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06.10.20, 00:37 AM General Topics
23 replies
Okay, I posted about emergency potty training my 3.5 year old for camp (starting June 29). He’s been diaper free since Saturday, and had FOUR FRIGGIN’ ACCIDENTS today. I am literally asking “do you have to go pee pee” every 60 seconds. He will say “no” and pee his pants 2 minutes later. He doesn’t want to go bare bottom (keeps asking for pants), but has been pooping on the potty accident-free since January. What else can I do?! Help! He is desperate to go to camp and we are desperate for him to go, too! [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 06.10.20, 12:37 AM Flag
 

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Don't ask him. Take him in the bathroom every 20 minutes. You will feel like you are living in the bathroom for the next 3 days, but don't give up. Blow bubbles while he is sitting on the potty. Training my 2nd was completely miserable for 3 days and we almost gave up, but then he got it. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 12:43 AM Flag
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Then you can stretch it to every hour, and then ever 2 hours + every time before you leave and when you arrive somewhere with a bathroom. He'll eventually be able to tell you or take himself to the bathroom, but probably not for quite a while. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 12:45 AM Flag
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Op - like, how long is quite a while? Thanks? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 01:00 AM Flag
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Months. But it's really not a big deal. Once he's in a good routine (even with you leading it), he'll have only rare accidents even if he doesn't tell you he needs to go. That would mean you/counselor/teacher take him to the bathroom when he wakes up, before every meal, when leaving and arriving anywhere, and before bedtime. I promise, you can get through this. Stick with it! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 01:42 AM Flag
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This. One of the whole keys to the "Oh, Crap" book is that you don't ask. You say "it's time to pee" and march them to the potty. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 01:16 PM Flag
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The more zen you can make yourself, the faster it will work. Pretend you don't care. Don't ask every 60 seconds. Don't ask at all actually, the answer will always be no. Just calmly say "it's time to use the potty" at a regular interval. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 12:49 AM Flag
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One more thing, do anything to keep him sitting on the potty. Bubbles were the best for us. He can also "read" board books or you can read to him. Do a sticker chart, feed him m&m's, just try different things until you find out what keeps him sitting and trying. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 12:51 AM Flag
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OP - but if I am always putting him in the potty, how will he recognize that he has to go? Does that just happen? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 12:51 AM Flag
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Absolutely. He'll learn to associate the potty and the feeling of needing to pee. He doesn't know how to associate that yet because he hasn't had the experience of that. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 12:55 AM Flag
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^ and camp will probably take the little kids so frequently that he can be "potty trained" without consistently being able to say when he needs to go. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 12:57 AM Flag
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This is how you train. I trained both my kids at 2 using the method in the “Oh Crap” potty training method. It’s all about them learning to recognize the cues. You help them at first by them going pantsless and watching for a cue they are about to go. Rush them to potty. Pretty soon recognizing their own cues clicks for them. Dont our pants on till they reliably do this. Then go commando for a while as underwear feels too much like diapers (muscle memory). It’s effective. It works (well, for my n of 2). It’s a quick read and I highly recommend. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 11:19 AM Flag
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you need to calm down. Stop pestering him, and realize that accidents are normal. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 01:34 AM Flag
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Your poor child. He is not on your "schedule" and your need to have him trained by a deadline will surely backfire. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 01:42 AM Flag
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ITDA. I'm sure a 3.5 year old can learn. Just relax, stick to a routine, and definitely don't punish him in any way for accidents. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 01:44 AM Flag
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OP - yeah, he is also dying to go to camp and understands he needs to learn this to go. He’s fine. He just needs to learn this. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 01:52 AM Flag
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He will. It’ll click. And then you’ll laugh about it in a few years when another mother mentions shes PT her child and having issues. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 02:52 AM Flag
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and he will learn much faster if you calm the F down [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 02:55 AM Flag
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i agree with others he will be fine. they are gonna take him potty when he gets there, before lunch, after lunch, middle of the afternoon, before gonna home. he’s not the first and only kid who has to be reminded all day. he will be fine [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 02:29 AM Flag
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This was my youngest. He was almost 4 years old as well. I tried everything- candy, quarters, stickers, cookies. He wasn’t into it until I found his one particular sweet spot in terms of motivational reward and treat. Every 5 gold stars he’d get some Sprite. Hang in there, OP! It will happen. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 02:49 AM Flag
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You’re stressing him out. See if things get better in the next 3 days but he just got out of diapers. He’s not used to that feeling let alone the need to pee. Other kids do the same thing and leave diaper dry but pee in their pants when diaper is off. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 02:57 AM Flag
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When he does pee/poo in the potty, make it a happy event, sing a congratulation song. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 04:43 AM Flag
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Our DS also started using the toilet at 3.5; a few accidents are perfect normal, especially if he knows he's leaving for camp. Reinforce like heck when he gets it right. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 11:22 AM Flag
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send him to camp. he will learn more from his peers and teachers, and they expect accidents... all will be well. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 06.10.20, 11:31 AM Flag
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