QT. Totally unrelated subject from Crohns.

I have a story...I don't know if it will help. My youngest son was rather "afraid" of his stream and we couldn't get him to hold things down while sitting. We had him sit backwards on the toilet with his legs hanging off the sides. That worked up until he was 5 believe it or not. Then the problem was getting him to turn around! I asked him one day what he would do if someone accidently walked in on him in the school bathroom since he was a big boy now and heading to school in the fall. He immediately began turning around the right way and we didn't have any more problems! I have to admit the cheerios is pretty inventive...can't believe that one didn't work! Is he in any daycare? Could it be that they are not being totally supportive of his efforts or being chastised for any "accidents"? That could ruin anything you guys are trying to do at home. Good Luck!

Go subliminal!!!

Maybe you've tried this, but.... Have you gone to the store to let him pick out some "big boy pants" with a cartoon character on them that he really likes? If not, maybe try that. Bring them home and put them AWAY--but somewhere in HIS reach, like an end table drawer. Make a big deal about the fact that you are putting them away for later, when he's ready. Every time he takes them out and asks to open them up, simply say "Oh, let's put those away. Those are for when you go on the potty" or, "we have to save those for after you go on the potty". They will be right there under his nose and they just might get under his skin--if you know what I mean! If he shows no interest in them, set them out in plain sight so the conversation comes up every now and then. You essentially stop talking about potty training unless HE brings it up, and I think he'll bring it up because those pants are soooo cool and they are right there under his nose...so tempting... Just a thought.....

If that doesn't work I would ignore the situation completely and not push him. It really sounds like you've tried everything! Lots of boys are around age 4 when they finally get it, so I wouldn't be too concerned.

I had three girls myself, but I tried potty training my oldest at 2 because that's what the "experts" said we were supposed to do. It was awful with the first daughter. With daughters 2 & 3, I just let them let me know when they were ready. Both of them were 3 before they were potty trained, and my youngest grandson was 4 before he got it.

I think EMom has some great suggestions. Especially with the big boy underwear. Sometimes you can let them wear them to feel how much more comfortable they are than diapers, and that might do the trick. My personal opinion is to just let them do it on their own schedule.

Good luck,
Gail *Nanners*

My daughter was 3 1/2 when she was finally trained. I had to take the diaper away. She got the idea after about a week of running around wetting herself, I couldn't fo too many places for that week but it worked.

I think part of it is, does the child really have control? My child had control and I knew it. However, she had no interest whatsoever in learning to use the potty. Finally, I told her if she acted like a baby by not using the potty I would treat her like a baby. No grandma's house, no cousin's house, no park, nothing. Also, no food--babies only drink yucky old formula and then take a nap. This did not sound like fun to her so later that day when she needed to pee she used the potty. She was trained at that point. For some kids they do have a control issue but for others they just don't see the point. If they have control, you gotta find 'that thing' that they are willing to go in the potty for. That was my biggest challenge. I honestly didn't think threatening to take away playing at grandma's and chicken mc nuggets would work but it did. Of course, if the child doesn't have good control then sometimes just going every hour or so to try helps...and of course time. And every mom I know says boys take forever! I know of quite a few who were over the age of 4.

I think this is the big question right now, does he really have control. I took him to the bathroom the other day, he tried his hardest
to go, but nothing came, but as he stood back, several little drips came out that he didn't even notice. So, maybe, he just hasn't
connected yet...

His Mommy & daddy think they've done some thing wrong!!!

How about peer pressure? Is there a cousin or sibling? Close friend who has a child a little older? My sister's son trained himself, when he noticed his sister was getting accolades.

Several little drips is good stuff and tell him what a good boy he is that is encouraging,those few drops shows you that he is getting the idea point it out .. .Sometimes just putting the potty away for a couple of weeks is good and always encourage never put them down as I beleave encouragement no matter how small makes them feel good about themselves which leads to bigger things.Also some kids develop slow when it comes to peeing it is nature working ..lol gail

I have a 3 yr old daughter who was paritally potty trained just before her 3rd birthday. She would pee in the potty and didn't have any accidents during the day (including nap) for about 3 months. We kept a pull up on her at night just in case but I would say after a month she was waking up dry as well. The problem was that she would NOT poop in the potty. She has always struggled some when she had a bowel movement so I tried not to make a big deal about it. My mom even said when I was little I would hide when I had to go and that I didn't like people looking at me. My daughter was the same way. 2 weeks before her third b-day we had our second daughter. I was for sure that it was going to go down hill from there, but she continued to pee in the potty. I did take her to the dr when I noticed some traces of blood in her undies after she pooped because I was concerned since I have crohn's. He said what he thought was happening was that basically she was holding it for too long and then when she did go it hurt which caused her to continue to hold it the next time out of fear. She was holding it for so long that it was pulling/tearing at the tissue (reason for the blood) when it came out. He also said that with the new baby we should absolutely not say anything negative to her when she had an accident. We finally did get her going in the #2 in the potty with some help from mineral oil but it was a long 6 month process from start to finish. Our dr also said to not be concerned until she was over 5 and not potty trained..every kid is different and learn at their own pace.

I know as a parent it's hard to be patient. Especially if all the other kids (who are older or younger) around you are going in the potty and your kid isn't. I wondered myself if we were doing something wrong. With the second baby I know what to do -- and I'll let her tell me when she is ready. Some suggestions they might try are putting the potty in the living room or in his bedroom where he can sit on it whenever he wants, "bribing" him with something he is looking forward to (we used our family vacation to FL and seeing mickey mouse as a incentive), asking him if he has to go potty when you go potty so he can see you doing it, letting him pick out the big boy underwear as mentioned above and most of all, whatever they decide BE CONSISTANT!!

GOODLUCK !!