Advice on potty training

[mizundastood510]

I have 3 boys ages 6,5, and 2. The first two was potty trained by the age of 3. My third son who will be 3 the 14 of January, im having a hard time potty training him. He's a very smart little boy, and very advanced. Its just he uses the bathroom in his pull ups. I'm not sure if its because i spoil him and maybe im not stern enough.I know he understand me because if on him real hard he goes as soon as i turn my back it's a different story. I understand that each kid learns on their own pace, but he needs to go to school and by 3 they need to be potty trained. Can i plz have some advice.

[adgal]

Our boys are the same age.  Mine will be 3 January 22nd.  And like yours, he is also not interested in potty training.  I understand the frustration especially given the school's stance on the issue.  Honestly, I find that to be rather hardline as the average age for boys to potty train is 3 1/2.  

I read a great article not that long ago in Parenting Magazine that said:
  
"3 things you cannot force a child to do.  Sleep, eat and go to the bathroom.  They are 3 things a small child can completely control"

My Pediatrician says the same thing.  There is just no way to make them.  And if you try, it can often have the opposite effect.  We are currently using a sticker chart and I also have a number of small items from the dollar store I wrapped up.   I don't currently use the reward for going on the potty, I use it if he will just sit on the potty (he was seriously resisting this for the last while).   I also leave the bathroom door open and he likes to come in and flush when daddy or I use the potty.   But to make them go?  i don't think you can.  I might see if you can find a school less rigid that will work with you.  A school that forces this issue really doesn't have a child's best interest at heart, at least not in my mind, and that would concern me.  They are out there.  My son's preschool would prefer potty trained, but they work with me at his pace.   Best of luck in whatever you decide to do.

[AnnieBrooke]

It's really hard to me to believe that a school will not let a child, especially a boy, enter at age 3 without being potty trained.  I would find another school rather than tear your hair out over it.  Three is pretty early for boys, as adgal says.  My son potty trained by 3 1/2 for solids and 4 for liquids, and it was not strained or difficult, he just went his own pace and saw the kids around him at preschool doing it.  I'd agree that it's time to find a school that's more in tune with the reality of kids' bodies and readiness.

[Gabriel_Charlie]

Do the *clap clap* potty dance, Lol.. But seriously it worked for most of my friends that have older kids! Hope this helps!

[Koala93]

I used a handful of methods.  Not sure which one worked but by the end of my vacation he was potty trained!    
Ok so the first is read the potty books and make it a topic.

In the summer I had him go naked at home.  Most time was spent playing in the sprinklers.  This was so when he went pee he saw what was going on.

Another was to keep track of how long it took his body to pee after drinking, and to offer a drink hourly not whenever.  After getting a base line I took him to sit a moment.

I moved the potty to the living room the first week so it was not boring or scary.

We used cloth diaper when we went out.  No diapers in the day and pull-ups at night.

The last was from Dr. Phil.  When there is an accident, and there will be many.  Have them practice pulling pants down, sit, stand, pull pants up, get a hug or high five and repeat as many times as they will put up with.  He said 15 or so, my son would only do it 2 or 3 times.

So this crazy plan work in 3 days for the first potty use on his own and less than two weeks to fully trained.  He was 2 1/2 and it was also for school.