Boys are slower with potty training. MY best friend's oldest boy, who is QUITE bright, was not fully trained until almost 4. Her next boy, was done by 3, and the youngest was all set at 2.5. Boys just take longer I think. And trust me, my best friend tried EVERYTHING witht he oldest, she was at her wit's end, and she is an AMAZING mom. Her pediatrician just said...h will do it when he is ready, try not to push too much.

I agree with Folkmom, boys definitely take longer. As for the other things, if mom is doing everything for him he is not learning frustration tolerance. This will get worse as he gets older. We have the same issue with Creature and she's nearly 6. She HATES to do anything for herself. Her mother still wipes her butt in the bathroom, still bathes her and dresses her. Not in my house. She does it all herself here, but it took a VERY LONG TIME to break her habit of just throwing a hissy fit when she couldn't do it the first time. DH would get frustrated and help her, but when she was here alone with me. I'd let her piss and moan and struggle for as long as it took. I'd say "want to go the playground".. Creature "yah". Me "put your shoes and coat on". If it took her 2 hours to do it, then that was less play time. Sometimes she gave up and we didn't go. The key is to make them try on THEIR time to get what THEY want. Otherwise, they realize you have to eventually help them to get what YOU want. She still tries to pull crap every now and again when she knows I am in a hurry (it is a control thing). I am very calm and just say "if we're late because you're fooling around, when we return you will stand in the corner for every minute we are late".

Two and 1/2 is still very young though. Start with one task at a time and let him master that. Like start with him putting his shirt on and say "when you figure that out, I'll help with your pants and socks". Then when he gets good at it, let him do pants and shirt. Little kids don't see "getting dressed" as one task, like we do. They see it as 4 or 5, a) put shirt on b) put pants on c) put socks on, etc.

"A pessimist complains about the wind, an optimist counts on the wind changing, a realist adjusts his sails"

My nephew is still not potty trained, and he is 3 in June. I think each child is different, and that he will get there eventually. Perhaps you or your dh can help him practice pulling down his pants.. but, lol.. watch out.. when he learns that, he might just do it because!! lol

BS 2.5 is not potty trained yet. He is about 60% on #1, no interest in doing #2 on the potty. He is very smart & self sufficent in other ways. He can make his own sandwhich, take off his clothes, shoes, hangs up his own coat & hat. Every kid gets it at their own time. Sometimes I think moms do too much for their kids to make things go faster. We all have so much on our plates these days.

Potty training tip: my sister used a thing called a "Potty Watch" for my niece. Google it... cutest thing ever. She wore it around her wrist and when the alarm went off it played the potty song so she knew it was time to sit on the potty chair to try to peepee. It got her used to trying to get her pants up and down to sit on the potty and try to go. Who thinks up this stuff? lol

Well, My daughter was potty trained at 2-2 1/2. But, all children develop at different rates. On average, most children are potty trained by 3. Because by 3 most are entering preschool and most preschools arent licensed for children that are not yet potty trained. But if he is having trouble with his clothes then this could be 1 of 2 things. 1. He is really not yet capable of pulling his pants up and down. He will learn soon. 2. the BM has babied the child way too much and he has learned that he really doesnt need to do it himself because mom is always there to do it for him.
If number 2 is the reason, then your DF really needs to try to talk with the BM about this issue. At this point all you can do is encourage him. Be enthusiastic. But don't push. He will get there eventually.

Oh and btw, I wouldn't use pullups. Pullups have alot of absorbancy and this hinders the feeling of being wet Kids hate the feeling of wet undies.

~Never interrupt your enemy when she is making a mistake.~

"No-one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

Potty watch, OMG I think I am getting the little prince one of these!