Anonymous wrote:OP again. It's so hard to know what the right move is because on the one hand, he can absolutely hold his bladder and, after these few days, always tells us when he has to pee or poop. The problem is that he will not do it -- he's terrified of the potty. So he just holds it and becomes so stressed and sad and uncomfortable. Eventually, after many minutes, he'll either pee in the potty randomly, or will have an accident (where I know he doesn't fully empty his bladder, he stops midway to continue holding it once he realizes), and it will really upset him. It just makes me think he's a bit too young to understand.
We upped the rewards, too. It helped a little, but then stopped working. He's just still so hot and cold with it, at best. But the reason I'm leaning towards calling it off is that he's just not his happy sweet self. He seems stressed, honestly.
Anonymous wrote:OP again. He has been so much happier and more calm since we put pants and a diaper back on him, and he's asked to go pee and poop in the potty a few times and has done it happily and successfully. His diaper has mostly stayed dry. Maybe it was a panicked feeling of having no pants on? So maybe we keep it going, but in a diaper for a few more days, and then in underwear?
Anonymous wrote:I'm going against the grain here and saying it's fine. My brother went through something similar with my nephew and the second attempt went much better.
Oh Crap works great for some kids but it's not some magic universal bible.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:OP again. It's so hard to know what the right move is because on the one hand, he can absolutely hold his bladder and, after these few days, always tells us when he has to pee or poop. The problem is that he will not do it -- he's terrified of the potty. So he just holds it and becomes so stressed and sad and uncomfortable. Eventually, after many minutes, he'll either pee in the potty randomly, or will have an accident (where I know he doesn't fully empty his bladder, he stops midway to continue holding it once he realizes), and it will really upset him. It just makes me think he's a bit too young to understand.
We upped the rewards, too. It helped a little, but then stopped working. He's just still so hot and cold with it, at best. But the reason I'm leaning towards calling it off is that he's just not his happy sweet self. He seems stressed, honestly.
It is stressful. He’s learning something new, and big! It isn’t easy.
Do you think it’ll be easier when he’s 2.5? 3? 4? Read this forum long enough and you’ll find 3+ Year olds who refuse to poop on the potty. It is stressful OP but don’t quit.
Anonymous wrote:we tried this when my DS was about 2 1/2, and it sounded very similar to your experience. It wasn't so much that he wasn't getting that he was supposed to go in the potty, but he was just so clingy and sad. We kept at it for about 2 weeks, and he did ok, but was still having trouble with poops. We gave up, put him back in a pullup, and he was immediately happier. About 3 months later he was fully trained, including at night, without a struggle.
Anonymous wrote:OP again. It's so hard to know what the right move is because on the one hand, he can absolutely hold his bladder and, after these few days, always tells us when he has to pee or poop. The problem is that he will not do it -- he's terrified of the potty. So he just holds it and becomes so stressed and sad and uncomfortable. Eventually, after many minutes, he'll either pee in the potty randomly, or will have an accident (where I know he doesn't fully empty his bladder, he stops midway to continue holding it once he realizes), and it will really upset him. It just makes me think he's a bit too young to understand.
We upped the rewards, too. It helped a little, but then stopped working. He's just still so hot and cold with it, at best. But the reason I'm leaning towards calling it off is that he's just not his happy sweet self. He seems stressed, honestly.
Anonymous wrote:OP here. Day six update: we're calling it quits.
Just hoping this wasn't all for nothing and the knowledge will build on itself when we try again down the line.