[Venessia]

My son is almost 3 & 1/2, and is still having accidents. He has been excellent at going "pee-pee" in the potty, but not "poopy." I am kind of wondering if there is a problem. The pediatrician says there's nothing physically wrong, I just need to be patient.

He was born at 27 weeks (normal is 40), so at first he was a bit behind. Now, he has completely caught up, though. Also, if you adjust his "premie age," then he should still be potty-trained.

We live in the sub-tropics, so he drinks a lot! Yet, he always makes it in time for that. It's his bowel movements that are the problem. He goes through AT LEAST six pairs of underwear each day. If he has a small "smear" in them, he is changed into fresh ones. Then, when he does finally have a full bowel movement, it's almost always in his undies.

I have attempted giving him calmer, quieter activities when I think it might be getting closer to "that time," but it seems to make absolutely no difference. I have bought books for him in both English and Japanese (he's bi-lingual), and while he thinks they're fun, it doesn't seem to have the effect I was hoping for. I have focused on praising those (very) few successes, without over emphasizing the messes, but he just doesn't seem to get it.

He's been out of Pull-Up's for eight months now, but I have been seriously considering just putting them back on him. What am I doing wrong?

Any ideas at all would be so appreciated,
Venessia~