Potty Training: I Wouldn’t Use the Word “Trained” Yet
It has been almost three weeks since we started our second attempt of potty training with Buba. He hasn’t worn a diaper during waking hours since April 16th, but I certainly wouldn’t used the word trained to describe what we’ve got going on. Yes, he does pee in the potty, but he does not yet tell us when he has to go.
So, it’s like this: All day long I’m saying, “Remember to tell Mommy when you have to use the potty. Keep your big boy underpants dry and clean.” And most of the time Buba’s response is, “No.”, meaning he doesn’t have to go. Sometimes he’ll say, “Need go potty.” And then he’ll go to the potty and go. But if it so happens that I don’t suggest that he tell me when he needs to go, at a time when he actually needs to go (make sense?), he’ll have an accident. And he hasn’t pooped in the potty since day one. He waits for his nap or nighttime diaper, and then wakes up with a rash all over his bum.
There are certain times of the day when I’ll insist that Buba sit on the potty and try to go (before we leave the house, before bath, and before nap or nighttime diapers are put on). He doesn’t resist these requests, and nine times out of ten, he will go. Buba has only had one accident outside of our home, and he seems really proud of the fact that he’s wearing big boy underpants. But the accidents don’t seem to phase him one bit. And man, is it exhausting to be reminding him all day long.
I asked Buba one day after he’d had three accidents in a short period of time (it was really hot, so I’d given him a lot of water to drink) if he’d rather wear diapers all the time, and his answer was, “I wear big boy unna pants. I making pee ina potty.”
So where does this leave us? In all honesty, I’m not really sure. For those who have potty trained children or who are currently working on it, what do you think? Are we on the right track? Is the constant need for reminding just par for the course? And how the heck do I get him to poop in the potty?
I think your doing great…they just turned 2, and I hear 2.5-3 is normal. Keep it up!
Seriously, what is it with the boys?! Daniel is the same way – the accidents simply don’t seem to bother him in the least. I decided to give it another go this afternoon and put him in undies. He was all kinds of excited, more than happy to sit on the potty periodically and do his best to pee. And then? Poop in the underwear (while M was watching them, naturally), and not a peep from him about it. If this doesn’t kill me…
It sounds awesome to me. From what I hear boys are tough to train so I am not looking forward to training 2 boys. Hopefully Eva Rose will be easy or at least easier!
At the risk of getting jumped on, I’m going to suggest that he’s not ready.
As you know I just trained my son and it took about 1/2 a day and we have only had 2 minor accidents since March. He is not even having accidents at night … we are totally diaper free. I never even think about reminding him to use the potty.
BUT he was almost 3-1/2 when we finally did it.
I WAS a big advocate of early potty training … until I had my kids … then I realized it wasn’t such a big deal … no one is giving out awards for the earliest potty trained child.
I had his twin sister trained awhile ago but he clearly was going to be more challenging … so I waited. And, for us, it turned out to be a good decision.
It just sounds to me that it would be easier for you, for a short time, to go back to diapers and give him more time … he will shortly come to understand that he is in baby diapers and his sister is not.
I think, if you’re willing to keep up the reminders, it’s the way to go. I kept a little potty chair in the room with us at all times the first months we were training in earnest (that is, after the diapers were ditched).
Until 2 months ago, Jessica still needed to be reminded, at least every few hours. She’d get so engrossed in what she was doing that she’d just forget all about the potty until she had an accident, and then she was mortified. They schedule class potty breaks at school every few hours, and that serves the same purpose.
I’m still reminding one of mine to go, especially if we’re getting ready to leave the house. As for pooping? A few times of going in the underwear cured all of my girls.
Hmm, that is a dill pickle. Or maybe more typical for boys to be slower?