Parenting Preschoolers (3-5) Support Group
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My son will be 4 in February and he still doesn't have a grasp on the potty!
I am a bit panicked even though I know at some point he will get it.
He was doing very well at the beginning of the year, he was peeing AND pooping on the potty.
Then he got sick for about 2 weeks with different things and totally regressed. He got a stomach bug, lots of diarrhea, the fact that he couldn't hold it I think may have demolished his confidence a little.
I don't know if it was that, or because I was pregnant at the time, I had been pregnant for a few months at that point and maybe he had started to realize how things were going to change?
I can't be sure because I don't think he knows how to talk about it yet.
Anyways, now he's not going at all, except for peeing every now and then, when..it seems like, when he feels like it.
I have rewarded him each time he went, whether it was a gummy bear for peeing/pooping or a big hug, a matchbox car. Are we doing something wrong? I even read books, sang to him while he's sitting. Had him bring his toys in on the potty, let him show his stuffed animals what to do on it. I am about at my wits end because I'd really like to get him into preschool which he seems excited about.
I try to ask him why he doesn't want to go. He says he can't go poop.
(When he does try to poop, he does poop but it gets stuck-like and does not drop into the toilet) so that's bugging him a lot.
Should I wait this out or keep pushing the issue?
I keep getting so much from both sides I don't know where to start
Sorry for so lengthy and possibly scattered. Still morning in my area and I have not had my 2nd cup of coffee haha
Thanks!
I am a bit panicked even though I know at some point he will get it.
He was doing very well at the beginning of the year, he was peeing AND pooping on the potty.
Then he got sick for about 2 weeks with different things and totally regressed. He got a stomach bug, lots of diarrhea, the fact that he couldn't hold it I think may have demolished his confidence a little.
I don't know if it was that, or because I was pregnant at the time, I had been pregnant for a few months at that point and maybe he had started to realize how things were going to change?
I can't be sure because I don't think he knows how to talk about it yet.
Anyways, now he's not going at all, except for peeing every now and then, when..it seems like, when he feels like it.
I have rewarded him each time he went, whether it was a gummy bear for peeing/pooping or a big hug, a matchbox car. Are we doing something wrong? I even read books, sang to him while he's sitting. Had him bring his toys in on the potty, let him show his stuffed animals what to do on it. I am about at my wits end because I'd really like to get him into preschool which he seems excited about.
I try to ask him why he doesn't want to go. He says he can't go poop.
(When he does try to poop, he does poop but it gets stuck-like and does not drop into the toilet) so that's bugging him a lot.
Should I wait this out or keep pushing the issue?
I keep getting so much from both sides I don't know where to start
Sorry for so lengthy and possibly scattered. Still morning in my area and I have not had my 2nd cup of coffee haha
Thanks!
I purchased a book for her that's called "It Hurts When I Poop" and she loves to read it. Again, it sounds like the diarrhea had a huge affect on him, but if the poop is getting stuck, this book may help. I am sorry for rambling, but I know it's hard and I think it is one thing they can actually control, so it makes it even harder.
Also, I think the rewards you are giving are great and work for many children. My SIL said it didn't work for her DD and she had to be more creative and she found something that her DD really wanted to get her to go on the potty. For her, it was a slurpee, so maybe there is something "more" he is interested in that will truly entice him to go.
Hang in there as best you can :)
When my girls lose confidence on things I do paper rewards where I cut up lots of pieces of paper and draw lost of different pictures each with a nice message.
If a girl doesn't something really good she gets to lucky dip one out. They always get so excited and try to help with housework. Once they each earn't 10 rewards they got to by a special box (gift box) of there choice to keep there rewards in.
Just a suggestion, hoping to help.
My youngest Olivia refused to use the toilet until we took her shopping to pick out her own potty, three days later done n done, @2 1/2 years old. this was before i thought of paper rewards.
pooping in the potty has been harder but by making them clean out their pooped in panties themselves we're having more successes in that direction. even at night they do better and after they've been asleep for 2-3 hours we get them up (they stay mostly asleep and its a cinch to get them back to bed) and sit them on the potty and most of the time they'll go and its worry free til morning. You'll figure out what works but I'd start by ditching the diapers and or pullups. They seriously impede progress.
I used a sticker chart, and once he reached a goal of 10 stickers, he got to pick out a toy from the treasure box (has matchbox cars, bubbles, dollar store toys) We also did the cheerios in the potty to aim at. He will now pee with no issues! Even takes a baggy of cheerios to daycare haha. Try books, the pull ups potty dance, stickers, rewards, maybe plan a special trip if he can master it by a reasonable date. But when you are at home, underpants only! No one likes the feeling of wet or soiled pants.