For parents with potty training issues...

[SplashMountainMama]

Thanks - that makes me feel better. DS turned 3 in December. He does pretty well with pee but the child will NOT poop in a potty. We've tried everything - rewards, etc. He's even holding it in to avoid going to the potty. Which results in blowouts - usually at daycare.

My DS also turned 3 in December. You just described where he's at right now perfectly. He is supposed to start Junior Kindergarten in September and they have to be potty-trained. I always know when he has to poop because he starts asking for a pull-up.

 

[Tigger&Aidan]

Another momma of a 3 yr old that's not fully trained. Well, he does good with pooping on the potty, but peeing is another story! I think our problem is pullups - you can pee in those a lot and I still don't think they really feel too wet. Planning on going cold turkey pretty soon. Just waiting for the weather to break. Figured that dealing with shorts will be easier than pants...

Glad to know I'm not alone!

 

[flipflop]

Oh no. This is not good news.

I don't even want to contemplate another year and a half of potty training 4 little turkeys!!!

I think 2 are nearly there. Just starting the poop training. One other boy *ahem* seems to get it when he wants too, when he feels like stopping the play. The last boy, just today went in the potty with a dry pull-up. His first success with no preceding accident.

Don't we parents just love to share potty stories??? It is like

I feel for you. We finished training our triplets in November. If you find it's not working training all 4 of them I suggest, not that you asked for a suggestion, training your DD first and then dealing with the boys - or training 2 at a time. We trained our DD in August and then waited a few months and tackled the boys. I think training all of them at the same time would have been impossible for us. Luckily we are done but potty training triplets was really not my idea of a good time.

 

[eh24fan]

I agree that Pull Ups hinder the potty training deal. My DS7 was stubborn and the day we stopped Pull-ups he realized that peeing and pooing in his real undies was much more unpleasant. He quickly decided the bathroom was better. My plan is to use them sparingly with the baby, only when we are going out in public for awhile or will be in the car for awhile.

 

[HerdOHuds]

You know I really understand where a person might believe that pull-ups are not helpful. But in my world, if someone comes to me with wet pants or poopy pants and I clean them up, get them new underwear and then ask, "Where did you make a mess" I do not enjoy going on a poop or pee hunt to find where they made the original mess. My couch, carpet, rugs, hardwoods, and chairs were not going to survive a week of that.

A few months ago when I started this little parade, I was hardcore. I was GOING to do this the 'right' way and these kids would be trained because *I* was going to stick to it. After about 5 hours, I gave up. I could not maintain that kind of diligence AND maintain my sanity. One or the other had to go and I chose to keep my sanity. Plus, it made me so angry to not find the pee or poop that I *knew* was out there. I knew in my head I should not be angry, but that didn't mean I wasn't spittin' mad at the end of the mess treasure hunt.

I tried one at a time and found that infuriating that I had all kinds of underwear things happening. I needed everyone to be on some sort of the same page.

So Pull-ups make me happy. The kids seem to be getting the hang of it without the major consequences of mommy losing her mind. I think that is a good thing. Maybe if I had given birth to only one or two children at a time, I would feel differently, but I didn't so I don't.

And that is my 2 cents!

 

[eh24fan]

You know I really understand where a person might believe that pull-ups are not helpful. But in my world, if someone comes to me with wet pants or poopy pants and I clean them up, get them new underwear and then ask, "Where did you make a mess" I do not enjoy going on a poop or pee hunt to find where they made the original mess. My couch, carpet, rugs, hardwoods, and chairs were not going to survive a week of that.

A few months ago when I started this little parade, I was hardcore. I was GOING to do this the 'right' way and these kids would be trained because *I* was going to stick to it. After about 5 hours, I gave up. I could not maintain that kind of diligence AND maintain my sanity. One or the other had to go and I chose to keep my sanity. Plus, it made me so angry to not find the pee or poop that I *knew* was out there. I knew in my head I should not be angry, but that didn't mean I wasn't spittin' mad at the end of the mess treasure hunt.

I tried one at a time and found that infuriating that I had all kinds of underwear things happening. I needed everyone to be on some sort of the same page.

So Pull-ups make me happy. The kids seem to be getting the hang of it without the major consequences of mommy losing her mind. I think that is a good thing. Maybe if I had given birth to only one or two children at a time, I would feel differently, but I didn't so I don't.

And that is my 2 cents!

You are in a situation where I'm certain I'd be using Pull-ups. One kid is one thing...several? YIKES!

 

[wildfan1473]

DS will be 4 in June, and refused to potty train. He absolutely knew when he needed to go, but it was down and out physical battles trying to get him on the toilet - he picked out his own potty chair AND seat for the big toilet, we did sticker charts, rewards, bribes, you name it - he still refused. Just before Christmas, we told him after grandma & grandpa left, he was going into Pullups. His big brother (6) is not potty trained, but he has alot sensory issues and mental health issues, so that is another story. Anyways, if brother isn't potty trained, why should I be ?

Lo and behold, on Monday morning, he decided he wanted to wear Mickey Mouse underwear (fortunately, we have some). He has been completely dry since! It's spring break, and we've been to Pump It Up (where they have the big bouncy things), the movies, bowling, etc - he has been such a trooper! Although, when it's time to poop, he asks me if I'm sure he has on big boy underwear, then asks for a pullup.

It's been a battle, but I've fortunately been able to keep both boys home with me this past year. They will both start school in the fall, one in Pre and one in K, and hopefully I can get them both completely trained by then!

 

[jennb529]

My DS is 2 1/2 and we have been trying to potty train. fe weeks ago I decided to try just putting him in underwear. Unfortunately, after going through twelve pairs of underwear a day and finding puddles all over my hardwood floors, I decided maybe he's just not ready We'll try again in another few months.

I'll tell you what worked with my now 8 year old. At 3 1/2 he was not potty trained so in desperation I promised him a trip to Disney World if he learned to use the potty. Within a month he was trained and we went!

We're planning a trip for June 2009, hopefully I won't have to use that trip as a bribe too.

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

congratulations to your DD on her great success. They will all be potty trained in their own time. Especially girls, after all they are women in training.

 

[teresajoy]

Oh my goodness, thank you for posting this! I've worked in a daycare and taken care of many children in their homes, I raised two kids, and they were ALL potty trained when they were 2, 2 1/2 at the latest. Lydia, my third child started using the potty at about 1 1/2. I thought, "Oh great, that was easy." UGGH! How little did I know! She would go for months, going on the potty, not having and accident, then BOOM! WET PANTS every stinkin day! She turned 5 in December, and has done really well since then. But, I also know that with her, just when I think it's all over with, it starts again! It has made me feel like such a bad mother. I mean, what am I doing wrong!? She is a really smart little girl, so I just don't get it! I am hoping we are past the worst of it, but I have a feeling I better send extra clothes with her to school next year, just in case.

Anyway, you were very brave to post this! And, I thank you, there is something comforting knowing that I'm not the only one that stuggled with this!

 

[TarzansKat]

Since everyone's been throwing in their two cents, I'm going to add mine!

I had been pulling my hair out with DS over the weekend on one particular day, gave up and put him back in pull ups. Well let me tell you...as soon as he got back in pull ups we've had minimal accidents, less than with regular underwear. Welcome to my world where up is down and forwards is backwards.

Today, in a pull up all day and only 1 accident! He has done all his pees on the potty, and just has trouble with pooping on the potty in general, so I am really admiring his progress.

I think the point, for me, is every child and situation is different, so what may work in one family may be totally the wrong thing for another. Thanks to everyone for posting their potty trials...it's really helped to keep me motivated and see the light and the end of the tunnel.