Potty Training

starnac

Hi, I hope it's okay posting here but I really need advice. My son is 2years 9months old and we are starting to potty train him. We have been doing it for 3 days now (I know that isn't that long) but he is refusing to wee on the potty. He has speech issues so is unable to ask to go on the potty but he does know he needs to go and knows what to do.

He happily pulls down his pants and sits on the potty but as soon as he feels like he is going to go, he gets up and either wees on the floor or pulls his pants back up to wee in. He refuses to put a nappy back on but I really don't know what to do now. I've tried praising him, letting him watch the iPad while sat on the potty, singing to him, reading to him. I've tried walking away and letting him do it by himself.

I'm getting so frustrated as I can see he knows what he is doing when we wees on the floor but I don't know how to help him overcome what I assume is a fear of weeing on the potty.

How can I help him?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

neon_dannii

I'd say leave it until he is three! Might be just a little too early for him.

Marmaduke123

Sounds as if he thinks sitting on the potty is just a game, he hasn't made the connection that the wee goes in it. Let him stand up, and hold the potty up so you catch the wee in it. Lots of cheering if you catch the wee!

HTB_newbie

I had a couple of failed attempts with my son and we went back to pull-ups (I despaired that he would never get trained) then one day after I'd given up for a couple of months he simply announced himself that he was ready, refused to wear pull-ups and went on the potty as if he always had.

When my daughter was ready, at first she wouldn't use a potty at all but she would sit on the toilet with one of those plastic seats that make the toilet gap smaller. Maybe he would make the connection more using the toilet as he would of seen you use it?

Try to relax, once he decides he wants to he'll do it!

ampersand

Little chaps I've had dealings with, long ago now, liked to do it Daddy's way. Felt important putting 'their' step in front of toilet then standing up, performing. Even better if he chooses it -
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=boys+plastic+toilet+step&rlz=1C1GGIT_enGB308GB353&oq=boys+plastic+toilet+step&aqs=chrome..69i57.5248j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I would say it's important for him to feel in charge of his boy bits and handling them appropriately, a little shake, wash hands is part of this. Aiming and making a game of that happens too. It doesn't matter.

You've done well to ask here early on, before you both become unhappy.

dandelionclock30

neon_dannii wrote: »

I'd say leave it until he is three! Might be just a little too early for him.

You are joking right! I'd be asking the health Visitor for advice. I was toilet trained by 18 months, 3 is too old in my opinion.

starnac

HTB my daughter just suddenly decided one day too and never had an accident (although we had previously had failed attempts). DS is older now than she was then because we have been trying to concentrate on his speech issues.

Dandelion I also think 3 is too old but I will not be asking my Health Visitor for advice as they have been next to no help since he was born.

ampersand thank you for the link. I will take a look at them. I wanted to ask now as I am afraid of putting him off if I get too stressed over it.

marmaduke someone else suggested this but he found the whole thing too weird.

I think I might go and buy one of those toilet seat things and get the step down from the attic. That way we can try the toilet, either sitting or standing.

Thank you all for your help

ampersand

op - are you doing this alone, or is Dad helping? Copying Dad or target male is a strong key to progress.

Blessings to you all and progress little by little with your son's speech difficulties[I have an LTCL in Speech and Drama from 40+ years ago, have worked in this area.]

dandelionclock30

Good luck with it OP, it sounds like it might be better to go straight for the toilet with the step.

starnac

I'm pretty much doing it alone as DH works long hours. He would like to help but is a bit limited due to his working hours. Should I encourage DS to follow his dad into the bathroom?

ampersand

Yes. It can even become ' only we men can do this.':-)

...and still is, in later years, when boating, also useful on compost heap etc.etc.