https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 04:19:13 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2410755 Wed, 06 Jan 2016 00:14:04 +0000 PurplePeony 2410755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD is 25 months and she's liked to sit on the potty for MONTHS but has only actually used it at home a couple times. At daycare, they're supposed to sit on the potty at every diaper change, but there's no pressure to use it, and DD generally pees on the potty there once a day, maybe twice. But some days, she just won't go near a potty at home or at school, or she'll sit for .04265 seconds and declare herself all done. As much as I'd love to be done with diapers, I just don't think she's ready because it's obviously not something she wants to do and forcing her into anything has proved pretty futile. My plan is to wait until her teachers say she's ready and then go for it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2410733 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 23:13:10 +0000 Mrs. Pen 2410733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a parent potty-training failure because my son is turning four in less than two months and we've been potty training for a freaking YEAR. We started Christmas break last year, he was 33-34 months? He liked it at first, that lasted a week. It's been a struggle ever since. He'd have some weeks where he was great, no day accidents, but it took him a year to poop on the toilet. To this day, he'll only go #2 on the toilet maybe 2-3x a week and it's because we know his schedule and physically put him on the toilet. </p> <p>All the bribery and cutesy underwear in the world didn't work. </p> <p>He is nap trained at daycare (not sure how she did that... But he does take much shorter naps at daycare than he does here), but still wears a diaper to bed. And like your son, he'd hold it all in until the diaper went on. </p> <p>So yeah. I feel ya. If there has been any parenting experience that has made me hate being a parent, it's this. I have cried over it more than I care to admit and wanted to give up so many times. Every one I talk to has told me he's a boy, and boys take a lot more time and it's normal, not my fault, and he'll get it eventually. It's still been a super crappy experience and I hope he gets it soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2410724 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 22:54:16 +0000 BananaPancakes 2410724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: I didn't even start potty training until DS was almost 3.5. The first couple of days were tough for me, but he was fine. And he was fully (nap and night) trained within 2 weeks. I think it was easier because we waited until he was really really ready. We did the oh crap method and it had me freaked out because we were way past the window they recommend, but it was just fine. Don't worry about it. He'll get there. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2410708 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 22:14:51 +0000 sungirl 2410708@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I could have written this post. I tried casually with my DS from about 2 1/2 to 3. After Thanksgiving I decided to do a boot camp and it was a nightmare and we quit on day 2. I felt like such a failure. We backed off and let him potty when he wanted, asking only occasionally. We tried underwear this past weekend and it's been a night and day difference from last month. Few accidents so far and he's telling us when he needs to go. His preschool teacher and dr said he'd do it when he's ready and even though I felt like he's the oldest untrained kid out there I think that was me comparing him to HB and FB. Oh he's almost 3 1/2 now </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2410695 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 22:00:35 +0000 jaguar 2410695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just gave up after 8 days. G is 2.9, also holds indefinitely (but doesn't seem bothered by it - despite being well hydrated, she just doesn't go regularly even in nappies) - and she started begging for her nappies and showing signs of actual distress, so I decided to leave it for a bit and pick it up later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2410691 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 21:46:36 +0000 reverie 2410691@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: man I could have written this except we're day 10 into this method. My son is also 30 months (DANGER) and it did click for him in the middle. For days like 5 and 6 he was going unprompted once or twice a day. He was already being camel like, but would still go. The past two days he has held his urine from 8am wake up until 2pm b/c he knows he is getting a nap diaper. After nap he's only up for another 3 hours or so and holds until PM diaper. I don't know what to do. We've never had a successful poo either. I feel like such a potty training reject since like 5 kids in my mom group all did this method with early and continued success. </p> <p>I don't want to stop b/c we are having a second in March and I'm afraid after she's here we'd have to wait quite a while to start again. Not sure what to do :( Maybe I'll send him to kindergarden and he'll just hold it all day haha and ask for a diaper at home. Sooooo hard to be the one lagging when everyone else seems to be doing OK&gt; </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2409923 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 10:43:12 +0000 .twist. 2409923@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all so much. I feel 100% better about my decision to put him back in diapers and wait until he gives me some more queues that HE is ready to take the reigns. </p> <p>@StrawberryBee: there are definitely perks. LOL! </p> <p>@Beehive: I do think it shows that he's physically ready, which is great! He must take after me. The ultrasound tech when I was pregnant said I had the biggest bladder she's ever seen. I'm not really sure if that's a good thing or not.... hahahaha </p> <p>@Tidybee: wow! That is awesome! I hope L is that easy to train. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2409428 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 21:04:57 +0000 Tidybee 2409428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was so scared DD would be in diapers forever. She's 38 months old and the oldest in her preschool class not potty trained. However, all of the potty kids have trained just after turning 3. Her pediatrician said it was okay but we'd talk at 3 1/2 if she wasn't potty trained yet. A few days before Christmas, DH and I were talking about something in one room and she just simply walked into the bathroom and peed on the potty. She has been completely potty trained, no accidents, ever since. It was like the easiest things ever....except for all the months before it that I was trying to rush her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2409287 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 20:00:39 +0000 Beehive 2409287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: We waited until a couple months before DS was 3, and he trained very quickly - it's definitely not a problem to wait. But I wanted to mention that your discovery that your son is a camel is great - that will make your life a lot easier once he is trained! DS is a bit of a camel, and my main fear - that we'll have to find public bathrooms all the time when we're out - never happened. He can hold it longer than I can! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2409227 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 19:18:30 +0000 StrawberryBee 2409227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We haven't even started E on the process yet (we own two potties and talk about them a lot, but nothing has happened in them and she has zero interest). Like you, I just want to be done with diapers! I hate the money spent buying them, the trash can full of stinkiness, just blegh. Then there are days (like being at Sesame Place, or at Disney on Ice) when I see the ginormous lines for the bathroom and am a little bit relieved that I don't have to worry about an anxious kid who HAS TO GO RIGHT NOW and dealing with that. So...there are some up sides to this? At least, that's what I tell myself :silly: . </p> <p>This thread at least gives me hope that we haven't missed some magical timeline and aren't destined for a teenager in dipes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2409046 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:08:51 +0000 KT326 2409046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wanted to mention one other thing, since he was older, he was tall enough to stand and pee in the toilet. My DH would drop some cheerios in there for target practice. That really helped get the ball rolling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2409008 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 15:45:16 +0000 AprilFool 2409008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have tried a training a few times and it sounded very much like your experience. By chance we had a breakthrough the other day and we weren't even trying so when he is ready it will happen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2408843 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 14:06:42 +0000 Chillybear 2408843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Thanks for the link! That post wasnt up when we were working with LO but i did have a chance to watch the videos. unfortunately, at the time of our first attempt i was only able to take 4 days off to potty train before returning to work, so i'm sure there was some underlying pressure there no matter how casual I tried to be. Knowing my daughter (and probably most toddlers) they have to want to do it in order for there to be success and she's just not there yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2408825 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 14:00:34 +0000 avivoca 2408825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: I'm not sure what their reason is. They do "transition" time between rooms, but it's been a hell of a long time transitioning and going back and forth between rooms for this long is not helping her get used to it. The one-year room doesn't have a potty and her teacher in there (our favorite) can tell she's ready to train, but we can't do anything until she's in a room with access to a potty full-time.</p> <p>I'm seething. I need to get it under control until I can talk to the director. Apparently, another parent in our class had to demand that their child move over permanently and I'm going to have to do that too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2408824 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:58:51 +0000 Alivoo01 2408824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>C is no where near ready to be potty trained. He understands what the toilet is and what it's used for. He knows to throw toilet paper in there and how to flush, but won't go himself. I've put him on there when I caught him mid pee, but he'll hold it, look down, tell me "pee pee"? I say yes and nod very enthusiastically while he looks down and tells me "no" while shaking his head. So I take him off and he'll finish peeing right next to the toilet, on the floor. Sigh. </p> <p>If he went pant/underwear less, he'd just go where ever he is, then tell me "mommy, it's wet. clean up!" So that's a no go.</p> <p>I haven't tried having him wear wet underpants yet, but I'm sure he'd just tell me it's wet and to change it (like when he poops in his diaper). But I don't foresee it encouraging him to go to the toilet since he'd probably just try to dry it off himself with a napkin or take off his pants. But who knows, this might work! </p> <p>I'd love for him to be potty trained before DD gets here in March, but it doesn't look likely. I'm just going by his cues and if he's not ready, there's nothing I can do. I'm still holding out hope it all works out very, very soon! =D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2408799 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:51:29 +0000 .twist. 2408799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@knittylady: I need to work on my selective hearing! ;) </p> <p>@Irishmom: I am much less stressed after this thread. Our experience was similar to yours and by all the books L should be ready. Like you said, he speaks in full sentences, understood the process, understood the consequences, occasionally told us he had to pee (and then did). Overall, he's just mentally not ready yet. I need to follow his lead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2408785 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:42:55 +0000 Irishmom 2408785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just read @pinkcupcake: and completely agree. People would tell me that if she is old enough to be talking in complete sentences then she is old enough to be trained...in theory that's probably true, but it didn't work for my daughter. She's stubborn and it had to be on her terms! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2408784 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:42:54 +0000 knittylady 2408784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: I've got selective hearing. I've read stuff like that too, but since we've been to lazy to start I take the advice I like best :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2408778 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:39:00 +0000 Irishmom 2408778@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We tried potty training my daughter at 2 1/2. We thought she was ready...she was verbal, understood the process, etc. It was a disaster! I still have nightmares about it. Tons of accidents, tears (from both of us :wink: ), sitting on the potty for 20 minutes with nothing and then as soon as she got off she would have an accident. After a weekend of that, we decided to take a break from training. We tried again right when she turned three. It was the easiest thing at that point. She didn't have any accidents and it was painless for everyone. </p> <p>I read the Oh Crap book and was convinced we had missed our window and she'd never be trained. I truly think she just wasn't ready at 2 1/2 (I mean I think she physically was ready, but emotionally/mentally just didn't care). I wish I hadn't stressed like I did. She did it when she was ready and each child is different.</p> <p>Good luck. Potty training is tough stuff! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2408768 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:34:42 +0000 pinkcupcake 2408768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: oh we totally went through that too! She said she didn't wanna be a big girl and she loved wearing her "die-pees." Whatever to the side eyes. We were one of the last ones trained in preschool which totally stressed me out but our teacher was amazing and said in her 20 years of teaching, she hadn't seen any 6 year olds in diapers during the day ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2408763 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:31:58 +0000 .twist. 2408763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: @pinkcupcake: Thank you both! I love hearing this because it gives me hope. The books really made it seem like we were doomed. </p> <p>@pinkcupcakes: I told L (as per the books suggestions) that big boys wear undies and babies wear diapers. He now tells me that he is NOT a big boy and doesn't WANT to be a big boy. So... he's definitely not ready. I know we'll get a lot of side eye, but whatever. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2408759 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:28:16 +0000 pinkcupcake 2408759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: didn't read through all the responses but I was so worried my daughter wouldn't be potty trained until college. I tried so many times to encourage her to use the potty from age 2 and on. Nothing worked. If anything, it stressed her out and at one point she yelled, I don't want to hear about potty anymore! That showed me she just wasn't ready. Our awesome pediatrician said to leave her alone and once she was ready, she would come around. </p> <p>Lo and behold - 3 years, 2 months, she casually mentioned that she wanted to try using the potty. We tried not to freak out and put her on the toilet and she peed immediately. She said she was done with diapers, took them off, and was pretty much trained. We didn't have a single accident. </p> <p>After this experience, im all for letting them go at their own pace. So many ppl around me raised their eyebrows at a fully functional, super talkative 3 year old still using a diaper, but whatever. She just wasn't ready and no amount of research, bribery, treats, etc was going to work. </p> <p>I say let it go and follow your child's cues later :)</p> <p>Ps - I've also seen that kids who are potty trained later tend to train quickly and not regress as much as children trained earlier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you/page/2#post-2408756 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:26:31 +0000 Mamaof2 2408756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: I would give it time - My DS was 33 months when he decided on his own he was ready<br /> (he asked for underwear) and had 1 accident the 1st day and that was it - he was 100% pee and pooped trained by waiting until he was ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you#post-2408755 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:26:28 +0000 Anagram 2408755@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: I just saw this because I googled it in the first few days I was PTing my LO. She has a Website. <a href="http://www.jamieglowacki.com/the-mother-of-all-posts-or-frequently-asked-questions/" rel="nofollow">http://www.jamieglowacki.com/the-mother-of-all-posts-or-frequently-asked-questions/</a></p> <p>"*We are in the first 1 (2 or 3) days of potty training and it’s a disaster. *We are on day one of potty training and my child won’t sit at all. *Day one and tons of resistance to the potty. *First day of potty training and my child will not sit on the potty. *Any question about the first few days of potty training not looking like you thought it would. This process is SO NEW to your child, they almost always need a minute to catch up. Over-prompting and too much pressure are 2 of the biggest factors in a child resisting the process. Here’s a video. And another. Also, see question #5, page 273 in the book. This video here is about releasing pee. And this post about backing off. And lastly, do not be afraid to use the Red Solo Cup Trick as described on page 127. And here. And here." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you#post-2408746 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:20:57 +0000 .twist. 2408746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: Agreed. It makes me question her method because she seems so adamant that she's had success every single time. I followed her book to a T. I wasn't overly prompting. I wasn't overly rewarding. I didn't make a big deal about it, nor did I down play his successes. Part of my main frustration and what made me feel like such a failure is that she didn't touch on that so I felt like she'd never encountered it! I have the odd one out! Which, totally isn't the case and it's not fair to think that about my kid.</p> <p>@avivoca: That is their reason? Because, that IS ridiculous. They should have access to a potty if they are training. How can they succeed if not all aspects of their life are made easy for training purposes? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you#post-2408743 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:18:35 +0000 .twist. 2408743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: My understanding was that if you could do it all at once it would be easier in the long run, but not necessary right away. I do believe she recommended getting it all done and over with though if you had the time and patience (and willingness?). I may be recalling it incorrectly, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you#post-2408737 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:17:05 +0000 Chillybear 2408737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@.twist.: i found it interesting that no where in the book does it tackle a child's resistance to even go near the seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you#post-2408736 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:16:09 +0000 avivoca 2408736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you be a dropout if you never even started?</p> <p>We were supposed to start over the holidays but my kid is still not firmly in the 2-year-old room (for reasons unknown to me since she's been two since October) and I refuse to start potty training until she's going to be in a room with a potty the entire time she is at school. We will be talking to the director today or tomorrow about this because it's ridiculous. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you#post-2408733 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:15:26 +0000 .twist. 2408733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: At this point, I concur 100% :P :D </p> <p>@Chillybear: Yea, this is pretty much what our experience was as well and, like you, I really am not interested in physically holding down a screaming child to maybe, maybe not, get a little pee out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/potty-training-drop-outs-i-need-to-hear-from-you#post-2408728 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 13:13:26 +0000 Adira 2408728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Oh, interesting. That's not my recollection, but I haven't read it recently. I got the impression that the book suggested tackling night training at the same time as doing everything, but that you could put it off until later, but that you shouldn't put it off too late! I didn't fully read that section though because I wasn't planning on attempting night training at all. Glad to hear I'm mistaken! </p>