Moms of boys - PTing ?s

MommySteph2009 · October 2011

I have been trying to PT DS for about 10 months now. He was doing really good (going several times a day on the potty) until a few weeks before having DS # 2.

I just am hoping to have him PTd soon. I talked to DS about it the other day and he said he doesn't want to wet his pants when he has an accident.

He's wearing a size 6 diaper and there are no larger sizes. I have a big boy, he is almost 3 and wears size 3 or 4 clothes.

Just looking for an honest answer - when was your DS PT? Any tricks that worked that you want to share?

We have potty charts, give him treats, let him pick out underwear too.

SweetieP · October 2011

We tried several times with Ryan before he was 3 and he just wasn't ready. It was too stressful for him and too stressful for me. And I tried a lot of different techniques (different chairs, no chairs, reward charts, stickers, candy, toys, threats, bribes, etc) and nothing worked. When I "gave up trying", I told him that he didn't have to go in the potty...that we'd use diapers until he was a big boy. And then asked him: "Do you know how old you have to be to be a big boy?" And then I told him 3. (This was about 2 months before he turned 3). So we went back to just diapers and I didn't mention PTing again. I did however talk a LOT about being a big boy. And when will he be a big boy. And what kinds of things did a big boy do? (Ride bikes...ride scooters...help mommy bake...help with xyz..etc). I never mentioned PTing. About 2 weeks before his birthday, I started adding in the whole "big boys only wear underpants" line. And teh "that means no more diapers".

We actually started the final PTing process the weekend before his birthday because he was so excited about turning 3. It was a much simpler process than allthe fights we had before.

And he's still not PTed at night. Some nights he is - and others he's not. And he'll be 5 in Jan.

Good luck. I think PTing is the hardest thing we've done.

futrkingsley · October 2011

I have a big kid too and was sort of worried about him hitting sort of a trifecta of bad -- being genuinely too big to fit in diapers (he was in a size 6), hitting a stage of defiance and using the potty as a tool in his aresenal, and missing a window when he had genuine potty awareness.

He has been very aware of his body and functions since he was 18 months. He used signs to tell us when he had to go, when he needed changing, etc. He couldn't fall asleep without going potty (we had many a poop at 8:45 followed by a then easy bedtime).

So when he was 25 months I talked about it (i knew he could do it, i was tired of changing dirty diapers when he knew before he got dirty and could make it to the potty), laid out one reward (a visit to a train park), and went cold turkey during the day. We had a potty schedule (before and after waking, before meals, before and after going somewhere), a potty chair he liked, and lots of undies. He had 5 accidents in ten days. He was waking up dry every single night a month later so we went undies at night and he was great for about 6 months.

He's had some trouble lately but it's part of a larger struggle he's having with a schedule change he isn't thrilled about. It involved a few daytime accidents, and night time accidents.

Does your son stay dry for extended periods of time on his own? Can he recognize when he has to go? Does he care that he's dirty when he has an accident (other than upsetting you)? If no, I'd lay off and wait.

secretkeeper321 · October 2011

S.....BRU and Diapers.com both have size 7 diapers, in case you need to go that route. I'm a little worried because H is now in size 6 and he's still shy of 20 months. I feel like the diaper size is going to affect when we start PTing, rather then when he's truly ready. Right now, he's not early close to ready. GL is whatever you guys decide and please let us know what ends up working because I'd love to learn from your experiences.

tri_bride05 · October 2011

Two weeks before his 3rd birthday. We knew his was ready, did the three day method and it worked really well for us. Everything I've read/heard is that PTing is easy when they're ready and takes a looong time when they're not. Plus regression when baby comes along is so normal. I agree with Julie about taking a break.

Lexi & Orion's Mommy · October 2011

Orion was right around 3, i think a few months after he turned 3. With both my kids, one day it just clicked. And then there wasnt any more accidents. Good luck! Potty training is sooo fustrating!