Forced Potty Training

[Anonymous]

I used to very happy with my sons preschool until they are basically trying to force him to potty train. My 3.5 year old does not show the signs of readiness. Yes he tells you when he goes pee or poop but has shown no interest in the actual potty. His teacher approached me about potty training about a month ago and I agreed to send in pull-ups but I'm not going to force him to go at home. Well today she sent an email stating that she wants to start full potty training him(underwear only) no later than June so he can be potty trained before he goes to pre-k. My child is very smart and I know he will potty train when he is ready and I feel it doesn't have to be on their time table. Am I wrong in feeling like this? My husband says I'm being unreasonable. I think the teacher is just being lazy and doesn't want to change diapers anymore since my son is the only one still in diapers.

[Anonymous]

To each their own, but 3.5 seems very old to me to be in diapers. Not everything in life is a choice. I don't share the perspective of "wait until they're ready." But, he's your kid, not mine.

[Anonymous]

It's time. OP- some kids simply never show signs of potty training readiness. My oldest was about 3.5 when we trained him--- and it was a struggle. He is 5 now-- he would probably prefer to be in diapers still.
I doubt they will move him up to the Pre-K class in diapers. Quite frankly I'm somewhat surprised he was allowed to move to the 3 year old class in diapers.
My younger two trained much earlier.

[Anonymous]

You are going to get creamed in this forum, OP. Just sayin'.

[Anonymous]

I think the school was being very accommodating by not kicking him out, to be honest with you.

[Anonymous]

It's shocking that they allowed him in a 3 year old classroom without being potty trained. And you're thinking it's unreasonable to have him plan to train by Pre-K?

Not everything should be on the child's timetable.

[Anonymous]

On a related note, my 3.5 year old takes bigger dumps than I do. How long do you want to be wiping that off his back and legs? Treat yo' self to some potty training.

[Anonymous]

I don't mean this in a bad way, but he is a boy and they just don't show signs like you think they will. Mine was 3.5 when the teacher told me it was time to potty train. I took a three day weekend and did it and never had an incident since. I will tell you that NO ONE will change his diapers in pre-K. So you'll have to do it this summer no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I'd be pretty annoyed if my pre-K teacher were wasting time changing another student's diaper (unless that kid had a physical disability or something).

[Anonymous]

It's past time, OP. Your 3.5 year old needs to be out of diapers.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PPs. Many preschools require potty training by 3 and will not allow a student to attend if they are not potty trained. It's not the teacher who is lazy, it is you. Potty train this poor kid already.

[Anonymous]

The fours room does not include a changing station in most preschools/daycares. If you want to hold your child back academically in order to delay potty training, perhaps you have your reasons for doing so - but baring some health issue, your son should be ready to give it a try. You haven't even starting try yet - what do you have to loose from giving your son a chance?

[Anonymous]

Not sure how you figure that your kid is "very smart" when he still poops his pants.

[Anonymous]

Your daycare provider may not have approached you in the most sensitive way, but she is right. Unless your child has special needs you really need to start the process. Is he in full time day care?

[Anonymous]

I teach 3-4 year olds. Some of them still have accidents, but every single one of them is out of diapers and a lot of the kids in the 2s class are potty trained.

Give him 4 days in underwear, op. It's time.