Potty Training

[dardamico]

Hi Everyone-

I'm new to this forum, although I'm I've been posting on the fertility forum since I'm pregnant.  My problem is that I've been having a hard time trying to potty train my 3 1/2 year old boy.  I'm nervous because I'm pregnant with twins that are due in November, but they'll probably be here earlier.  I'm concerned that ones the twins are here, my son still won't have any interest in potty training at all.  I tried the "One Day Method" last summer and that didn't work.  I figured it was just too soon.  I've tried telling him the kind of rewards he'll get for finally going on the potty.  I've tried other stuff.  He just doesn't have an interest it seems.  Eventually I had to take a break and now I've started up again and I have him wearing big boy underwear.  Hopefully that will help.  Does anyone have any tips?  

Thank you!

[MomofIan]

My son finally potty trained around 3 1/2 but it was hard.  I was pregnant with our third child and I also had a 2 year old daughter wanting to get into the mix too.  We tried a lot of stuff, pull-ups, reg underwear but unfortunately they are not ready, until they are ready.  Pull-ups did not work and neither did putting the diapers back on, which we resorted to because of all the accidents.  The regular underwear and constantly taking him to the bathroom worked the best for us.  You can also look into cloth-like training pants which feel like regular underwear but are more absorbent.  Another tip, try to find a soft potty seat that you can put on the toilet with his favorite character on it.  We got a Spongebob one and it worked like a charm.  Hope all this helps a little.  Congrats on having wonderfully healthy children.  

[dardamico]

Hi-
Thanks for getting back to me.  It sounds like you had your hands full with potty training since you too were pregnant and you also had your 2 year old daughter.  I've heard of those cloth-like training pants and was thinking about getting them.  Actually, this week the training has been going pretty well to my surprise.  Today will be the 4th day.  I have my son wearing regular underwear and yesterday he didn't have any accidents (knock on wood).  He's pretty good at telling me when he has to go.  Hopefully he'll keep it up, but we'll see.  Now I'm just worried about taking him out in public!  Thanks again for your help and advice.

[pjcontreras]

I am potty training my 2 and a 1/2 yr old. It's not easy, but just when ever I am changing his pull up, I have him sit on the potty. Some times he will, sometimes he says no , so I don't force it with him. But I got a speical box, took him to the store with me, let him pick out stickers and stamps and I told him at the store, that they were speical stickers/staps for when he sits on the potty and tries to go pee or poo. Every time he sits on the potty even for a minute, I will let get out the box, and let him pick one. My husband and I tell him he's doing a good job when he tries. the a few weeks ago, he pee'd in there. We all said yea! and hugged him, and  came to see it, and just told him we were so proud of him, an dhe got to get stamped all over. I got all sorts of stamps. Frogs, bugs, tigger and pooh. He loves it. Then he's been taking shower with his dad in the morning too, and we just tell him he's being such a big boy!
I know you 've got your hands full. I hope things go ok with your preg.
I would just try to do things gradually. And give him a small reward, and praise him any time he even tries. See if this will help.
God bless you.

[dardamico]

Hi-
You are definitely right in saying it's not easy, but I'm just happy that my son is really doing a great job this week (the first week).  He had accidents in the beginning of the week with peeing and now he tells me when he has to pee.  What's happening now is he's having pooping accidents.  He only had two, but I was surprised because he tried a few times in the beginning to poop in the potty with no success.  I know that will just come in time.  I also know that I have to relax a little bit since he's really come a long way in just one week. It sounds like you've been having great success with your little one.  It feels so good to be able to praise the so much.  I've definitely rewarded him with toys he's wanted and I know that's helped.  It's funny too when you mentioned how your son loves taking showers because that's exactly how my little guy is.  He loves taking showers too.  Thanks so much for all your help.  I really appreciate it!

[Rachelinpain]

just wanted to say I can sympathize, I was potty training my 3 year old  when i was pregnant with twins as well, (I guess he wasn't quite 3-but with the twins coming we were pushing him along) we tried everything too, it finally just clicked with him, the same thing happened with my now 4 year old, it was like he had his third birthday, i put underware on him and that was it.  My 3 year old who is now now 3 1/2 year old (my twins are 15 months) still has pooping accidents, but I am pretty sure with lots of support he will grow out of that too.  Now I have a 2 1/2 year old girl i am trying to potty train who is absolutely terrified of the potty and will not even sit on her teeny tiny one, unless she is forced.  Now with the twins coming up behind her, I am trying to be encouraging but having one more out of diapers would be great!!  I think they all do it in their own time, So far my experience fortunately has been that one day they just get it...I think I am going to have issues with my daughter though since she is so terrrified, but she is one of those children that is terrified of everything!!  She is adopted and may have some sort of sensory issues going on but I will probably give her till she is 3 1/2 before I start to worry too much.  Best of luck and congrats on your twins...they are ajoy, especially once you survive the first 6 months...you are trully blessed, mine were conceived through IVF and were # 5 and 6 for us (our other 4 are all adopted), it has been a wonderful adventure!!

[pjcontreras]

Hi, sounds like your little guys is busy! That is great!! Don't worry about it and he'll come along, sounds like he's already got the hang of it pretty well... Just keep doing what you are doing. He sounds like a sweet heart!
My little guy was running around with out his pull up off the other day ALL AFTERNOON!!!! But he pee'd in the potty 5 times. (he also pooped on the floor for the frist time- ha! That will teach me huh?!!)
It was actually very funny, and made me feel terrible, because usually I am really good at watching my mouth around him, but apparently I had said damn it at some point, or maybe my husband...(I'll just blame him!) but how I found out he'd pooped was he walked over to me with his hand on his hip and said, "oh damn it, I pooped on the floor!"

These little guys will surprise you. Pretty sweet.
This week he has only gone about once a day for the most part, I still ask him every time I change the pull up, and he's at least trying to sit on the potty each time.
Yep he loves the showers though.He loves water anyway, but I think they like the special time with dad too.
Loves the stickers and stamps.
Here's my guy
www.contrerashome.us
He's a handful...and a miracle.
How are you feeling with the twins? Is your pregnancy going ok?