I have a son whom is 3 yrs of age, currently we have a wee problem that is taking forever. His twin feternal brother has finished before him and he started after him. I strongly think that it is simply the will to do it and wanting to learn. My troublesome son just would rather play and is very disobediant, and doesn't like being told. I tried just with putting them on the potty before bath and said that they must do wee before a bath now. When they both were doing wee's on the potty at after meals and before and after naps, I just tried them on the toilet. They suprised me with being able to feel comfortable enough to do it. I think sometimes we should start them on a level less scary to them then progress when we see they are comfortable. The toilet first off is really confronting and I think thats what stopped my Son's when I experimented before 2 and 4 mths of age. Back then I think waiting for that extra time to train really made all the difference. Then when they did poo's by accident, I went overkill in praising them, that encouraged them alot. Also it is alot of talking and constant reminding them of their bodies. Some things said like"We do wee's on the and I taught them to say then "potty" and the same was said with poo. Then when they phrased that right I got them to say where they do poo's and wee's and made them fill the missing word to my phrases, which made it really less stressing for them to remember. Pritty soon it was alot of telling them on the hour to go to the toilet and helping them. Then when there was dry periods, I would tell him and he would iniciate it too. Then one day he started being dry and after 3 weeks I put him in pants. But as for the other twin he has only just started doing all poo's on the toilet by himself and has trouble knowing to go toilet. With this in mind the huggies pull ups have helped him understand he has wet and he has started telling me, after just a day and a half, which before he would'nt no matter how saturated into his trousers he would get. So I guess this is progress, then later today he asked outside of meal time to go to do wee. Along with persistantly telling him how to avoid makeing the symbols on the pants go away and relating him to the boy character in the big kid book that you can ask for from huggies, he really relates to James and telling him he gets hugs and kisses every time he is dry is added motivation. Also converting totally to dry nites and not useing nappies, makes sense to avoid them getting confused and not sure about toileting just as the handbook suggests, it is vital. Also I was told that having to spend alot of time at home to concentrate on teaching them and focus the most of day on toileting is one other aid in getting them to do it. I think this helps alot. Sorry but this is vital and Im afraid it may send you nuts from not going out, but understand that the toileting phase will end soon and freedom to go out will return. So hang in there and stay home to focus on the learning to go to toilet. Go out for shopping of course and the necessaries, but try to stay home all other times. I also found that the huggies hold only one wee but this gets them understanding about being wet without the stickyness of wett skirts or pants and hard to take off undies or trainers and because of that he was happer to tell me. Hope this helps.
Mrs. L Commins
