I'm in the midst of potty training DS1 who is 2 1/2 years old. We had been doing preparation (e.g sitting him on the potty) for several months then 3 weeks ago he wanted to wear only big boy pants so I bought a travel potty and we went for it. He did really well for a while and even took himself off to use the potty for either a pee or a poo. However, we don't seem to be making any progress, in fact, 3 weeks later he is having more accidents than ever as most times he forgets to ask to go and wets/poos himself. This morning he did a few wees on the potty put then a poo in his pants. Really hard not to be annoyed with him! I don't want to put him back in nappies (and he certainly doesn't want to wear them) but I can't keep washing 3 pairs of trousers a day! I remind him as often as I can but he always says "no" but then often goes a few minutes later. If I insist he uses the potty then he gets upset. I've also tried bribery which often works but then next time he forgets and we have an accident. He shows all the signs of being ready, his speech his excellent, he can pull his pants down and use the toilet etc, expect that he is most often, in fact always, not dry after his afternoon nap. Does that mean anything? He is doing 3 mornings at nursery and uses the toilet there successfully, asking to go several times so I don't understand why he doesn't do this at home or when we're out. No idea where to go from here. Should I put him back in pull ups or persevere? I know I need to be relaxed about it but for some reason its making me really upset as I really think he understands but for some reason isn't doing it. Also, if you have to remind them ALL the time, are they definitely ready? Shouldn't they sometimes remember themselves or is this part of the training?
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Potty training
Training a 2.6 year old - what am I doing wrong?
Gangle · 12/10/2010 17:00
Do you think by constantly asking him, you are making him act defiant, IYSWIM?
I have just potty trained DS (2.8) and it has gone well. I have followed a well known, do it in a week book (don't agree with the other books, but this one has been very good). I find if I ask DS too much, I get a very sharp "no" like he is really fed up of me asking. At first he was saying no then doing it just after in his pants. We have been very lucky though and have only ever had 2 accidents a day and we have just finished week 2 and he hasn't had an accident for a few days now. It has helped that we have been at home a lot though as he doens't yet say when we are out that he needs to go.
A star chart helped with wees. Poos was another story. DS was literally petrified and screaming in terror when he done it. He would do it in his pants and immediately tell me. I found using a special sticker (in our case, Postman Pat) for poos and after so many he got a treat. At first it worked but then it didn't. I told him of he got 3, he would get a new car (he is car mad), then it was 5 stickers, now it is 8. I would also give a chocolate button after doing a poo (I swore I wouldn't do this but seeing the pure terror and him hopping around as he was trying to hold it, I knew I had to do something).
This has worked very well for us. He used the toilets after swimming and asked for it. He held on at my friends house, he had no accidents at my nans the other day and I haven't needed to ask him at all at home for a few days now.
The book says not to remind them too much after a while as they end up relying on you and have more accidents in the long run. They are suppose to learn that they can manage to go themselves without being reminded all the time.
Hope something there is helpful. 
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