DD doesn't want nappy, but scared of wees and poos!

[CondoleezzaRiceKrispies]

DD is 2.3, and each nappy change is becoming a fight, she just doesn't want a nappy on. She likes the idea of pants, and knows that grown ups and bigger children use the toilet. This makes me wonder whether we might be approaching potty training time. She has sat on a potty a couple of times, for a couple of seconds, but doesn't want to sit on the toilet.

On the occasions when she's either had either a pee or a poo not in a nappy (in the bath, on the floor) it's really upset her. Poo particularly really scared her.
She's never been constipated, so I know it's not a fear of 'going', it's the end result!

How should I approach toilet training?

[Ruthchan]

It does sound as though she's ready.
With the right approach and support she can lose her fears.

It's great that she's prepared to sit on the potty, even for only a few seconds. Don't worry about the toilet yet. That can come later when she's ready.
Leave the potty (or more than one) lying around the rooms where she spends most of her time. This will make it more familiar and let her sit whenever she gets the urge to.
Encourage her to sit down on it even when she doesn't actually need to go. Read books, chat and play games while she's sitting so that she stays on longer and loses her fear.

My DS was also very scared of doing his first wee in the potty.
In the end, I had to wait until he actually started doing a wee without a nappy on. I grabbed him mid-wee and sat him down on the potty. The last few dribbles went in the potty. That was enough to show him that he could actually do a wee in the potty and it broke his fear. From then on he was prepared to sit down and try it for himself.

Poos are also difficult, but they can come later, after wees.

[CondoleezzaRiceKrispies]

Thanks for that. I tried to put her on the potty when she started to wee today, but it freaked her out. Will leave it around a lot as you suggest and hopefully her curiosity will get the better of her!

Don't want to rush her if she's not ready, but she hates nappies now!

[Ruthchan]

Hating nappies is annoying, but it's also a step in the right direction. It will give her an incentive to make the change.
Give her time, be gentle and she will get there.
Good luck!

[CondoleezzaRiceKrispies]

Thanks. It's weird, I feel I have no instincts for this part of parenting, whereas I've been happy to make it up as I go along with everything else so far!

[Ruthchan]

Don't worry. It's rather a daunting stage before you start, but once you get into it you will find it comes as naturally to you as everything else.