How do I get ds to be more independent in the bathroom?

Silver Member Joined: Aug 24 2009 Posts: 653

Ds is just three and still needs lots of help to pee in the toilet, as opposed to outside it. I've tried numerous time to teach him to aim by pushing it down, but I haven't been successful getting him to do this on his own. He either lets go before he's done peeing, so it goes all over the place, or doesn't position his fingers properly so it still sprays out even though he's pushing down. It's the same issue whether he's sitting or standing. He needs one of us to push down for him or else there's a mess. We've tried having him aim at a target but he just can't do it. This makes it difficult for me to leave him anywhere, because I am really uncomfortable with the idea of anyone other than his parents to touch him in this way. Maybe I'm overreacting, but it just scares me somehow. Also I would like him to start school in the fall and I don't know if they will be willing to help him, never mind the fact that I really don't like the idea of it.
Any suggestions?

Gold Member Joined: Jul 26 2008 Posts: 2096

Babies R Us sells this thing that looks like a big fruit loop and it's a target that you put INSIDE the toilet so DS can aim right at the center of it. It becomes like a game for them.

Senior Member Joined: Feb 01 2011 Posts: 126

In my babysitting days... In the bathroom of a family of boys was a sign:

We: aim to please.
You: aim too! please!

And those boys can already read and understand humor.

Truthfully, I didn't get it (I come from a family of girls) until I had my own boys.

Don't worry about school, he will NOT be the only one who cannot aim.

boys will be boys and will always "miss"!!

Just don't make him feel bad about it, it will cause a lot more problems than having to wipe the floor and spray the bathroom.

Remember: he is only 3!

Good luck! and enjoy him!