I will admit it, we were not really the ones that potty trained our oldest son. NHL was almost potty trained before 2 years old with us. Then he was finally able to walk and we lost some ground. Being on the move was too much fun to bother with the potty. A short time after this, NHL was moved into the toddler classroom at daycare. After a few weeks, they asked if we would send in a bunch of underpants and lots of spare clothing. They were going to work on using the potty with a bunch of kids at the same time. NHL loved this. He was able to sit on the potty with his friends and chat while learning. NHL and all of his friends quickly learned to use the potty together.
Flash forward to my 2 1/2 year old son JSL. He has used the potty several times over the last year. Not too long ago he was eager to pee on the potty for a Sesame Street sticker and Diego potty seat. I thought we had something here.
Then, things changed. He was in the tub and had to get out quickly since he seemed like he was going to dirty the tub water, if you know what I mean. Daddy apparently scared him. Since that time, he has only agreed to sit on the potty once or twice. Every other time he refuses.
Me: "JSL, let’s go to the potty."
JSL: "NO! Me no go potty!"
Me: "JSL why not?"
JSL "NHL pee on potty. Daddy pee on potty. Mommy pee on potty. No me!"
*sigh* Mentally banging my head against the wall here. I know not to push this because if I do it will make matters worse. Instead, at least once a day, I ask if he wants to use the potty without an pressure. Typically, the same conversation of sorts takes place.
Of course, the most ironic part of this is my 2 1/2 year old is obsessed with potty talk. He will sit there with a huge grin on his face and say:
"Pee pee, poopy . . . potty talk! Ha-ha Hee-hee!"
This then leads to NHL scolding JSL, telling me to do something about the little guy and his potty talk. What can I do?! I just wish the little guy would channel his potty talk into using the potty for real!
My question to you this week:
Do you have any pointers on how to help potty train a stubborn 2 1/2 year old little person?
It is really too cold here to leave him sans pants and underwear to figure things out. Plus, I think puddles may freeze on contact with our hardwood floors. The potty talk is being worked on via time outs in a chair as I type (literally).
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Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the MckLinky there if you are participating.
Aloha #78
With my little girl we did the prize system which was every time she would pee she got two stickers one for hersellf and one for the board if she went poopy then she got three stickers one for herself and two for the board. After she got ten stickers she got to cash them in for a prize from the bowl which I bought a bag of this party stuff in the party supplies at walmart it has toys and candy so she had an asortment of what she could get. She loved it and she learned how to count to ten that way too! I dont know how it would work with two kids though because your other one may get jealous of it so you might have to give lots of stickers! Good luck!!
No help from me. I’m trying to figure it out myself. Would love to read what other readers have to suggest.
.-= Kmelion´s last blog ..Public School =-.
It’s been A long time. If there is something he really wants, suggest if he can master this big boy potty thing, he will get it. Of course sometimes it’s just the age and he is not there yet.
.-= Auntie E´s last blog ..Aloha Friday =-.
FYI: your link is to last weeks AF.
.-= Auntie E´s last blog ..Aloha Friday =-.
I hate to say it but the way the daycare did it is the best method I have ever found. Just put him in underwear and do it. There may be a bunch of accidents to start with but soon enough he will get it. Just do not give up – even when it feels like it is not working it will. Just keep going. Oh and keep him by your side at all times so that he does not get away with not using the potty for very long. But he will not like feeling wet and dirty.
.-= Upstatemomof3´s last blog ..Jingle Bells? =-.
Peeing on cheerios in the toilet and making it a game to ‘sink’ them also works (for boys). Plus, it helps with their ‘aim’. :)
.-= sheila´s last blog ..Aloha Friday Annoying friends. =-.
Will check back to see what others come up with – we’re going the “big girl pants after Christmas” route. We have been trying since summer to get our Abby motivated. She has done it a couple of times and is elated and gets fawned over by us, over the phone with her uncle and on Skype with her Nana. Then she pees in her diaper a half hour later.
.-= RobMonroe´s last blog ..On Our Birthday =-.
A lot of people don’t realize that they need to be physically ready. If they are not then they can’t do it. Boys generally take longer than girls as well.
Have a great day.
http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/12/are-you-into-holiday-season-this-year.html
.-= Harriet´s last blog ..I love December Stuff- updated 12/4 =-.
the reward system did good for my toddler as well, the prize – a piece of M&M or some band aids, he thought they are stickers. it took me a week of reinforcement to finally have him using the potty for the poo-poo! and don’t ever stop once you have started, so that you will not lose your momentum.
.-= Charlotte (Life’s a Charm!)´s last blog ..For Goodness Sake =-.
My oldest son was kinda like that and that age! He just wasn’t ready! I just waited and retried and two months and he was done withtin one or two days!!
.-= Olga´s last blog ..AloHa FriDaY!!! =-.
patience my friend is all I can say I would take them to the bathroom about every 2 hours and let them try I only had trouble with 3 of the 8 that I have helped potty train
.-= angie´s last blog ..Fun Recipes to Keep Kids Busy =-.
I wrote a blog post about this in July or August. Oh yes, I know how you feel. My only advice is keep trying, but if he isn’t ready then tell him that when he wants to wear big boy pants he can pee in the potty. That is what worked for Lizzie. I had to wait for her body to be ready. For boys this might not happen until closer to 3 or 3.5 years old.
Good luck!
.-= Annie @ Mama Dweeb´s last blog ..Aloha Friday! Saving Money at Christmas =-.
I agree with those who said he may just not be ready. The average age for boys to train is 38 months, I think. Stickers worked for Alex but not until he was really ready, and daycare trained him successfully. The daycare here is not having as much success with Zach but we’re going to work with him over the holiday break and I’m going to talk to the director today about putting him in the 3 year old class in January, even though it’s a potty trained class. I’m hoping being around all of the other kids who are trained will kick start things. I may also just send in a bunch of underwear and spare clothes and have them go at it.
.-= Nancy T.´s last blog ..The Santa Mystique =-.
First, I’ve learned (after a disaster with my first) that waiting till three years old is a good idea with boys. Secondly by far the quickest easiest way is to leave them naked.
I don’t have any advices for you because I am on the same boat.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Stopping from An Island Life.
.-= Annie´s last blog ..Aloha Friday!!!!!!!! =-.
My son was stubborn with it too. I tried everything with him. It came down to the fact that I wanted him to go to preschool at 4 yrs old so I really had to potty train him before he could go. I finally just put him in the underwear and let him have at it. He had a lot of accidents, but finally got the hang of it. Once I switched to underwear I never went back to diapers. That was the only way my son finally did it. They say boys are harder then girls and I believe it, because my daughter wanted to do it on her own at barely 2 years old.
Do you have any nephews? Once my son saw that his cousins were wearing “big boy pants” and saw how it worked (his cousin demonstrated for him) he decided he wanted to be potty trained too. He was trained in a couple of days after that.
http://atticgirl.blogspot.com/2009/12/aloha-friday-whats-up-for-weekend.html
.-= shelly´s last blog ..Aloha Friday: What’s Up For The Weekend =-.
My little girl is stubborn so I really have no good pointers at the moment. I am still working on her. Good Luck
Can’t say as I do since I’ve never had to do that LOL :) Have a great Friday :)
.-= Thom´s last blog ..Weekend Reflections – #13 =-.
we are in the same boat with Taylor. The other day I went to change his diaper and he was in the middle of a bowel movement. I said lets go on the potty, he responded, no I go poop here on the couch. The boy has no interest in using the potty. Good luck!
.-= Lori´s last blog ..taylor and best bud =-.
Since I’ve done it all and nothing works I’m at my wits end and might go military on her butt!
.-= JamericanSpice´s last blog ..Aloha Friday: Bookmark or crease? =-.
My suggestion would be to wait a little longer. He may not be ready yet – boys are usually older than girls when they’re ready – and it will just frustrate you both to push it if he’s not. Good luck!
My almost 4 year old is still not completely potty trained. Any suggestions for me? :-)
.-= kailani´s last blog ..Arm & Hammer SpinBrush Toothbrushes for Kids =-.