Please come and talk to me about toilet training - particularly if you've had a boy

[lisalisa]

I am posting about ds2. He's 3.2 yrs old and number 5 in the family. All my other kids trained between about 2 and 3 yrs old and all in a fairly relaxed manner.
I started ds2 pretty late at 2.11 yrs and for the last 3 months we've been on and off. Now - for last week we've gone nappy free and I am reaching desparation. Ds2 has not managed to avoid one wee in his pants or a poo. He will wee ( but not poo) in the toilet when i ask him if he needs to go but he has not managed yet to interpret the feeling of needing to go and asking to go ( or going himeself - he doesn't need to ask - toilet is all set up for him with step and little sear nearby).

He is going through abotu 8 pairs of patns and trousers per day at least andthis has been going on for 7 days. surely by now he should be able to recognise the signs for when he needs to go and be able to articulate this? He is a very verbal child in other ways - articulate and intelligent. It just seems in this area that he has almost relinquished control to me so that he will go if asked but will never ask to go and iwill just wet.

Please someone adivse what i should do from here>

I am SOOOO relieved that I'm not the only one going through endless potty training...ds is 3 yrs 4 months and we've been training him for six months on and off...still won't poo in the loo or potty and I'm starting to wonder if he'll be ready for when he starts school in a year's time! (ok, maybe that's a bit pessimistic - I hope!)

Can't wait to try the sneaky poo idea...

One thing I did that worked for a while was to invent these creatures called "The Grimlies" who live in the toilet and talk in little squeaky voices then shriek with rage when he wees on them...they also live on his teeth, so when I brush his teeth he can squash them...just as well I like making silly voices really!? Anyway if it helps anyone else to try this then I'll be happy!