So frustrated with potty training

[Devaskyla]

I want this kid out of diapers. I KNOW he's capable. On the rare occasion he'll let me leave him without a diaper, he hasn't had an accident.

The trouble is, he has a complete and utter melt down if I try to get him to go without one. And forget underwear, he freaks out about that even more than being naked. The last time we tried, he followed me around the house with a diaper and his pants SOBBING & begging me to put them on him for over half an hour. Dh finally couldn't take it anymore and told me to just put the diaper on him.

I know I wouldn't be so frustrated if it were a case of him just not being ready physically, but he quite clearly is. And I can not handle another 4 year old in diapers, which is where I feel like we're headed. From my experience, the later they train, the more accidents, the longer wet at night and the more time it takes to just generally be done with it.

I just don't have any ideas for how to make him happy with no diaper (& wearing underwear) because that seems to be the only thing standing in the way of him being out of diapers during the day.

[guitarmama]

I wish I had some advice, but I can only offer empathy.  My dd was one month shy of 4 when she finally made the switch to using the potty.  Before that she had NEVER used it.  She had flat-out refused to even try until one day she decided it was time.  She's never had an accident or anything.  I think what finally got her to do it was my dh somehow convinced her into picking out a package of pull-ups at the store (she had previously refused those, too).  We told her that children were only allowed to have one package of pull-ups.  I don't know why she bought that line, but when there was one left in the pack, she started going on the potty.  I sure hope he starts cooperating for you soon!  I know it can be unbelievably frustrating.

[Abraisme]

He's only 2.5yo?  That's still on the young side for a boy to potty train.  None of the little boys that I know have trained before 3-3.5yo, even the very bright, ahead of the curve ones.  I say that it's okay to relax about it for a while and try again in a few months.  Good luck

[Honey693]

I'd back off.  My 3 y/o has every readiness sign, but loses her mind if you try and take away her diaper.  I just gave up b/c 1. I can't force her to pee 2. I have two friends who tried to force their kids to train and they ended up with 4.5 year olds who still have accidents and 3. it's just not worth the tears, tantrums and drama to me

[MadiMamacita]

I could have written this post a few weeks ago. He is now pretty much fully "trained" at home. (not at night) All I did was wait for him to WANT it. I thought it would never happen but he did decide to start going. The more I pushed it the more he resisted. I let go and so did he.

[Devaskyla]

I'm trying to let it go for a bit. Trying. He went for about an hour with no diaper a couple nights ago because he was looking really red, and about 20 minutes last night. I tried to get him to wear underwear, but he wasn't having that at all. He peed on the potty both times.

It really does bug me because he complains about the diapers hurting him (& I've told him repeatedly if he'd wear underwear, he won't have that problem), he clearly hates diaper changes & makes my life a misery when I change him, especially at bedtime. I know he's more than capable, he just won't. *sigh*. I really want to be done with him in diapers during the day by January. I'm going to try to let it go until the end of the month.