Toddler won't pee on potty

[Anonymous]

We are on day six of potty training (in our second attempt), and my 2.5 year old still has not peed on the potty once. Our first attempt, a couple months ago, was a potty training boot camp, and it was a colossal failure. So this time, we just took away diapers, switched to underpants, and promised stickers for any successful pee on the potty. (And he has seen the stickers, has a sticker chart, etc.) I was taking him to the potty every hour or so, with zero luck. So now I've just been taking him every time I see a potty dance. Once the potty dance has started, he can hold it for more than an hour before the inevitable accident happens. I sit him on the potty for a while, but can't make him stay for an hour, obviously. So we do some combo of sitting on the potty, playing with pants off, playing with pants on, etc. Then at some point the accident happens.

There are some obvious minor successes so far: he clearly has learned how to hold his pee, he now announces when he is peeing (or pooping), and he really wants a sticker. I'm reluctant to go back to diapers because I think he's ready.

FWIW, he's not a stubborn kid in general, and he's really not stressed out about the potty training (though he announces that he doesn't want to pee on the potty). His sunny temperament has not changed one bit through this process, except in his most stressful moments of trying to hold his pee.

So, any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Too early. Give up and wait. We did child-led potty training around age 3 and had almost no accidents.

[Anonymous]

give it up and try again later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too early. Give up and wait. We did child-led potty training around age 3 and had almost no accidents.

Us too, right at age 3. 2 accidents over 2 days, then never again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too early. Give up and wait. We did child-led potty training around age 3 and had almost no accidents.

Us too, right at age 3. 2 accidents over 2 days, then never again.

+2. Chiming in here, same. Just wait.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the stick with it camp. Your child is capable if thus and you are, too! I understand how it seems hopeless after a string of unsuccessful days. But it will click and then with positive reinforce won't, will snowball into a routine.

My 28 DS2 after 2 fruitless months of sitting on toilet and then pee accident immediately upon removal - had an Oprah Aha! Moment two weeks ago and is now in undies even for naps and overnight (had a couple accidents but no big deal).

Just keep doing what you're doing with the hourly potty breaks. Do you have him on a separate potty seat or a potty insert on regular toilet? I'm all for the latter. Lots and lots of books. Maybe chocolate kisses instead of stickers for reward?

[Anonymous]

Not ready.

[Anonymous]

^^ sorry for typos. Fat pregnant fingers on touch screen

[Anonymous]

I think a dozen accidents or so far outweigh 6 more months of diapers.

[Anonymous]

I'd swap out the stickers for something like M&Ms. If that doesn't work, just wait a little while...or train using pull-ups, if you don't mind extending the amount of time it takes to train.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too early. Give up and wait. We did child-led potty training around age 3 and had almost no accidents.

Us too, right at age 3. 2 accidents over 2 days, then never again.

+2. Chiming in here, same. Just wait.

Another who potty trained two kids right around 3 with virtually no accidents.

[Anonymous]

Teach him standing up. Sitting was much harder for my boys.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I see the clear consensus that it might be easier when he's three. I also know that it might not be (there's plenty of anecdata of people trying at age three and encountering resistance). In our case, our family's logistics make it easier to do it now, even if it means a longer process with more accidents, etc. (He has to be potty trained by 3 per daycare, we have a new baby coming a month before he turns 3, he's home with me for the summer because I'm a teacher, etc.) So, when I add in all those other factors, I'd rather stick it out now if there's a chance of success than wait and try to do it under the daycare time pressure, with a newborn, etc.

Plus, we've been using cloth diapers for 2.5 years, so the laundry from the accidents doesn't phase me. And we have wood floors, so there hasn't even been an accident that was messy or annoying to clean up. (Strip kid, wipe floor--I can handle that 3x/day.)

At any rate, I'm going to stay the course for another week or two. I'm starting to be convinced that I should up the rewards, but he doesn't seem nearly as excited about M&Ms as about stickers.

I'd still love to hear other suggestions...

[Anonymous]

I tried with my 2.25 year old a few weeks ago, and while it failed (and I'm trying again later), I realized that while wearing pants/undies - he'd have accidents or would start peeing and I couldn't catch him in time to get him to the potty to finish the task. While naked, I could. So maybe just try a naked kid for a while? It reduces the laundry, in any event.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teach him standing up. Sitting was much harder for my boys.

My 2.5 year old was half there on the little potty but sitting backwards on the big potty seemed to change everything (his attitude and ability to let it out). I often throw a piece of toilet paper in and tell him to hit his target. He also spent a couple weeks being taken potty by his dad and grandfather on vacation and doesn't mind peeing standing up in little potty. Something about sitting on the little potty didn't work for him (though his twin loves hers).

I wouldn't give up. Especially if he might be in a school environment where they are expected to be trained by 3.