Late Bloomers - Potty Train a 4 Year Old

Are you in over your head with worry because youhappens, my son is one of those people who just
still cannot successfully potty train your 4 year old?need a little push of encouragement to get on the
Has thinking about what else you can do kept you upbandwagon.
at night? Is it even normal for a 4 year old to still be inSo, what did I do to potty train my 4 year old? One
his diapers?afternoon, I sat him down and explained to him that
First, of all, relax. Your baby is not the first 4 year oldfrom the next day forward, he would be wearing
still seen walking about in his nappies. In fact, this"grown-up" underpants instead of diapers in the
occurrence is not as uncommon as you might think it is.daytime. He seemed eager and interested at first, but
My own experience with my now 5 year old son canthe following days would prove to be a horror. He
attest to this.missed the convenience of wearing a nappy and
Because I read in a lot of parenting books that childrenthrew tantrums about it. But I stuck to the plan. I made
should not be forced into potty training, I waited for thehim clean himself up in the bathroom when he soiled
day when my son would express an interest in thehimself. I applied simple reward and punishment tactics:
process himself. As you might have guessed, I waitedcutting down TV time when he made a mess, offering
in vain. Up to this day, I still firmly believe that he woulda hug or a cookie whenever he used the potty. I am
still be walking around in diaper heaven had I notproud to say that my son has not worn a diaper for
intervened.almost a year now.
This is not to discredit what a lot of parenting authorsPotty training a child takes a lot of love and patience.
are saying. It is true that every child learns differentlyBut with helpful advice and tips, it is doable and
from another and that parents should not rush theirrewarding.
children into things they are not ready for. But as it