Potty refusing toddler

[TheABC]

DS is 2.9. He likes playing with his potty, can pull up/down his own trousers and will tell me if he needs a wee or poo. The only thing he consistently refuses to do is actually use the potty. I am keeping it relaxed (just a light hearted query when he tells me he needs a wee), but it's always met with NO! He has seen other kids at nursery use the potty, so he definitely knows what it is for.

What next? Leave it, try an intensive training weekend, put him in pants..? I have already tried bribery with chocolate buttons and stickers. I really don't want to turn this into a battle of wills as he can be very stubborn and it could lead to hang ups about the whole process.

My other problem is that DC2 is expected in May and I may not have the time I need to spend on training DS once s/he is born.

[Pocket1]

I'm in the same boat with DD 2.8 - she hates her potty. But i really feel it's time to get rid of day time nappies

I'm going to take DD out to choose a new potty and a toilet seat thing. We've bought one of these for when we are out and about http://m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/potette-plus-convertible-travel-potty-white-blue/p230587521?sku=230587521&kpid=230587521&skenid=5bd7ad9f-7509-e4e9-6229-000005599d90&sskwcid=403x852996&tmad=c&tmcampid=73#pageloaded

I've picked a date when our toddler classes break for easter hols. I'm going to spend the week before using pull ups, putting her on the potty whenever I change her nappy, reading the potty book and putting her doll that wees on her potty. I'm hoping that week of prep will help....

The following week I'm just going to go for it - and stay home for a few of days. Ditching the day time nappies and using pants, asking her regularly if she needs to go. And hoping and praying this works. I'll also use a sticker chart for each time she uses the potty/loo.

I really don't know what I'm doing.... So any more suggestions/ideas appreciated!!

[SpanielFace]

My DS1 was like this. Suddenly, out of nowhere, he just announced one day that he wanted to do a wee on the potty. He was pretty much fully trained (for wees, at least) within a week! Sometimes you just have to wait until they are ready, I think. We read "pirate Pete's potty" a lot and I tried not to stress about it, but I honestly thought he would never get there. But he did. I don't think there is any point turning it into a battle, as you will always lose!
When I did train him I just left him naked from the waist down for the first 2 days. Easier in the summer! But that seemed to work well. When he first put pants on he had a lot more accidents - I think they must feel like a nappy.

[TheABC]

Thanks, ladies. Off to Google pirate Pete. ..

[Juanbablo]

We had the Pirate Pete book for ds1. He wasn't a refuser he just didn't seem to have a clue when we tried to train him at 2.5. By 2.10 he was ready and done in a few days. He loved to read the book and what really cracked it was getting a potty chair, it was much more comfortable than a standard potty.

Ds2 has just turned two and yells NO! When asked if he wants to do a wee on the potty.

[starry0ne]

Few things..
My DS happily sat on potty every nappy change ( for about a month ) and wee'd till he was 18 months old..Then we move a week of not bothering... refused to sit on potty again.. I picked up a car type potty from charity shop because he loved it.. hey presto back to wee ing on potty.

Other things that can help .I visited a friend with young child wanting a wee..Her DS a potty refuser also wanted to do the same.

[SophieofShepherdsBush]

Ds1 was 3.5 when he got it. After a year of wet ans pooey pants and in and out of nappies. I honestly wish I'd just waited til he was ready. Ds 2 was just 2 years. And got it in a week. Personally I'd take the pressure off him until he is really keen to try himself. Sounds like keeping it lighthearted and just asking him occasionally if he wants to try, as you are doing really, would be fine.

[Doje]

I've just potty trained DS1 who was/is going through a very 'NO!' phase. If I asked him if he wanted a wee the answer would always be no. Tbh, I think he just didn't need a wee.... I left him to it, put him in pants or left him naked from the waist down, put the potty in the lounge with us and said 'Tell me when you need a wee'. It might be worth a try doing that?

We had a few accidents where he would do a bit of wee in his pants, say 'uh oh, wee' hold the rest and do the rest of the wee in the potty. He's worked it out though now, and comes to us before he wees.

[CrumpetsAndGin]

Pirate Pete was a hit in this household too, along with a couple of other books may have monopolised the locals library's entire potty-training themed childrens books for a while

The thing that ultimate worked however was his cousin asking her mum in a 'hushed' voice why my DS wasn't in 'big boy' pants yet... he stopped wearing nappies that very day and never looked back...

[TheABC]

Thanks everyone. It's good to know I am not alone...and at some point he will want to do it!