Jan. 29, 2007 - Pee, Poop and Other Potty Training Problems
You'd think I'd be a pro by now, but I'm not!!!!!!!! You'd think that with five children, I'd be able to do this with my eyes closed! But this is an area where I not real good...POTTY TRAINING! My first child was relatively easy to potty train. My second child was so easy I couldn't believe it. I put real underwear on him at 1 1/2, and he never used it on himself until his 3rd birthday. When he saw Chuck E. Cheese, he couldn't hold it. He was so scared. Well, that pretty much says it all. My third was just difficult. He was 3 1/2, and sores would be on his bottom from using it on himself. That's my frog--you know the one who just had a birthday.
But now it is #4's turn. He's 2 1/2. He's a football player/super hero! He calls himself Super Baby, but he isn't potty trained. He uses it in his diaper and takes the diaper off (It doesn't matter if it is pee or poop). He takes of his diaper and sits and smears. He just doesn't want it on him. Well, last night I declared today as a new day! Potty Training Day. I bought pull-ups and got ready. I talked to him, and he said he understood. But after the third poop and wet pull-up. I did the unthinkable. I put a diaper back on him. HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP,HELP! Of course, he took his diaper off when he used it on himself.
I don't know what to do. He's ready. The signs are there. He doesn't want to be wet, he has the language to explain himself, and he even says that he has to go, but when I put him on his potty, he does nothing (not until he gets up and has a pull-up or diaper on)!
I'm sure its me. I want success over night. I don't want to persevere. I want it to be easy--not hard. I want him to wake up tomorrow and say he has to potty and do it in the potty (it would be a done deal)! But I realize that I'll have to train him, but I'm not real confident in my skills. Just think I still have one more to potty train and one on the way! I need your help! Please give me some helpful hints, ideas and strategies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But you might ask at The Homeschool Library - that's where I found the Fine Art of the Week thread last week that led to my son's moment with the Mona Lisa. www.thehomeschoollibrary.com. You'll have to register, but I think that I've seen a difficult potty-training thread in the past couple of days. :)
First I am 50 so, my ideas are antiquated. That is my disclaimer (: But real pants seem to be the best tool I know. Pullups like diapers are still disposable and paper. But cotton feels good. I mean what Super hero in his right mind can pee on Batman?
With one grandson we threatened Jail! Ok that sounds bad, but the 3rd birthday was coming and he was not even considering it. We live in a very small town that has a parade every year and a jail on wheels that they lock you up in and you have to pay to get out. Well we said, "kids that potty in their pants go to jail", showed him the jail and he never went in his pants again. (come to think of it, he was kid #4 too).
It may not help, but hope it gave you a chuckle.
Because of Jesus, Bobbie
Having just potty trained #4, my 21/2 year old, in two days, I would have to agree with Bobbie.... Whatever you do, DO NOT put a diaper or pull-up on him except for night-time.
The weekend before our first potty-trianing day, Josh and I had a special "date" dedicated to finding a potty chair and picking out treats (he chose little licorice nibs). While we were out I explained to him that he was becoming a big boy and that he was going to use the toilet and wear big boy undies, like his older brothers. He was sooo excited! He asked me if he could get race car undies and I told him that when he stayed dry and went potty on the toilet, like a big boy, that I would buy him race car undies. Boy, was he thrilled!
Anyway, come Monday morning (potty-training day one) I took off his diaper and let him run around for a bit without anything on. Every so often I would ask him if he needed to go potty and remind him that he would get a treat if he went on the toilet.
Well, we had two accidents that morning... Each time I explained to him that he needed to go potty in the toilet and would walk him to the toilet and have him sit down to try again. We would then walk back to where he peed and clean it up together. Cleaning it up, coupled with NOT getting a treat was NOT okay with him. He went the rest of the day to the toilet each time he needed to pee.
Now, pooping was a different story... He refused to go at all until the next afternoon when he had his one and only accident in his pants. after that, and the uncomfortableness of it all, he has gone only gone in the toilet since. (Oh, giving him extra treats for going poop in the toilet helped too, I'm sure!)
So, there's my latest success story... I hope you can use some of my ideas to help your little guy master the art of not soiling himself!! Let me know how it goes.
-Christine
Oh, btw, Josh got his race car undies and wants only to wear THEM... It's been good incentive for him to keep them dry!!
(Maybe I should post this on my blog... It could be helpful to others too!)
I feel your pain. I was the worst potty trainer in history!!! (I have three boys.) I started to train my oldest son and it was a disaster. My husband took leave and took over. Enter my second son, yet another disaster. I, too, wanted instant success. Another weeks leave for my husband and, Voila! Done!. And with my third, I didn't even try. Jeff did it all.
His method? Lots of water and pretzels. And every ten minutes he'd lead Jr. to the pot. M & Ms were given as a reward. According to my husband, after a few successful jaunts to the potty, Jr. graduated to target practice with Cheerios. We are a sick family, I know.
My advice, beg your husband to do it if at all possible :0)
Sounds like you are describing my oldest and my 3rd son. They both did this. The thing with them I just put them in regular undies because when I'd put a pullup on them they would just go in that. Pullups seem to be pretty close to diapers so it is not that uncomfortable for them. I also used a timer. I would set it for 30 min. and when it went off I took them to the potty where we would sit and read a book or something until they went. Make sure to give him plenty to drink so he has to go more. I also got lots of pennies and everytime he was successful he got a penny to put into his piggy bank for the prize he wanted to buy. That worked for one. The other I got a potty sticker chart and when he went he got to put a sticker on the chart. When the chart was full he was allowed to pick out a treasure from the treasure box. But staying consistent is the most important thing.
I don't know if my ideas will help, but here is what I have done. I keep my young ones in the cloth thick panties. Then they can feel the gross deposits. It helps with motivation. I also use mini m&ms when they go in the toilet. It has always worked, so far. Hopefully, I will have success with number six baby. My girlfriend mentioned her favorite book Teaching potty training in less than a Day or something like that. Let us know what works for you.
Hi, I'm new here at HSB and just found your blog, I hope you don't mind that I add you to my friends list! May God bless you and your family, your blog is very inspiring!
Hi,
I am still new to HSB. I have 4 children, 3 boys. I know this may sound crazy but....I live in the south and neighbors are not that close. The way I got my two oldest boys to stop peeing on themselves (ok don't think I am nuts pls) I let them pee off the back porch.LOL They loved it and I loved not having to change another diaper. This was shortly before they turned three. By the time they did turn 3yr old they did not like to have the poop on them so they started letting me know they needed to go. I did sit and wait,not always patiently :( for the to do the doo. At times this might take up to 20 minutes,but I knew if they told me they needed to go then they needed to go. The wait was worth it after the fact. Now I am on my fourth child. He is 2 yr and 2 months. He has started letting me know when he needs to go yet I know we are still in the diaper stage for a few more months. Just know that...this too shall pass... and you will be at a different milestone in the journey of motherhood. Be blessed. I really have enjoyed reading your blog.
I'm a wife to a wonderful, loving husband of 13 years. I'm a mom with 7 children aging from 10 years to 9 weeks. I have 1 princess and 6 superheroes. This is my place to share our home, our school and my heart! Welcome! Stop by anytime.
! My first child was relatively easy to potty train. My second child was so easy I couldn't believe it. I put real underwear on him at 1 1/2, and he never used it on himself until his 3rd birthday. When he saw Chuck E. Cheese, he couldn't hold it. He was so scared. Well, that pretty much says it all. My third was just difficult. He was 3 1/2, and sores would be on his bottom from using it on himself. That's my frog--you know the one who just had a birthday. 
). He takes of his diaper and sits and smears. He just doesn't want it on him. Well, last night I declared today as a new day! Potty Training Day. I bought pull-ups and got ready. I talked to him, and he said he understood. But after the third poop and wet pull-up. I did the unthinkable. I put a diaper back on him. HELP, HELP, HELP, HELP,HELP! Of course, he took his diaper off when he used it on himself.
! 
)! But I realize that I'll have to train him, but I'm not real confident in my skills. Just think I still have one more to potty train and one on the way! I need your help! 
Please give me some helpful hints, ideas and strategies
