method on a lot of adult Downs people and retarted people who never could or would be toilet trained before. Thus showing that anyone can be successful with his method.
I am the mother of 4 boys. I used this book in potty training my boys and it worked. They not only become potty trained but they learn how to change themselves,(into their new Big Boy Pants), and help clean up and accident they might have,(if any). I took my boys in every room of the house and had them show me where we go potty (where the Big Boys go), having the child walk me into the bathroom and showing me the potty. Boys are known for playing outside and not making it into the bathroom in time because they just don't want to stop playing. So I took my boys by the hand outside and asked them to show me where we go potty or where the Big Boys go Potty, having the child walk me into the house the same as before. This just sorta helps program the thoughts into their minds.
Good luck and I hope that I was of some help.

I dont think I could have ever trained my son at 2 1/2 - dont beat yourself up... That is really young for a boy to potty train..

Since I am a stay at home mom, I allow my son to run around naked. I tried "big boy underwear" and that didn't work either. I don't think punishing them is a way to go though...usually when children act out or regress there is a deep seeded reason behind it, you already know your child's reason so maybe using that wealth of info to your advantage would work great. You said it was when daddy was gone for a little bit so your son may think that everytime he uses the potty, daddy will leave again. Reassure your son that daddy is coming home or if you can, call dad on the phone and let dad tell your son when he's coming home and insist on using the potty before he gets there.

Hope this helps,
M.

I have heard from many moms that putting cherrios in the toilet for "aiming practice" works like a charm. I know it sounds silly, but at least 5 moms have told me separately, and they all have sworn by it! Hope this helps, and good luck! ;)

I also tried several techniques before I came up with the method that worked for my kids. When they were ready, my son at three and my daughter later on at 2 1/2. I used the training underwear, and EVERYTIME they had an accident I would undress them and stand them in the tub and wash them with the shower wand. This wasn't in a stressful or in a mean manner at all. This was a cause and effect technique that was meant to disrupt their playtime, so instead of getting dry undies on, and off they go with out missing a beat; it made this interruption in what they were so engrossed in. It was consistent every time where they knew if they had an accident, they were going to have to stop playing, ...get a quick shower, ....lotion, ...put new clothes on, ...put the dirty ones in the laundry, ...then they could go back to play. They never cried or were upset about this, but they learned in a few days with no accidents after that. I think the shower is key since baths are fun and showers are a chore for them. This is time consuming on your part and creates a lot of work but it worked great!

Our son did that, but since he was a big clean freak, I had him "clean" it up. Of course, I had to really finish the job. I got the idea, as well as some other helpful ideas, fromm the book "Toilet Train Your Child in Less Than a Day". The whole book wasn't for us, but it had helpful suggestions. It took my son one time of cleaning up and he didn't like that. The other thing we did was he was only allowed to be in tile areas or on a water proof pad. He hated the restrictions, especially since some of his favorite toys didn't work with the restrictions. GL I'll be watching for what others say since we're about ready to start with our second who doesn't seem to really care.

My son had a horrable time with this because I had gone though a divorce around this time. So I used cheerios and made it a game and it worked in about a week. I just kept a little bowl of cheerios on the back of the toliet and put them in every time and told him to hit the cheerios. noe if I can get my 2-1/2 year old girl to use it, I would be happy. But I descovied not everything works for the girls as it did with my son.

You know trying again to potty train after regression is so hard. Find out what he wants or really likes and hit it from that level. Also with my daughter after she regressed horribly after her tonsils being taken out and her new baby brother, Santa called her and said how proud he would be if she went on the potty again and all of a sudden it was done, no going backwards, 100% potty trained, I am not kidding, it was like a miracle just like that.
Maybe have someone from outside of the home call and pretend to be his favorite character and encourage him being a big boy now. If that doesn't work, start taking big boy priveledges away from him, say if he is going to act like a baby he cannot be a big boy too......good luck!

M.-- my son didn't actually regress when he potty trained, so I don't know that my response will help much, but I'll share my experience and let you decide.

My son began to refuse pull-ups at about 20 months; he would not let us put them on him at all, night or day, BUT he was not potty trained, nor had he expressed any interest in the potty. I didn't want to force him to wear his pull-ups, so into big boy undies he went, and he went in those undies all the time! I've read loads of PT books, used the methods I liked and thought would work best for my son, and had so much advice from other mothers (most of it good), but nothing helped. What saved us? 'Elmo's Potty Time' video. Lame, right? Don't know if you've tried the videos, but Elmo got through to my just-under-two-year old where I could not, and he was a 'potty master' by the time he turned two. I wish I could take some of the credit, but don't feel honest doing so. Good luck.

Hi M. my name is H. and I am a sahm of 3 kids 11 yr girl, 6 yr boy, and 2 yr girl. Some say I am to old fashion but for me it has always worked even in the daycare I run. I use the time out in the corner method. If he/she goes in his pants then he/she goes to the corner for 2-3 mins. then I take them to the bathroom and see if they have to go again. I have potty trained/helped potty train 5 kids this way. Hope this helps you out. Have a great day!

Just let it go. I actually pretended like it was not something we were working on when my son did that. I put all signs of the potty chair away. I just said, "You'll know when it's time." and he did! It is so much easier that way, and he will do it because he is really ready. Then there is no going back. Also - he had very few - if any that I can recall - accidents, because he was really ready and knew what we were doing.