"Pottytraining"

Hi K.! Potty training can be very frustrating, but it really doesn't have to be. Your little fellow is plenty old enough to be using the potty (unless there are devlopmental issues). I have potty trained....maybe like 15/ 16 kids? I do home daycare so almost every year I have someone potty training! They have been between the ages of 18mo.-3years. Many of then right around the 22-26mo range. Thank goodness for wood floors!

I would first of all get rid of the pull ups (except for night time if needed, night can take longer than day). Go with undies. It is SO much faster! Tell him he's a big boy so he gets to start wearing big boy undies now! Let him even pick a few fun pairs if he hasn't already. Put the diapers and pull ups away and each day put on the undies! Make sure to expect accidents and have LOTS of extra pants/ undies ready! TELL him when it's time to go potty, don't ever ask! If you ask he has the right to say "NO!" Take him in(or send him if he can do it) and he can at least try to go pee/ poopy. If he doesn't be sure to praise him for trying. If he does praise him for going, whoop it up just a bit! I even have used (with some kids) small rewards-stickers, m&m's, small candies, a penny for their piggy bank- whatever works! Not all kids need this incentive.

When the inevitable acident occurs, BE CALM and PAIENT! "Whoops, we will have to go change your clothes." I always lead them and get their clothes out, but have them do most of the work of changing and cleaning up. It makes it their responsibilty, not yours! Let him take over this part more and more on his own. It will get easier to go potty in the toilet than to have to stop to change his clothes and clean up puddles each time.

In extreme cases I too have used the commando method, but I do have wood & linoleum so it's a little nicer than carpet(so much easier with girls and dresses!) It has worked wonders every time, especially for those that have been doing great and then have a backslide with it.

If your two year old is showing incentive-GO FOR IT! Don't lose your window of opportunity! Remember every child goes at a different pace, there is nothing wrong with letting child two do it first, plus it might inspire your older one.

A couple other things:
I started with sending them in every half hour or so at first then making the time longer and longer in between over a couple weeks-uually about all it would take before they start to get a good hold of it.
I also found young boys like to stand to pee(like daddy does). this works well with a stool and putting the hands on the back of the potty. just be sure to clean the toilet frequently in case hands touch elsewhere! Some of my daycare boys can't sit or they will shoot it between the rim and seat!!
A cushie tooshie or similar seat for the big potty works, just make sure it has a cup for the boys. you didn't mention if you are using a potty chair or the big potty, we only use the big potty because I don't have room for a potty chair.
One of my litle fellows felt more comfortable sitting backwards on the toilet so he had a place to put his booty and then the pee would go right in....hey worked for him and he could put his own clothes back on!

Don't look at it as potty training.. you have just moved on to undies!
Feel free to ask if you have any more questions. I have used the same similar methods the whole time I have done daycare with much success! Hope this helps, sorry so long!

do what you feel comfortable with. if things are too stressed about it right now, don't go gung ho full force for a while but continue to talk about it positively and take their lead when they bring up wanting to go or look for opportunities to bring it up, like when you see them straining to go. but don't push the issue it will only stress you and them more.
i was very stressed at about 3 years too. and almost in tears. my husand talked to our pediatrician, because as most everyone else thinks and hears, 'oh you shouldn't stop once you start'. (and i would like to know where this thought started and how many years ago it was) anyway.. she suggested there was no reason for both of us to be stressed(me and my son) and being stressed and frustrated isn't gonna help him at all. so she said it was ok to take a break and come back to it. so sure enough, at 3 years and 5 months he was ready and asked to wear his underpants and was trained that very weekend. like i said, we continued to talk to him about wearing his big boy pants, making it positive and every so often still letting him go commando or suggesting sitting on the potty.. but we took his lead and waited.
my daughter is now 3 years and 3months and she's not so interested..lol lol she has moments..lol

the misunderstanding about he phrase 'don't stop once you start' i think comes from the belief (which i agree with) that once you have them trained or partially trained, don't have them in underwear at home and then put them in a diaper once you go on errands. go out prepared for accidents with a change of clothes. even the potty training class we went to said to do what you feel is right. there is not right or wrong way or potty training. your child will lead the way

oh and i say if the 2 year old is interested then let them show you how interested they are and see if they are ready. some are and some aren't

good luck. .trust your instincts :-)

Going comando is what is generally done at our house when we are having "issues". We too have been doing the pee dance at our house, if you know what I mean!! As far as the cold and comando, our doctor says it might give more incentive to go pee because it is not as warm in that area, as well as it is protected from other clothing. Also, we were told NOT to take a break. It is harder... hang in there. Remind, reward, redirect whatever it takes to keep up the work.
As for your 2 year old. Yes, I say go for it. Might even get your 3 year old more in gear.
Not sure I was much help, just wanted to let you know we are with you in the accidents!

Our daycare lady introduces the potty at 16 months and then most kids are day potty trained by 22 months. She had a chart on the door and each time my daughter went potty she got a sticker. Sometimes she bought sweettarts and had to resort to giving one piece of that candy. She'd get one for pee and two for poops. Eventually she just didn't get anymore treats and she was on her way. The whole process took about four months. I owe it to the daycare lady. She did have many accidents because the daycare lady didn't believe in using pull ups. To feel the pee in your underwear teaches the child not to like that feel. I used pull ups at home though because I didn't want pee everywhere.