I don't have a clue what I'm doing, help!

[hedgehogsdontbite]

DS is 2.11 and I'm starting to feel like a bit of a failure for not having potty trained him yet. A couple of months ago I started putting him on the potty at every change and it was clear that he knew what it was for and would always try to go. However he shows no sign at all of being aware that he needs to go. I thought maybe it's because he's in nappies so tried him without for an afternoon. It went really well. I put him on the potty every hour and we had no accidents.

So yesterday we went and bought him big boy pants and today started training properly. It's a disaster. He's had half a dozen accidents so far. I've started putting him on the potty every half hour but he's still having accidents in between. He's aware that he's had and accident and is very upset by it, but he's still showing no sign of knowing he needs to go.

I'm wondering if it's just too soon for him and don't have a clue how to proceed. Do I carry on and hope it gets better? Do I change how I'm doing it? Do I put him back in nappies for a bit longer? I don't want to carry on if he's not ready but I also don't want to 'punish' him by stopping (he was so chuffed at getting his big boy pants yesterday).

What do I do?

[Hamsolo]

Well, for us it was three days like that and then it clicked. I was ready to throw in the (urine soaked) towel at the end of day two. It's only that I'm pregnant and really need my 2.11 year old out of nappies and settled with using the toilet before the baby arrives in June, otherwise I think I'd have left it a bit longer myself.

But, you know your child best, and if you don't think he's ready, don't do it!

[hedgehogsdontbite]

I wish I did know best. I feel utterly clueless.

[TeaBelle]

If you're having to put him on that frequently it sounds like toilet timing, not training. He's weeing on demand but not linking the feeling of needing to go with the action of going to the potty. I'd leave it a couple of months

[hedgehogsdontbite]

That's what I was wondering. He's doing it on demand from me but is not showing any awareness of needing to go himself.

[SomedayMyPrinceWillCome]

2.11 is still quite young for a boy to be toilet trained. If it's stressing you, why not stop & try again in a couple of months?

[hedgehogsdontbite]

I've stuck him back in a nappy now. He's not ready. He wants to be ready because he sees the other kids at nursery using the toilet. But he's not. Phew. Decision made. I'll try again in a couple of months.