Potty training boys

It's been a difficult process potty training my three and four year old boys. I have tried everything that you can imagine. My four year old makes it in the potty sometimes, but usually poops in his big boy underwear. The three year old constantly wears pull ups. At night if I don't put on diapers on them, they will go in the bed. It's been a traumatic year for them. Their mother was convicted of using drugs, and they haven't seen her for nine months.

[specialmom]

Hi,  boys ARE hard to potty train.  You hear lots of stories of how easy someone's child was to train----  but don't believe it.  The average age for boys to be potty trained is 3 and a half.  My boys are now 5 and 4 and both were work to potty train.  

My oldest did pretty well with a small reward when he went on the potty.  He got 2 skittles (and, of course, so did his brother----  so he was always excited when he went too).  Peeing came first.  He got that down.  He didn't like the feeling of pee in his underwear, so that happened only one time.  Pooping was a little harder.  I watched him closely and realized that he had certain times of day this usually happened.  I got him on the potty at these times.  (for him it was late afternoon and before bed-----  still is).  I let him have books or whatever and just waited.  Then I praised him beyond belief for this!

With regards to nighttime, it is NOT unusual at all for thee kids to have nighttime issues still.  If they are sound sleepers, our pediatrician says this can go on for awhile.  That is why they make those night time sleepers for kids.  They are like a cross between underwear and diapers, just in case.  They can be pulled down if a child has to go to the bathroom.  They look a little like pull ups but more like underwear and don't leak.  I'd try to cut down on liquids in the evening.  and praise for dry nights.  But I wouldn't be too concerned if they are wetting at night still.  Pretty normal and my 5 year old still sleeps in underjams (those things I was telling you about) as he is a sound sleeper and just in case) completely with our doctors blessing as no big deal.

My younger guy was really hard to potty train as he didn't want to do it.  He kept saying, but I'm the baby of the family.  He'd go pee once in a while but could care less.  Finally I left him bare bottomed and he was potty trained in two days and hasn't looked back.

Sometimes actually putting a child on the potty every 30 or 45 minutes will help so they get the idea (for the younger boy).  And little prizes when the deed is done.  

Try to relax too.  They feel your stress over it and it makes it harder for them.  And please try not to punish them for accidents.  Good luck!!!