Going spare.....

[kirriemummy]

We started potty training about 3 months ago and everything as going really well - DD was always asking to go to the toilet (for wees - not ever quite as good with poos), and hardly ever having an accident. We haven't even tried night time training yet. We went cold turkey on the pull ups and have been trying to keep her in knickers - making a big fuss of her when she made it to the loo, and not really reacting to accidents (which were pretty rare) just saying never mind, we'll get it right next time. Anyway, it was all going well until last week when we went on holiday and put her in a pull up for the long car journey. Since then its like her mind has been wiped! She pees everywhere and doesn't even seem to try to make it to the toilet, which is a big change - it's like she has totally lost interest, whereas before she was enthusiastic and 'engaged with the process'...hate that term! She even pees on her bed and sofas, which she never did before, she always at least made it onto the floor. I feel like we are back at worse than step 1, but I don't want to go back to nappies all the time - she was doing so well, and I don't want her to feel like she's failed. Hell, I don't want to feel like I've failed! I'm getting really frustrated because of all the pee and poo everywhere, and more so, because its such a total reversal. She's 2 and 3/4 years old. Does anyone anywhere have any ideas? help!!

[greenhill]

It sounds like the long car journey, then the holiday have distracted her from the potty training. It must have been very exciting for her to be doing different things and as she was not in her home routine did not have the usual triggers of walking past her own bathroom etc.

Saying that she is still quite young and can't be expected to do it all by herself. Start prompting your DD more. Don't think of it as being a backward step, just a gentle reminder that she is not even three and had nearly got the hang of it.

Once you've asked her if she wants to go and maybe taken her yourself if she hasn't been for a few hours, she should be back on track soon.

[karentrain]

I have the same problem and have resorted to letting her choose wether to wear nappoes or not, after two whole days of pees and poos everywhere I put a nappie back on her for a day's rest for my sanity, I was getting really angry.... I'm hopping that with time she (I) will find a renewed interest in training again...this is much harder work than I expected..