Potty Training - Roseville,MI

I am also Melissa C. and I feel your pain. My son will be 4 in Sept. and we've had the same experiences you have. He is very content in his diapers, no matter what incentives we offer. His preschool won't let him come back next year unless he's completely potty-trained, no assistance needed. I'm very worried.

He is interested in the "sinking the cheerios game" but doesn't have the patience to wait there until the tee-tee comes. I'm going to try the "no pants outside" trick next. Hoping the neighbors won't mind since we don't have a privacy fence! I'll be anxious to read what advice others give you.

A mom in our preschool class said she started putting cloth diapers on her son. He didn't like that wet feeling, so that prompted him to start using the potty. I haven't had the energy to go that route (who wants to wash out dirty diapers?!) but the suggestion of a pull-up over underwear sounds interesting. Good luck to both of us!

Have you tried putting cheerios in the toilet and making it a game to sink the cheerios? You could also put underwear on him and pull ups over that. that way he feels the wetness in a different way and might not like it. Tell him that if he doesn't want to grow up then he will start being treated like a baby, ie: earlier bed time, baby food, no toys, etc. That might help. Maybe put a chart up with stickers and every time he potties then he gets a sticker and at the end of the week a toy.

no advice, just letting you know I feel your pain. My Alex will be 4 in June and he is no where near potty trained. He flat out refuses to even sit and try lately, he has recently learned that saying he has to go potty will get him out of a cart if we are at a store and as soon as we get to the restroom he will say no...very frustrating. I will be watching this question in hopes of some good suggestions.

Since it is getting warmer outside we used the "go water the tree" method. Our boys loved watering the trees every day. :) Once it got cold enough they still tried to go water the tree, but usually after opening the door up would turn around and go to the potty.

can you tell him the Easter bunny wont come and give him presents until he goes on the potty? How about if you just leave him in the dirty underware?
Sounds harsh but if you want him to go to school, he will have to be potty trained. He may not be right this second, but maybe in a month he will flip a switch. I say try talking to him about the Easter bunny and say the easter bunny will bring you "THIS REALLY AWESOME TOY" if you use the potty now until Easter.

I just got my 2 yr old son day and night potty trained. He turns 3 in June. What worked for us was I threw out all the diapers so he was stuck wearing underwear. The first week he did have alot of accidents in them but that happens. We also put a potty chart by the toilet for him. Each time he at least sat down to try he got 1 m&m and when he actually went potty he got to pick out a couple stickers or tootsie roll from his reward jar. I would only let him sit long enough to sing the ABC's together or count to 10/20.