First time potty training. Advice please!

[csekywithlove]

My DSS will be 3 in August. We have him full time, hasn't seen bio mom since last October. So potty training along with raising is on me and DH. Which is great. I am not discouraged by this at all. 

I haven't pushed potty training on him that much because I have many friends who assure me that most kids aren't completely potty trained until 3 yrs of age. But now I feel like I am behind. 

DSS is the only child in the home and loves the attention he gets from DH and I. We have babied him quite a bit. I admit this is a bit my fault but after miscarrying last year I poured my life into DSS. I love this kid so much. But now at 39 lbs and 39 1/2 inches tall, I am hit with the realization that he is not a baby. 

We have been talking about potty training. I bought pull ups three months ago, a potty seat when he was a year and a half just to get him used to the idea. He knows that big boys go in the potty, his best friend is a five year old. He tends to be a very independent kid on all other accounts and right on point in development.

How do I encourage him without pressuring him?

Oh and I have never potty trained kids that were my own before...

[secondimpression]

My DS is quite a bit younger than your DSS and we're working on the beginnings of potty learning right now. I let him go diaper and pantless for an hour or two each day while I'm minimally distracted. I keep his potty chair out in sight and every few minutes ask him if he needs to sit on the potty and go pee or poop. He needs help with getting himself situated on the potty and once he's on, I ask again if he needs to go (hard to keep toddlers focused). If he doesn't, it's no big deal and we just try again after a few minutes. He gets rewarded and praised if he does go. If an accident happens on the floor, it's no big deal either, I just show him the puddle and say something like "we don't pee on the floor, we pee in the potty". I think it's really important to keep potty learning exciting and free of shame or discipline. Don't feel bad about your DSS's age, it doesn't matter how early you start potty training, someone will always frown about it and think you waited too long. My grandmother was giving me grief at DS's first birthday because he didn't have a potty chair yet!