DS not keeping willy inside nappy...

[xkcdfangirl]

Sorry not sure this is really potty training but not sure where else it should go... (apologies if this becomes too long as I explain)

DS is 2.8 and we haven't started proper potty training yet - he will happily sit on the potty and will occasionally make a wee in it (but never a poo, I think he has issues with willingly pooing and only does one in his nappy when he can't hold on a moment longer) - I just don't think he's ready for potty training yet.

The problem is that almost every morning when he wakes up (and before we wake up, so we're not exactly sure what he is doing or when he starts) he is pulling his willy out of his nappy and then (don't know whether immediately or some time later) doing a big wee that soaks through all the bed clothes. He then is obviously very cold and wet so he starts crying and shouting and getting us up to come and rescue him.

Part of me suspects he is doing this to get around the rule that we have previously been very successfully enforcing that we are very very boring before 7am except in an emergency. Could he be therefore deliberately creating an emergency so as to get us out of bed and paying him attention? Obviously I don't want to cause him future emotional trauma by making him think that playing with his willy is naughty, but this can't go on!

We have explained that it is very important to keep his willy inside his nappy, and he has agreed and vehemently instructed DH and me to also keep our willies inside our nappies (hasn't got the message that we neither of us use the latter and only one of us has the former...) but this doesn't seem to stop it. Anyone else experienced this?

[welliesandpyjamas]

I think that he is pulling his willy out and fiddling with it because, although he doesn't know it, he can feel the need to pee (but as you said, not quite ready to voluntarily go to the potty) and the touching (as well as the timing after a night asleep) is making him pee. But he can't then stop it coming out.

If it's the same time every morning, can you try a new start to the day - going in there with the potty and putting him straight on and telling him he can do a big boy pee on it. Sit and chat while he tries. Reward him with a sticky star or whatever for successful peeing. No need to make a big deal of using the potty the rest of the day, just use it as a start because it sounds like there are signs there.

Is he in a bed or cot?

[eggtimer]

We have. DS just loves to sleep with his hands inside his nappy.

He sleeps in a popper vest - problem solved. (Until he grows out of them all!)

[xkcdfangirl]

He's in a cot - it's one where the fourth side can be taken away and we started putting him in it with the side open in preparation for when he is ready for his big-boy-bed (which is already acquired and up in the loft in bits) but after trying this a few times he decided he didn't like this and now asks for the side of the cot to be up every time.

Popper vests sound like a good idea. I'll give your idea a go too wellies but I suspect it would lead to running-riot-at-unholy-hours. Still, worth a try! Thanks both.

[xkcdfangirl]

(oops n00b error I should have done rather than - I meant wellies*

[welliesandpyjamas]

Disclaimer: there is absolutely no judginess intended here, I promise but 2.8 is quite old to be still in a cot. The anticipation and arrival of a Big Boy Bed is very exciting for little boys, IME All part of growing up.

[TooManyBubbles]

We had this problem with our little boy. Disappeared as soon as we started potty training (even though he was still in nappies at night.)

How to put this delicately.... As soon as he had more ahem access during the day he was happy.

[3duracellbunnies]

Ds has all in one pyjamas which zip up and I don't think he could get them off, which is a shame as he therefore feels the need to wake us up at 5:30 for his first wee. He is still in a nighttime nappy but it is now dry so will need to take the plunge soon. He likewise is enjoying the new freedom during the day and showing off his assets to the amusement of his big sisters!

He might surprise you with potty training, I dreaded dd2 as she was having 6-7 dirty nappies a day, but I and the local landfil were very relieved when she got it in 2 days and started just going once a day. Ds has always denied doing poos, and likes to go standing up, although the first few were interesting to catch he is getting the hang of sitting down for poos. He may not be ready, but don't let that issue alone put you off trying as in my experience potty training seems to change the situation. Also ds hated having a dirty nappy, esp as a baby, and hated all the cleaning up involved, this is much easier on the potty. Obviously it needs to be at a time which is suitable for you too, and don't push it if he gets upset. Some children can be dry all day and then just want a nappy on when they want to poo.