Nearly 5 year old

[Bkp2021]

I'm tearing my hair out and he starts school on the 7th. My boy is 5 on 1st October but around a year delayed.

He is generally dry through the night and goes at a frequency you would expect but I have never had him go on the toilet or potty. I can't work out what the missing piece is but I'm absolutely stuck. It feels like we are just missing one final piece which is recognising the cue to go.

He has a reward chart for a very prized toy he wants if he gets 2 days.

I have tried trips to the toilet every 30 minutes for 5 minutes and he went *all* day without going until it was niagara falls. In frustration I made him sit on the loo when I knew he had loads to drink on the premise of if he does it once then it will click, 3 hours later we were both upset. Never again.

Any tips on what to try?

[ERIC-Charity Partner]

Hi Bkp2021,

These problems can be incredibly tough when you are in the middle of it all. If you would like some help to figure out a plan, please go ahead and contact our Helpline all our details are found at eric.org.uk/helpline. You will be able to request an email through this form if you like.

Apart from that, two of our resources spring to mind -

Children who will only poo in a nappy

Daytime bladder problems part 1

Hope that helps.

@ERIC

[Darosess]

What might work, but I'm not sure since it all depends on how your son is, could be letting him decide for himself when he goes or doesn't go to the potty or toilet. It worked for mine. Mine didn't ever like when I pushed him and even asking him he usually says no. He prefers to choose the moment for himself. Also having him watch a video on potty or something like that, making ir fun, but only after he decided for himself to go on there. Also if at home he doesn't wear a diaper it's more probable he'd search out for himself on where to do 'his business'. As they do not really like to do it on the floor. I don't know, maybe you already tried some of this but maybe it helps!