Potty Training - Richardson,TX

Congratulations!

Our son was just past 3 last summer when he was ready to potty train.

We honestly didn't rely on a book, more a common sense approach in finding out what made our son get motivated (his 3.5 year old cousin is nowhere near being ready mentally despite being able to do it physically).

Our pediatrician was the best source of information as he's counseled thousands of parents.

In our case, we set a goal as follows:
week 1 - try 3 times/day - get a sticker for trying each time
BIG celebration for going and lots of praise for trying
week 2 - try 5 times/day (same reward system)
week 3 - must go potty 3 times/day
If you go three times, get a prize of your choice - in his case it was cars
week 4 - must go potty 5 times/day (same reward system)
week 5 - must go whole week to get a big special prize.

By that point in time, he had it down. That's how our son responded to the training, but it was completely trial and error for us to determine what would motivate him - stickers and treats were not big motivators, but his favorite Cars characters certainly were.

Sounds like you have a great attitude about it. When a child is ready, the training will go pretty quickly, without bribing or punishment. It's a natural step toward maturity, much like eating solid food, talking, and walking. A child who is physically and emotionally ready will take personal pleasure in this new achievement – cheer and comment on how proud HE must be whenever he succeeds, but don't turn it into something he's doing to make YOU proud. That will reduce his own internal sense of accomplishment.

Be aware that peeing usually comes first. For many kids, pooping is a separate process, so don't be discouraged if there's a gap there.

I agree about it being a natural step for some kids. I've noticed that with our toddler (nearly 3 years), transitions are easier if we start talking it up and prepping him in advance. We watched the Elmo potty time dvd for a while before potty training, so that definitely got the idea solidly into his head, and also had a cute book about using the potty. (And also had the "Everybody Poops" book.)

After a friend of his visited last Thanksgiving (and used his potty), he definitely showed interest. We started putting him in underwear for a couple of hours in the mornings, and gradually just extended the time (over about a 2 week period) until he was in undies all day. (We only did pull-ups at night.) We didn't bug him about having to go, or do any kind of rewards... we did (and continue to) ask periodically (especially if we're heading out on errands), but he's good about telling us when he has to go.

Overall, apart from some recent early morning bed wetting (we started him in undies at night about 5 weeks ago, after he'd been in daytime undies for about 4 months), it's been very easy.

Sticker charts work good. If you can put them right in the bathroom so that he connects the stickers to going potty. I've seen some moms put the stickers right on the child's potty that way they see it every time they use the potty.
The best advice is not to push it. Your child will do it on their own time just like everything else. Peeing will be the easier of the two. Pooping may take longer. The hardest part will actually be overnight and staying dry. Waking up to pee is a process that takes a long time and does depend mostly on maturity.
If you can make a big deal out of buying big boy underwear. Take him shopping and let him help pick. Switch to pull-ups or even right into undies (if you don't mind a few accidents), preferably something that will let him feel when he's wet so he can connect being wet with going potty. If he truly is ready he'll connect the dots quick and start using the potty. If not he'll fuss, being wet won't bug him and he'll just be disinterested.
Hope that helps!