Monday, January 17, 2011

Potty Training Help, Please!

I am currently trying to potty train my 3-year-old boy (I know, late to the game, but he's had medical issues that made potty training take a back seat.)

Anyway, he recognizes when he has to poop, but he doesn't recognize when he needs to pee.  I have no idea how to help him know when he needs to pee; every time he has an accident and wets himself, he acts like it took him by surprise.  I asked him if he felt that he needed to pee, or if it just happened, and he replied that it just happened. 

How can I help him recognize the signs that he needs to pee?  Any potty training suggestions (for a boy, specifically) would be great!

Thanks in advance for any help!

4 comments:

Meagan Berry said...

I know a few people who had their husband show them a fun "game" to play. They took fruit loops and put them into the toilet and showed them to aim at the loops so it was like a game. Maybe try letting him know that when it's time to go, that means that he get's to play! Maybe he'll pay closer attention to the urge to pee?

Nicole said...

J didn't recognize it either until we got him so used to going every 30-45 minutes. We'd set the timer and just take him whether he wanted to go or not. If he didn't go, fine. We'd just set the timer for 5-10 minutes until he went. Then we'd set the timer for another 30-45 min.

I think it helped "condition" his bladder to recognize, "Hey, I've gotta be emptied now."

We also did the potty treat thing. After we get the pooping thing down, I think we'll move on to the peeing standing up thing. We've actually let him do that in the tub to perfect his aim before I have to clean up pee all over the toilet. :) My mom used to have my little brother try to "dunk cheerios" in the toilet to make it more fun for him.

Good luck! Let us know how it's going!

Mindi said...

I actually just finished potty-training our 3 1/2 year old boy.
We let him pick out his potty, bought potty treats, and started with pullups. We liked the cool alert pullups becuase he actually said "I'm wet" after he went in there. So he recognized that it needed to be changed.
I gave him lots to drink all day, and every 20 minutes would put him on the potty, whether he needed too or not, and we'd 'push' really hard. I'd ask him to "get the toots out", because if they push hard enough to try to toot, they generally pee with it.
Then it was onto poopin on the potty. He wasn't doing this for a long time, he'd go hide to poop in his diaper. It freaked him out at first.
After doin' the poopin on the little potty it was onto DAD teaching him to stand and pee.
Stick with it. It was totally frustrating for me, but you will have alot of messes.
Good luck!!
STICK WITH IT!

jennschmerer said...

I've heard of some people that let their little boys run around without pants on. For some reason, it is more alarming for them to have an accident this way. Unfortunately, it generally works better in the summer when you can avoid messes INSIDE. Good luck- wouldn't go back to potty training again. Ugh!