[y_tacker]

Is there any way you can get your child to tell you he has to go to the bathroom? We've been potty training our son now for about 3 weeks and he goes when we tell him just fine but he still won't let us know when he has to go! Does it just take time and he'll eventually tell us? How long will it take? He's just over 2 1/2.

[Devora]

Are you sure that he knows when he has to go? There's a big difference between using the toilet when you're told versus having the physical awareness + cognitive skills + communication skills to be able to tell you ahead of time that he needs to go. It really is complex. They have to:

- Be aware of the physical sensation.
- Know that the sensation means they need to urinate/poop.
- Remember that they need to do so in the toilet.
- Understand that if they don't do it soon they'll have an accident.
- Know how to communicate the need to use the toilet.
- And probably the biggest one --- be motivated enough to stop what they are doing (which may well be a lot more fun) to go use the toilet.

It's a big responsibility and takes a lot more than simply complying with an instruction.

Be patient and stay positive -- it will happen.

[SKL]

It will happen as he develops the desire to be more independent generally. In the mean time, keep taking him and helping him to develop good habits, so that when the time comes, he will be successful on his own.

I think that in general, our tots are used to us telling them when it's time to take care of their needs. We decide when it's time to eat, have a diaper change, have a bath, sleep, etc., so it is a new idea that it's their responsibility to tell us when it's time to go to the toilet.

It sounds like your son is doing very well for his age.

Good luck!

[052001]

My daughter (3 yrs. old) has been potty training for a couple of months and she is just starting to tell us when she needs to go. It just takes time.

She still won't tell us when she has an accident, although accidents are rare now.

Good luck.