Which potty training method worked for you?? Help

Happycouple

DS has only gone in the potty about 6 or 7 times and most of the time flat out refuses to go.  I really want him trained before we have this next child.  Please expain which method you used and the details.  I know a lot of people that used the 3 day method of no diapers etc. 

Ive been trying not to push DS too much, but he needs to be mostly trained for pre-school which starts in September.  Any advice from those with boys?

JustaKidAtHeart

No diapers didnt work for us because they liked to watch it.  One kid was very much praise, high 5s and dancing.  The other jelly beans.  We put them in undies and stayed home for about 2 weeks.  They didnt like the wet undies.

Happycouple

JustaKidAtHeart:

No diapers didnt work for us because they liked to watch it.  One kid was very much praise, high 5s and dancing.  The other jelly beans.  We put them in undies and stayed home for about 2 weeks.  They didnt like the wet undies.

I think I meant the undies at home for a couple days method.  I wouldnt let him run around naked.....sounds like I need a bunch of undies on hand though!

may5706bride

Week one bare bottom, week 2-3 underwear, week 4 started practicing going out in public ( we bring paper cups) we had a basket of reinforcers ( stickers, tattoos, dehydrated fruit) I had to always say " mama, pp" so he'd learn to tell me.

howleyshell

I'm a cold turkey mom.

No pull ups, no diapers.

We spent a lot of time outside.  Used underwear with plastic pants over them so they really felt the wet and learned that feeling and sometimes sweat pants over the plastic pants to minimize my clean up if we were inside.

 

And... if he's flat out refusing to do this you may have a problem.  He's at an age where this is a battle he CAN win.

 Have you found his currency?

For mine it was mini m&m's and getting to wear character underwear that they picked out.

 I checked out a book on a one day potty training method.  Potty party I think?  It had 1 day set aside to do nothing but potty train.  Upon waking I had Dylan's stuffed rabbit use the potty (water with yellow food dye and a melted hershey bar) and then receive tons of praise and a treat from me (m&m).  Dylan was begging to learn how to use the potty because he wanted the same praise and rewards as his rabbit.  That got us off to a good start.

If he's refusing I think you're gonna want to figure out how to get him on board and motivated. 

 

And as for the boy thing?  Try not to think of it as being different.  Mine started out sitting down.   If yours is tall enough to reach standing and you think shooting at something like cheerios would be fun for him then go for it but I'm gonna warn you that it's gonna be messy as all get out for a bit and sitting is much cleaner.

Our first catches were on a portable potty in the bath tub as the warm water first hit his feet.  If you know of a time of day when he pees or poops regularly start there trying to catch it when you know it's coming.

Don't expect him to tell you when he needs to go at first - take him to the potty on a schedule.

And if you're gonna do a full hard core day training session consider upping his fluid intake so he's got more opportunities to practice/learn.  I never give my kids juice but did for potty training because they drank like crazy and peed like crazy.

GL! 

CMM05

We used the "when he was ready" method.

I never did any of those 3 day methods, I didn't do underwear around the house for a few days and I didn't stay in the house for weeks.

We let him take the lead. He Potty trained a month before he turned 3 and never turned back. We have NEVER had an accident in public and never really in the house either. He has maybe had 2 accidents at school and the teachers said both times it was when he was very pre-occupied.

I would be very careful about potty training to close to when the baby comes.......many kids regress.

In all honesty, he does not sound ready to me. Going 6 times and not wanting to use it, is not going to be fun for anyone.

I had signs DS1 was ready because he would tell us that his pull-up was wet and/or poopy.

Yes, we used pull-ups (gasp!). A lot of people will say that the pull-ups "confuse" the kids or are too close to diapers, but they worked for us. DS1 liked being able to pull them up and down himself.

Honestly.....all of my friends who tried to "push" potty training due to a new baby coming and/or getting ready for school had a much harder time than those of us who just waited until they were truly ready.

 

Happycouple

howleyshell:

I'm a cold turkey mom.

No pull ups, no diapers.

We spent a lot of time outside.  Used underwear with plastic pants over them so they really felt the wet and learned that feeling and sometimes sweat pants over the plastic pants to minimize my clean up if we were inside.

 

And... if he's flat out refusing to do this you may have a problem.  He's at an age where this is a battle he CAN win.

 Have you found his currency?

For mine it was mini m&m's and getting to wear character underwear that they picked out.

 I checked out a book on a one day potty training method.  Potty party I think?  It had 1 day set aside to do nothing but potty train.  Upon waking I had Dylan's stuffed rabbit use the potty (water with yellow food dye and a melted hershey bar) and then receive tons of praise and a treat from me (m&m).  Dylan was begging to learn how to use the potty because he wanted the same praise and rewards as his rabbit.  That got us off to a good start.

If he's refusing I think you're gonna want to figure out how to get him on board and motivated. 

 

And as for the boy thing?  Try not to think of it as being different.  Mine started out sitting down.   If yours is tall enough to reach standing and you think shooting at something like cheerios would be fun for him then go for it but I'm gonna warn you that it's gonna be messy as all get out for a bit and sitting is much cleaner.

Our first catches were on a portable potty in the bath tub as the warm water first hit his feet.  If you know of a time of day when he pees or poops regularly start there trying to catch it when you know it's coming.

Don't expect him to tell you when he needs to go at first - take him to the potty on a schedule.

And if you're gonna do a full hard core day training session consider upping his fluid intake so he's got more opportunities to practice/learn.  I never give my kids juice but did for potty training because they drank like crazy and peed like crazy.

GL! 

Thanks!  I am not sure why he refuses as sometimes he seems totally enthusiastic.  Often I think he is just being 'lazy' about it.  I am definitely wanting to try the cold turkey method first and see how it goes, but I dont want him to freak out--which he might.

Ive given him icecream AND M & M's and a rewards star for using the potty before, but doesnt seem to motivate him enough to consistently want to use the potty. 

kittylove

I agree about waiting till he is on board. I understand how frustrating it can be that some times he wants to use it and other times he doesn't but I wouldn't push it. I think if you push (knowing Luke) that he would shut down and it will be a battle of wills. If you don't mind PT on his terms I would wait. Now if you can find a treat that gets him on board then go for it! Also making a big deal of PT like HS said: finding a treat he wants, talking up the undies, making it about praise and treats will work but I think he has to WANT to do it.

I am going to send you a link via FB about the 3 day method.

howleyshell

Happycouple:

Ive given him icecream AND M & M's and a rewards star for using the potty before, but doesnt seem to motivate him enough to consistently want to use the potty. 

Then I'd keep searching.

Does he have a favorite character that you might find underwear in?  As in - you stay dry all morning and you get to wear your Lightning McQueen underwear in the afternoon.

What is he into right now?

Finding his currency will go a long way in the motivation department. 

For Jace it was balloons.  We had a pack of water balloons and I'd sit and blow one up while he was on the potty.  The kid was bonkers for balloons.  (of course... he was much younger) 

queenbone

I guess I used the hippie method because there was a lot of nudity and a lot of going outside.  I've always let him have lots of naked time and it helped me "see" when he was ready to go so that I could encourage him to go to the bathroom. 

I had bought a lot of used Thomas engines/freight cars off ebay so I used those as rewards. First to get him to pee on the toilet, then only for pooping on the toilet.

I had him sit on the toilet to pee.  Eventually he switched to wanting to stand, but by that time he was going pee & poop in the toilet regularly. (This btw is still messy a year later.)

He was afraid of foreign toilets.  He'd do great at home, but if we had to go out he'd scream bloody murder and pitch the most ridiculous fits in public restrooms.  It was last summer so I'd let him go outside in parking lots a lot.  I know that might be gross, but honestly it was the best way to avoid an accident and a scene.

I would be very wary of trying to achieve success by a deadline of pre-school or baby's due date.  It might be too much pressure on you/him. And he could very well regress too. GL!

Happycouple

CMM05:

We used the "when he was ready" method.

I never did any of those 3 day methods, I didn't do underwear around the house for a few days and I didn't stay in the house for weeks.

We let him take the lead. He Potty trained a month before he turned 3 and never turned back. We have NEVER had an accident in public and never really in the house either. He has maybe had 2 accidents at school and the teachers said both times it was when he was very pre-occupied.

I would be very careful about potty training to close to when the baby comes.......many kids regress.

In all honesty, he does not sound ready to me. Going 6 times and not wanting to use it, is not going to be fun for anyone.

I had signs DS1 was ready because he would tell us that his pull-up was wet and/or poopy.

Yes, we used pull-ups (gasp!). A lot of people will say that the pull-ups "confuse" the kids or are too close to diapers, but they worked for us. DS1 liked being able to pull them up and down himself.

Honestly.....all of my friends who tried to "push" potty training due to a new baby coming and/or getting ready for school had a much harder time than those of us who just waited until they were truly ready.

 

I was worried about regressing as well.  As mentioned, I havent and wont 'push' it.  Just curious to see how he will react if we attempt a 'method'.  I think it will be pretty clear a few hours in how things are going to be.  DS also tells us when he has a poopy diaper and often tells us that he needs to poop before he actually does.  Ill have to think it through more I guess.  I certainly dont want to scar him or anything...