potty training panic

[nonzerosum]

All of my potty training tricks are backfiring with my almost 3 year old DS. I know I shouldn't necessarily push the issue if he's showing signs of resistance, but I really would like him to be trained. We are going on a Disney cruise in 3 months, and DS can't go into anything beyond a splash pool if not fully trained, nor can he participate in the kids clubs. This would be a HUGE drag. As you can tell, I'm highly motivated to get the potty training going. I've done the usual sticker/prize/incentive stuff to which he is only moderately interested. What tips can you share? When did you transition from pull-ups to underwear? DD was so easy to train, DS is a whole other story.

 

[mjkacmom]

Has he been okay nakey-butt? I've found that if they have more than 2 accidents nakey-butt, they're not ready. No pants, potty in the room, yada-yada. Pullups are for outings before they've transitioned to pants, IMHO - they're just diapers in the shape of underwear. I go from nakey, to pants, to underpants - it took months to train my first 2 the traditional underwear route, and less than a week for my 3 nakey-butters (#3 was trained in an hour - I took the diaper off, and she never wanted it back on).

 

[69RoadRunner]

To train my son for number 2, we stockpiled a bunch of toy magazines. We'd have him sit on the throne and go through the magazines until bombs away.

My daughter was willing to go number 1 at a younger age. She doesn't have the patience yet to flip through catalogs. We finally got her to go number 2 on the potty by putting a new toy up high and telling her she'd get it if she went number 2 on the potty.

She did it once. She still rarely tells us when she needs to go number 1, but we do get her to go pretty often. It's been like this for 7 months (she's 2.5 now).

You can't force it or rush it. The light just has to click for them.

 

[cmaee]

Are you in the position to do nothing else but potty train all day for a few days - like a potty training bootcamp? I found that when I didn't have distractions that pulled me away that I could tell when my sons were getting ready to go and would suggest that they go. It is time consuming, but if you had a few days where everything revolved around the potty, then that might help. I used pull-ups for about 1 day and they are just a diaper. My DS didn't care if they pulled it on or not...it was a diaper to them.

How strict is the kids programs on accidents? I know that when kids are newly potty trained and get busy doing something fun (which I am sure that they will be doing) that accidents happen.

 

[PollyannaMom]

.... I've done the usual sticker/prize/incentive stuff to which he is only moderately interested. What tips can you share? When did you transition from pull-ups to underwear? DD was so easy to train, DS is a whole other story.

DS didn't get the sticker thing at that age either. I second the nakey-butt suggestion for #1! I think they are just more aware of the sensation of having to go when nothing is pushing on them. You've got to plan to spend some time at home, but it's worth it.

We also did the high-up toy for #2 that another poster mentioned, and it worked like a charm as well! (But I never knew exactly how much impact it made until a couple of weeks ago. - He saw a little kid playing with the sort of toy we had used, and actually mentioned the whole thing!)

 

[Mickeypooh99]

I have potty trained many kids. I think the best thing is like a pp said and have them go nakey-butt. This works great if you can either go outside or somewhere without carpet. I have potty trained kids in one day. I let them wear a long shirt so they aren't exposed to the other children in my house. Somehow they just seem more aware of what is going on if it isn't covered up.

I have a friend who bought really bulky cloth diapers and plastic pants. She put them on her son and said she couldn't afford the regular diapers anymore and he would have to wear these until he started using the potty. They were so uncomfortable he was trained in 2 days.

 

[puffkin]

Nakey butt worked for us too. He was in long t-shirts at home pretty much all the time except for naps/bed. We used pull-ups only when out of the house for errands longer than 1/2 hour. Once he mastered nakey butt then we went to just underwear for awhile and then finally pants and underwear. My son has no confusion with pull ups (he refuses to go in them unless it is a pure accident) but I know a lot of kids do get confused by them.

Another thing to look at is your potty seat. My son wasn't real interested in the potty seats. We bought a really great and stable potty ring for the toilet and he much preferred that. We also let him stand to pee when he got a little bit of control.....again he seemed to prefer that. I am a HUGE fan of the Baby Bjorn potty training products. They are fantastic and so easy to use and clean. I wouldn't waste my money on the other junk out there!

 

[mjkacmom]

Nakey butt worked for us too. He was in long t-shirts at home pretty much all the time except for naps/bed. We used pull-ups only when out of the house for errands longer than 1/2 hour. Once he mastered nakey butt then we went to just underwear for awhile and then finally pants and underwear. My son has no confusion with pull ups (he refuses to go in them unless it is a pure accident) but I know a lot of kids do get confused by them.

Another thing to look at is your potty seat. My son wasn't real interested in the potty seats. We bought a really great and stable potty ring for the toilet and he much preferred that. We also let him stand to pee when he got a little bit of control.....again he seemed to prefer that. I am a HUGE fan of the Baby Bjorn potty training products. They are fantastic and so easy to use and clean. I wouldn't waste my money on the other junk out there!

I highly recommend these seats as well. I've had MANY, and these are the easiest to clean, comfy for the kids, and boys don't need to remember to lean forward.

 

[*pixie*dust*]

Nakey butt didnt work for my son at all. He just went on the floor. I backed off training and then all the sudden on his own he started wanting to go. Since he first made the #2 in the potty on his own we have had NO accidents. He just wasnt ready when I was trying before.

Also, the pools on the disney cruise are very crowded and chaotic. It is doubtful he would have that great of a time in the pool anyway so dont let the pool thing get you down!

Good Luck!

 

[MissFitt]

Good Luck! I didn't press my DS (3) to be trained by a specific time -- when he was ready he did it on his own however we have hit a bump in the road. After about 2 months of no problems all of a sudden he had been doing #2 in his pants (he says he's scared b/c a boy at preschool told him a monster is in the potty -- strange b/c he'll go on the potty for #1) I don't know what to do to get him back on track, nothing is working and it's been about 2 weeks

 

[puffkin]

Good Luck! I didn't press my DS (3) to be trained by a specific time -- when he was ready he did it on his own however we have hit a bump in the road. After about 2 months of no problems all of a sudden he had been doing #2 in his pants (he says he's scared b/c a boy at preschool told him a monster is in the potty -- strange b/c he'll go on the potty for #1) I don't know what to do to get him back on track, nothing is working and it's been about 2 weeks

Take a cheap spray bottle and fill it with some water and a little vinegar (for the smell). Call it monster repellent. Have him spray the toilet before he goes to "keep the monster away". You can even put a couple of monster stickers on the bottle to make it look more real.

 

[RMulieri]

We tried the nakey butt thing too...it never worked.Nothing did for DD.When she was 3 we took her pull-ups away and told her she can either go back to diapers, or big girl undies.She chose diapers for another week , then decided she was going to wear undies.We put rubber pants over her undies...she peed in them once and never did it again.No pull ups at night,no more accidents.I personally think she was just ready for the transition.I know it is not what you want to hear, but if you have tried all the advice given and he still isn't getting it he just isn't ready yet.

 

[labdogs42]

Good Luck! I didn't press my DS (3) to be trained by a specific time -- when he was ready he did it on his own however we have hit a bump in the road. After about 2 months of no problems all of a sudden he had been doing #2 in his pants (he says he's scared b/c a boy at preschool told him a monster is in the potty -- strange b/c he'll go on the potty for #1) I don't know what to do to get him back on track, nothing is working and it's been about 2 weeks

My DS has regressed on the #2 in the potty thing, too. He has been 100% pee trained (even at night) since early last summer. Poop came later, but I thought we were totally good on that back in September. Well, we went to Disney twice (Sept and Nov), got a little off track both times and now with all of the Christmas stress, he is back to going in his underwear. He seems to know how to "hold it", too, which is a BAD thing, so I don't want to bring too much attention to the issue, for fear that he'll hold it more! It isn't a monster in the potty thing. I can't figure out what it is! (he tells me different reasons every day, I swear). Sorry to get off track, but if anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

As for the OP, I don't know what to tell you. I was worried about my DS going to preschool and having accidents, but he saves the accidents for at home! Maybe your son will stay dry while he's in the kid's club! Sorry that is probably no help at all!

 

[jack hannah bananah]

I am in the thick of it right now with my 3rd. No pants doesn't work - he just runs around the house saying "shake booty" and shakes his naked butt in everyone's (even the cat's) face.

I found what works for my kids is incentives. You just have to find the right one. For my first it was getting to go to school and go to the Eagle's Nest (a place for kids at our grocery store). For my second it was about spending time with mom. I had just had my third and she just wanted mommy time. If she went in the potty, I stopped what I was doing and read her a book. If she stayed dry all day, I would lie down with her at night until she fell asleep (or I did - remember I had a newborn)
My third, Eagle's Nest worked for awhile, but I had to find something new. Now he is all about marshmallows - I bought the big chocolate ones. I think all he has eaten today is marshmallows (and a little cereal), but no accidents

Good Luck!

 

[Drewsmommybear]

When it came to the potty training, my DS was just not into it. Personally, I've heard enough stories to believe that boys are harder to potty train than girls. We did nakey-butt, we did training pants, we did a sticker chart. Nothing worked. Then, at 3 1/2, I decided that enough was enough.

The first thing we did was to take DS to a place where you could make your own remote controlled cars. He picked out the one that he wanted and we told him that when he could use the potty, we would buy it. Yes, I know it's a bribe but at that point I thought that I would be buying pull ups for him to wear to his graduation so I was up to trying anything.

My DS was not into the potty seat either. He liked his Elmo toilet seat ring and was happy to sit on it. Since I was on summer break, we didn't have to go anywhere and all of our time was devoted to the toilet. I would set a timer for an hour. When it went off, we would go to the bathroom and stay there reading books until he went. Then, it was a massive potty party and the timer was set for an hour again. We did this until there was a pattern and I slowly stretched the time.

I think a month later we were at Ride Makerz putting together a fire truck. Most of it was about being more strong willed than him.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

DD was doing fairly well with potty training, but wasn't quite there. We were going to Disney for her third birthday and I told her Mickey did not allow little girls who still wore diapers to come to his house. Be in big girl panties or no trip. That worked, so well in fact, that I wanted her to wear a pull up on the plane "just in case". She absolutely refused and began crying that she was a big girl and WOULD NOT wear then anymore. NO, NO, NO! I couldn't even get her to wear them overnight at the hotel. I was afraid she might have an accident in her sleep, but no go, and no accident, I'm happy to report. Of course, she still had an occasional accident for a while after that, most usually when she was sick and running a fever, etc.

If your son is successful with his potty training, you also run the risk that he will tell anyone who will listen, that he doesn't potty in his pants anymore. That was fun all week!

For the posters who are horrified and I think I would have canceled our trip, of course that's not the case, but she didn't need to know that!

 

[tam626]

I bribed my son with m & m's if he peed in the potty.

 

[BeccahRN]

We're in basically the same position! I am training my son right now (he'll be 3 in March) because we're going on a Disney cruise late Feb, early March. Age-wise he'll be allowed into the Oceaneer's club if he's potty trained since he turns 3 March 10th. He's doing very well with #1, a few accidents here and there but he's initiating on his own a lot too and has stayed dry for entire days. We've been working on it very consistently since the start of Christmas vacation, so over 2 weeks now. #2, he's still doing in his pants. He gets jelly beans for #1, and m&m's for #2 but he's only done #2 once or twice.

He is motivated and not at all afraid of the potty or resistant to sitting, he just either doesn't know yet when the BM is going to happen or doesn't associate that feeling with needing to run to the potty. We started out using the timer, when the beep goes off it's "trying time". Now I'm backing off the timer to let him self-initiate more.

We have 6 1/2 weeks till our trip. If he's trained enough and it works out that he can go to the kids club, great, I am really hoping for that. But if not then it wasn't meant to be. I am not pushing him at all (and not implying in any way that you are!). I haven't even mentioned anything about potty training and the cruise to him because I don't think he's even old enough for it to be a motivator - I don't think he can imagine what the difference will be for him if he's potty trained. I think he'll have a way better time in the kids club than the nursery or with us, but again, what's meant to be will happen.

I would like any insight anyone has into what does happen if/when a kid has an accident in the kids club - anyone btdt?

 

[jennb529]

I bribed my son with m & m's if he peed in the potty.

This worked for my son too, but with Hershey's kisses. While I was on a trip to New York my grandmother kept my sons. She gave Read a chocolate everytime he went potty. Four days later, when I got home, I had a completely trained three year old! Easiest potty training I ever did

My grandmother also said that it helped to give my oldest son a chocolate when he went to the restroom so that the younger one would see that there was an incentive.

 

[jennb529]

I forgot that we trained out oldest by promising him a trip to Disney World! He got trained and off we went! Didn't work this time because the trip was already planned too far out.