Potty training

First of all, congrats! Secondly, at what stage is your son in potty training? My son is also 2.5 and I started about a month and a half ago, with a newborn, and wish I had done it when he was 2, I was pregnant and he was more interested in the potty.

It all comes in phases. My son is in the “won’t go unless prompted, will have an accident if not prompted and tell you he went afterward” phase. He’s not able to identify when he needs to go, but that takes time.

My advice is to ditch the diaper or pull up when at home. Pay attention to his water intake and figure out how long he can hold it. My son does well with prompting every 2 hours. He will tell us that he doesn’t have to go, but he does. We also make the potty fun by reading books, playing a game or I let him watch home videos on my phone as an incentive. We always have to switch up the incentive for him!

Good luck!

I’d def recommend ditching the pull ups! Can go comando with trousers if pants are an issue!

Learning when they need to go is a skill that takes time. We started with a few naked days (which created a “naked boy” monster haha but it was easier to get him to the potty, then moved to commando, then to undies in the house. He will wear a pull up which we call a “travel diaper” but he actually just refused it before going out just now, so big win!

I agree with the other poster to go commando. They need to learn how wet feels. Diapers and pull ups absorb the wet and uncomfortable sensation which could be why you get resistance. If you think about it, diapers is all they have known since birth. It’s a security blanket of sorts. Some kids like the feeling of their warm, wet diaper… as gross as that is to us. My son was like that. He would REFUSE to take off his wet diaper. Getting rid of the pull up while at home is key. Use one when you go out and about but explain that it’s there in case of an accident, you do not pee in it, and as soon as you get home it comes off.

Also consistency is key! When me and my husband forget to prompt our son is when accidents happen. That’s on us and is not on him, since he can’t yet tell us when he has to go.

Agree with Natalie! Maybe prompting every 15-30 minutes is too much. It took me some time but figure out how long he can hold it then prompt less and less. We were prompting every 10 minutes and my son got soooo annoyed lol. Gradually give more time between prompts and then you’ll get into a good rhythm

My advice is to ditch all daytime diapers/pull ups. We trained at 21 months before my most recent was born doing that. Don’t be surprised if there is a regression after baby is born. We went from 100% potty trained and self initiating to refusing to go, insisting “I’m baby”
we gave pull ups back for a few weeks but took to the bathroom regularly. Once adjusted to baby sibling we got rid of the pull ups again and it was fine.

Thank you all for the advice. I have definitely been having a difficult time lately being consistent. I also have chronic illness issues as well as being a full time masters student right now. So sometimes the consistency side of things just gets really difficult.

I would read or do the audiobook of the oh crap potty training! It’s so good and will help you get it down!! she even has chapters for if you have made multiple attempts before.

that’s a lot all at once! You’re doing your best. He will get there. I had some moments too where I got upset or we forgot to stay consistent. I just try to remember that this is his milestone, and a huge one at that! We can’t make another person pee where they don’t want to pee, so there’s so much outside of our control as parents! You got this ♥️

I'm also in the process of potty training my 2.5-year-old son. He says he'll tell me when he needs to go to the toilet and never does. I bought a toilet chart from Amazon; you stick a magnetic sticker on it when he tells you, when he goes to the toilet, and when he washes his hands. The first day he was very excited, but the next day he didn't even look at it. Maybe it will work for you.