Almost ready for undies? I don't think so.....

[soccermama]

My son has been potty training since he was 2 1/2 (he'll be 3 in January) and is doing GREAT at it at school. His teacher told me a couple of weeks ago that he's close to being ready for underwear. I was shocked when I heard that only because at home, at night and on the weekends, he doesn't go as often as he does at school. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that he's seeing the other little boys go, so he goes.... We just started "if you sit on the potty, you get sticker" strategy and it seems to be working well.... I know it all has to do with patience and he's getting much better, but do I really need to introduce him to undies or should I wait a bit?? Has anyone else been in this same predicament? Does the every 20 minute asking if he's dry or wet strategy really work?? I've heard mixed reviews.....

[CarrieMF]

Try it & see. If he's been going on the potty for a couple of months then he's most likely ready for underwear(during the day, not necessarily at night). The worst that will happens is you have some wet spots & a bit more laundry to clean.

[lindsayjean]

I'd definitely try it and see... my daughter actually picked it up super quickly after we put her in undies... a few clean ups every once and a while and we were good.

We never did rewards though- I would just say "doesn't that feel better?" or something like that when she'd go in the toilet. But we potty trained VERY early with the help of elimination communication

GOod luck!

[orangefoot]

What makes you think he isn't ready?

Most children don't go from nappies to 100% reliable overnight; there will be misses but there will also be lots of wees in the right place. If you want to wait until he is 100% reliable you will spend a lot on nappies and pull ups.

Go and buy some underwear together and let him choose whichever pattern/design he wants. Undies are washable, reusable and he will probably love them.

[Alyantavid]

If he's already going potty regularly, why isn't he in undies? Once we started, we did no more diapers except for long trips and sleeping time.

[aprons_and_acorns]

I agree with giving the undies a try. It sounds like the child care teachers won't mind changing a few pairs of wet underpants while he makes the transition.

[soccermama]

Originally Posted by orangefoot

What makes you think he isn't ready?

Most children don't go from nappies to 100% reliable overnight; there will be misses but there will also be lots of wees in the right place. If you want to wait until he is 100% reliable you will spend a lot on nappies and pull ups.

Go and buy some underwear together and let him choose whichever pattern/design he wants. Undies are washable, reusable and he will probably love them.

I guess because he doesn't go much at home until recently - but now he isn't going pee, he just sits on the potty - which is great! It's certainly progress!!

We'll go pick out some undies this weekend. Thanks for all of your advice. I'm just so excited for him and wanted to make sure that we were making the right choices.

[kneedeepnkidz]

I think putting them in underwear helps them because they feel big and they don't like the feeling of being wet. It makes a big difference having a diaper that soaks it all up and having underwear! And who wants to mess up their brand new cool big boy underwear? ;-)

[octobermom]

Try and see. I had the other issue due to some sensory issues my DD didsn't train till 4.5 years and I had to keep her in diapers till trained because she'd totally freek out if she wet but in a whats happening to my body I don't understand way. But yes accidents happened even now.

Deanna

[DevaMajka]

Moved to CY for age specific advice

[soccermama]

Originally Posted by aprons_and_acorns

I agree with giving the undies a try. It sounds like the child care teachers won't mind changing a few pairs of wet underpants while he makes the transition.

BTW - your toys are adorable. I'll certainly keep you in mind for Christmas gifts!!

[Cuddlebaby]

I put mine in undies pretty quickly/early. they get to see how they feel (they will LOVE them), get to notice that they are not absorbent *and* it's SO fun to go the store and pick out their favorite color/style (like Daddies!!)/brain dead characters.

actually I like the naked method best. this is a great stage. revel in it. it won't happen again. sounds like *you* are the one with anxiety.

[Parker'smommy]

Yep... I went straight to undies with both kids when we decided to potty learn. They were in cloth diapers one day, undies the next.

[Marylizah]

Sorry, I don't want to hijack the thread, but I'm in the same potty learning boat. DS HATES underpants. We've tried Thomas and Elmo and plain and I can barely get him to try them on. He definitely won't wear them. Is this normal??

[Parker'smommy]

Originally Posted by Marylizah

Sorry, I don't want to hijack the thread, but I'm in the same potty learning boat. DS HATES underpants. We've tried Thomas and Elmo and plain and I can barely get him to try them on. He definitely won't wear them. Is this normal??

Umm, mine were both excited to wear underwear. I wouldn't force my child to wear underwear if they didn't want to, but I would try finding out why he doesn't want to wear them. It may be that he doesn't like feeling wet when he wears them and goes pee in them. I find that underwear helps in potty learning quickly because they don't like the sensation of having their pee run down their legs. Like I said, I would never force them on, but maybe try a very matter of fact approach, "You are wearing underwear now, I've put the diapers away till bedtime"

[acsammel]

We started using underwear as soon as we decided to start potty training. Wearing a pull up was just like wearing a diaper to him, he would just pee in it whenever he wanted. At first, I only had him wear underwear in the morning (until nap time) while we practiced so I wouldn't have to maintain the potty vigil all day. After a couple weeks, he was in underwear all day.

While we were training our son, I knew two people also potty training with kids that didn't like underwear. One had a kid that just went without underwear under his pants. The other had a kid that would only wear boxer style underwear, which are very hard to find in small sizes.

[Marylizah]

Originally Posted by Parker'smommy

Umm, mine were both excited to wear underwear. I wouldn't force my child to wear underwear if they didn't want to, but I would try finding out why he doesn't want to wear them. It may be that he doesn't like feeling wet when he wears them and goes pee in them. I find that underwear helps in potty learning quickly because they don't like the sensation of having their pee run down their legs. Like I said, I would never force them on, but maybe try a very matter of fact approach, "You are wearing underwear now, I've put the diapers away till bedtime"

I think the first pair we tried on were tight on his tummy, and he literally won't let me put another pair on. It isn't a wet issue, because he won't wear them, so he hasn't wet in them.

I tried to get him excited about the Elmo ones, and he likes to look at them but he won't put them on.

Sigh. I just have to assume that eventually he'll be wearing some form of underpants!

[One_Girl]

I just put dd in underwear when she was two and she potty trained quickly. You expect a few accidents and bedtime dryness did come a few months after daytime dryness but I think that it was very helpful for her to have the underwear because the diapers were to absorbant and she couldn't tell when she was going to pee until she was in underwear. If he has the interest at all in the potty then I think you should give it a try and expect to have to take deep breathes and allow for some accidents on the way. I think that you should at least let him wear them at school where they are willing to deal patiently with the accidents if they happen. Their environment is very set up for accidents usually because even potty trained children have occassional accidents.

[Llanitas]

Yo could try with a time strategy. I mean, you could try to say "put a little more effort in going to the potty during the morning", for example, so he could use underwear when going to school, and he'd be less stressed having to control the whole day instead doing it gradually.

good luck

[soccermama]

Originally Posted by Cuddlebaby

I put mine in undies pretty quickly/early. they get to see how they feel (they will LOVE them), get to notice that they are not absorbent *and* it's SO fun to go the store and pick out their favorite color/style (like Daddies!!)/brain dead characters.

actually I like the naked method best. this is a great stage. revel in it. it won't happen again. sounds like *you* are the one with anxiety.

-

Isn't that part of being a Mom - having anxiety??? H and I discussed it a little more last night and we're going to hold off on the underwear transition until he's 3 - which is only a couple of months away. He's doing well at school with the pull ups - was dry all day the other day and only had a BM in his pull up the entire day. He's getting way better at this and I'm just excited for him, so I don't think it's anxiety, cuddlebaby. I'm just proud of my DS for doing so well at something that is a HUGE milestone!