Why?? (potty related)

[MommaLura]

I'm working on the dreaded potty training. If we're at home and he is bottomless (or just has on leg warmers) he always uses the potty for both. If he needs to go #2 then there have been many occasions he'll take his diaper off himself or tell you if we're out, BUT today was the worst. We're out grocery shopping, he has a dry diaper, so off to the potty. I ask him to sit on the potty (I had a seat that went on the big seat) and he starts throwing a fit and crying, so I ask him if I go, will he sit on the potty and he says yes. Nope! He promptly pees in his pants and then broke the little potty seat Seriously, I'm so discouraged. He knows how and everything, he just refuses to sit on the potty when I offer.

[ShyDaisi]

It may be a control issue. Have you tried letting him instigate the potty trips? Micah started out 100% trained while bottomless. It took a slight amount of transition to get to undies. I think part of what worked so well for us was that he was in control of it all.

[MommaLura]

That's a great idea, now how do I get him to tell me?

[Heidi74]

My DS was afraid of using public restrooms when he was first potty trained, and we solved the problem by always having a couple of paper cups in the diaper bag. We just lower his pants and underwear a bit (don't even have to undress him) and he pees into the cup. We can do it discreetly, so he doesn't even have to go into a stall if he's afraid to. Pour in the toilet and toss the cup in the garbage... Works like a charm! (That is, as long as he just has to pee.)

I realize this wouldn't work so well with a girl, but since you have a boy I thought I'd mention it.

Also, if he starts a control battle at home, I will often give him a choice of places to pee...ie. a paper cup, the potty or the toilet. He will usually pick one or the other if he has to go...and usually he wants to pee in a cup. :-)