Some questions (because I don't know what I'm doing)

[ZebraZeebra]

Ds is 2.9. Happily will ask for it go get potty to do wees and poos when bare bottomed so we're attempting potty training. It's not going well He's not really getting that pants aren't nappies. It's no big deal but I'm not really sure what I'm doing and have questions:

Pull up pants - when would you use them/why/what's their function?

How often is regularly asking if they need a wee/taking them to the toilet? Feel like I'm constantly asking and he's getting annoyed.

What so you do if you can't get them to sit on the potty to try and even bribes won't work?

Do you worry about them weeing in cafes and shops??

Any other advice please - I'm sure there's lots of things I don't know I don't know.

Thank you in advance!

[CornishYarg]

Pull-ups are a sort of halfway house between nappies and pants. We didn't use them but I think they're useful if you're out all day or going on a long journey etc during potty training if your child is still having several accidents. The idea is that you still aim for them to use the potty/toilet but there's no mess if they have an accident.

We had two failed attempts at training DS before cracking it on the 3rd attempt. The first time, I got him to sit on the potty loads (every hour if not more) and he got really cross about it. And then weed on the floor within minutes of sitting as if to spite me! The second time, I didn't get him to sit as much but still asked him lots which also annoyed him. The third time, I had a much better idea how often he goes so only asked and got him to sit occasionally. And once he started telling me he needed to go, I backed off completely and only ask if we're about to go out. So I think it really depends on the child's personality; DS is stubborn but wants to do things well so backing off and trusting him worked once he was ready to train. Another child may need far more regular reminders and be happy to sit often.

If he's refusing to sit at all, maybe he's not ready. But perhaps if you get him to sit less regularly but are very firm about him sitting at those times, that may work.

Yes, I definitely worried about him weeing out and about! We just stayed in for our first attempt but I remember during the second attempt, DS sitting on a towel in the supermarket trolley as I was convinced he was going to wee (he didn't). I personally avoided cafes when he was having accidents regularly though.

[Sleepybunny]

I'm in a similar situation to you. DD can take herself to the potty, wee and poo without prompting when bare bottomed. When she has pants on its about a 50/50 whether she asks to go or not. She struggles to take her pants down herself and I think she thinks she's wearing a nappy.

My plan is to carry on wearing pants, but stay home for the next few days to see if the accidents become less frequent. She's going to nursery on Tues, so would be helpful if she could be more vocal about needing to go by then.