What age to force it?

amother

Mon, Dec 23 2024, 11:23 pm

I’ve been waiting for my son to be ready, but he doesn’t want to. At what age do I finally say enough is enough and really put all my efforts into training him even if I don’t think he’s ready?

amother

IndianRed

Mon, Dec 23 2024, 11:25 pm

Somewhere between 3 and 3 and 1/2

amother

PlumPink

Mon, Dec 23 2024, 11:28 pm

amother IndianRed wrote:

Somewhere between 3 and 3 and 1/2

Older. You can def wait until at least 3 and 1/2 unless the school is giving you problems

amother

Firebrick

Mon, Dec 23 2024, 11:30 pm

I just take off the diaper & either put the child in underwear or let the go bare bottomed. They get it within afew days bh.

amother

Mocha

Mon, Dec 23 2024, 11:44 pm

3.5 But even when you force it, it's important to be careful not to power struggle over it

amother

Oak

Mon, Dec 23 2024, 11:51 pm

amother OP wrote:

Have you tried toilet training him yet despite his lack of interest?
How old is he?

amother

Amethyst ↓

Mon, Dec 23 2024, 11:58 pm

Mine’s 3 and a few months and that’s what we are doing now. We tried when he was around 2.5 and it didn’t go well. He was just way too content being in a diaper I did not see him wanting it on his own any time soon.

amother

↑ Amethyst

Tue, Dec 24 2024, 12:02 am

amother Mocha wrote:

3.5 But even when you force it, it's important to be careful not to power struggle over it

This is so true. I messed up the first two days and realized it and actually apologized to my son and the next day I majorly backed off and it went much better.

amother

Peachpuff

Tue, Dec 24 2024, 12:35 am

Whenever you decide that you find the floor easier to clean than his bottom.
And you never force it. Just decide this is what is happening and that is it.
It usually happens by my kids when the next kid is born and I refuse to change 2 at once. So age 2-2.5

Iymnok

Tue, Dec 24 2024, 2:04 am

I found age 3 or so to be best. Occasionally there's a kid that's ready earlier.
There is a (old) book called "Toilet Training in Less Than a Day". I found it helpful.

Make sure it's a time when you have time and patience.

amother

Pistachio

Tue, Dec 24 2024, 2:31 am

How old is your child? I wouldn't force it before 3.5.

amother

Clover

Tue, Dec 24 2024, 2:57 am

Force it? Never... That'll backfire.
Highly encourage? Only when child is super super ready. My 3yo isn't trained. About 8-10 months ago she was really excited about the idea of going potty, did a few times of her own volition, and now has no interest, even though most of her friends in class use the toilet. Mine just isn't ready yet!

amother

Dandelion

Tue, Dec 24 2024, 3:25 am

I like the book Oh Cr*p Potty Training

amother

Pink

Tue, Dec 24 2024, 7:14 am

First introduce the idea in an exciting way and see if the child is interested and understands. Go from there. My son wasn't ready at 3. He was terrified of the toilet. We had to make it less scary. Some children are ready earlier. But most boys aren't before 3. Never force.

amother

Dodgerblue

Tue, Dec 24 2024, 8:23 am

All my kids were potty trained before 3. I just potty trained my 2.5 yo over the last 3 weeks. No kidding.
She was developmentally ready for the idea. But wasn't so connected to her bodily cues.
It took her a long time. But she eventually got it.
I sat her on the little potty every hour for like 5 minutes.
I praised her every time I checked and she was dry and rewarded with a few chocolate chips. If she peed in the potty she got chocolate chips and a box drink. Making her go again soon lol!
Poop was a lollipop.

You praise every single tiny development/improvement.
My kid wanted to poop in the bug toilet. She didn't fully make it onto the toilet. We cleaned it up together and I celebrated that she was big enough to go on thr big toilet and that she went by herself. We all clapped and said yay what a big girls she is.

If she pees herself, she undressed, wipes herself down and puts on a clean panty and leggings.
In the beginning she only realized she has the pee AFTER she peed herself. Then while peeing she started chapping that oh, I'm peedijg. I really should have gone on the potty.... but we just fixed it and moved on.
No frustration. No negative emotion. If she pees on the floor, "oy, you're wet. Run and change. And next time make on the potty. I know you can you're such a big girl."
Before bed I told her how good she did and that she's so big till the ceiling. Her face GLOWED.
Rinse repeat.
Yesterday she was completely dry all day. She made on the potty upstairs and in the toilet downstairs. I really am proud of her lol.

Some people wait until the child is already aware of their bodily cue, but you really don't have to. I'd you do potty training is a breeze. But you're child can learn earlier too. My sil potty trains her kids at 18 months. They all are dry and happy to go.