Marie 05/18/2010
Question:
My son (2.5) goes to daycare full time and will come home with his day sheet noting that he tried the potty. He hasn’t gone in it yet, but he’s sat on it, which I know is a start.
A few weeks ago, he was super interested in trying it at home and even peed once! He was excited about it for a few more days and then all of a sudden went cold stop. Now he wants nothing to do with it.
We’ve tried bribery (M&Ms, little presents), which is not my preferred method, but I am so eager to be out of diapers! I feel bad pressuring him, but why was it the cool thing to do for a while and now it’s the anti-activity? How do I get him excited and interested in it again? Should I be waiting for him to tell me he’s ready?
Answer:
Like all areas of development, learning to toilet train can come in fits and starts. Now that you, and he, know he can do it, the goal is to get him ready to do it. He may be a little overwhelmed, or just more interested in other things.
Rather than pressuring him, I would read his cues and back off for now. Toilet training may be your agenda, but it isn’t his, at least right now.
If he doesn’t regain interest again in a few weeks, you can reintroduce sitting on the potty to practice, not to go, just to get things started.