Toilet Teaching

I did some searching here, but didn't find exactly what I am looking for.  So I hope this hasn't been discussed a hundred times and I am missing the posts.

My DS was 3 in July.  I have had him go with a bare bottom when we are home, and over the past 3 days he uses the potty all the time.  But almost the instant I put underpants on him he will pee and/or poop in them.  We have  a super busy weekend coming up, and will not be able to just hang out at home.  Do we just plan on him going in underpants and bringing a whole wardrobe with us?  Or should we break down and put him in pullups (which he calls diapers, and treats as such!)?  Thanks for any advice!!

Hi Ann, welcome to the board!

Your best bet at this point is to just put him in a pullup when you leave the house, otherwise you're just going to be constantly cleaning up messes & getting frustrated.  While he has the pullup on just keep reminding him that he shouldn't go potty in it and should be a big boy and use the toilet.  Try putting him on the potty every so often when you're out and see if he'll go. 

When you're home you might try taking him out to the store & letting him pick out his own underwear.  What worked for us was getting underwear for DS that had a character on it like Diego or Spongebob.  We'd tell him that he couldn't pee his pants or Diego would get wet and be sad.  Rewards (aka bribes!) are always a good idea as well!  Tell him if he can keep his underwear dry for a certain amount of time he can get an piece of candy or some other treat.  At that age he might just still be confused about the point of underwear.  He might just think that all this time he's had a diaper on and could go to the bathroom in it so why doesn't the same rule apply for underwear?  Just keep reminding him about how underwear works.  Keep up the good work and let us know how it's going!

    
 
 
    
  

Thank-you for the welcome and the prompt reply!  This is my 4th TT'ing son, and I would have thought we had all the bumps worked out.  But this is throwing me for a loop.  We did a Chuck-e-cheese trip last night.  I told DS that if he kept his pullup dry and no poo in it he could go and get a toy he was wanting.  Close to the end of our trip there I checked and made a big fuss over that fact that he was still dry, did he want to try to go on the potty there etc and he refused.  Before we left he had pooped and was heart broken that he didn't get to get the toy.  I think you are right and he isn't completely getting the fact that he shouldn't go in his pants.  I'm worried that after basically a whole weekend in pullups, though, that we are going to have to start over again on Monday.  I am off on maternity leave, so I am able to just keep him home and naked....  Hopefully we get this done by mid December when I go back to work ;)

Thanks again, I'm sure I will be back for more support and with more questions!