Potty Training Advice - Cypress, TX

I think you are doing a great job. He is ready - go for it. The signs don't really lie, in my opinion. My son really didn't care if he made a mess and got wet, so I had to intrigue him. He stands up and goes pee pee - he liked to see that he controled that himself and has done great ever since. Plus, you don't have to teach him two different steps to urinating. The poo poo phase was the hardest - he saw a young boy (a year older them him) go on the potty while at a friends and has done it in the potty ever since. Hang in there. When you think it is not working, that means the next learning aha is coming! :) Also, we did not make a party out of everything. We showed great joy in the pottying (we have twins) in the toilet and "big boy", "big girl" praises. Basically, if you teach them a party should follow after pooping in the toilet, he is going to be dissapointed after a while. :)

We started potty training my son when he was about 2.5 years old and he seemed interested but would not consistently do it. When we finally let him alone and just encouraged him verbally he finally decided on his own to do it. He is very independent minded and just didn't want to be pushed into it. He is now five, and because we let him do it in his own time, he has never once had an accident or wet his bed.

We tryed as soon as our son was 2 and seemed interested but that was shot down. We waited for him and on his 3rd birthday he started go but we also had to go comando and that helped for him not to have any accidents. Dont worrie tis is the a new generation and he will come to you when he is ready!

GOOD LUCK!

It sounds like you are on the right track. I am a mother of 4 boys and each child is unique. While some will potty train as early as 18 months others will take up until the time they are 3 and 4. Just keep using positive reinforcement and find a reward that is not distracting to your child. Most importantly praise him for his good efforts. Also get your husband involved. Boys like to mimic the male role models in their life. Be consistent and patient and he will get their.

I agree 100% with the other responder, and wanted to also add -- if you can tolerate the lack-of-modesty factor, I trained all three of my boys OUTSIDE (obviously, not #2). They loved the freedom of that and it saved on scrubbing around the bathroom floor constantly. To this day they know to sit to tinkle in the house or they can stand to pee out back (I have boys ages 8, 7, & 5). All of them went through exactly what you describe above. It is easier to say than do -- but do try to relax about it -- I know it is much easier to say than to do! That's what people told me, and in retrospect only, do I now see that point.

Also, let him see his Dad do it. That's the clincher.

One thing that I did with my boys is I put Cheerios in the potty and told them to try to shoot them with his pee stream. It at least created an interest. Of course, I really think they will do it when they are ready. Trying too early can almost be like taking backwards steps. Introduce the potty, try to get them to use it, use some fun things, then if they still resist, don't push it. You will end up working and working and working at it and you will become frustrated!! They will shock you one day!!