Please help me

[newmumwithquestions]

Decided to potty train DD 2 y 4 mo.

She's been showing typical signs of readiness for a while.

We had a go a few months ago - started gently (kept in nappies but asking if she'd like to sit on the potty before bath, etc). We got quite a few (maybe 10 in total) wees in the potty. Then a poo explosion all over the floor which she was hysterical about. After that she didn't want to use the potty so I took everything away until now.

Last week she started asking to do a wee wee in the toilet, asking to be lifted up, saying she wanted pants, etc (think she's seen others at nursery using the toilets).
Then this morning she said she wanted to go on the potty so I gave it to her, she strained for a bit but didn't produce anything so I put a nappy on her and left her. She took her nappy off and did a tiny poo in the potty - was very happy, calling to me. Brilliant I thought. I gave her lots of praise, choc buttons. Asked her if she wanted to start using the potty now all the time - she said yes.
We read a potty training book, gave her pants (she was very very excited). Since then we've had 3 wees and 1 poo - all in pants with no effort to get on the potty. Is this normal? Do I just have to stick at it?
I expected accidents but shouldnt she be trying to get to the potty?
Any tips?

[newmumwithquestions]

And another wee on the floor, 5 mins after asking if she needed to go on the potty.

Am I doing something wrong?

[newmumwithquestions]

Any suggestions?

[5000candlesinthewind]

Sounds normal to me.
You just need to keep calm and keep showing them where you want them to do their business, they get it eventually. Clean up any accidents with minimum fuss.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Sounds like she likes the idea of big girl pants rather than being ready. If you both want to carry on, could you sit her on the potty every 30 mins or so, just till she gets the hang of asking to go?

We used to sit DC1 on it sometimes if we thought he needed it and gave him something to watch, like CBeebies and maybe a snack or a book to read.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

And if you are after a book, we used Successful Potty Training and it was great

[MollyHuaCha]

It can be a long process! Sounds like you are doing the right things. Potty training was a long time ago with my DCs, but I do remember getting stressed when it didn't seem to be happening at the pace I thought it should. My tip would be not to make too much of a thing of it. Clear up mess without fuss. Change nappies without many spoken words (don't want to make nappy changing a cosy fun time), lightly praise when the potty is used effectively. She'll get there. Good luck!

[newmumwithquestions]

Thanks all.

5000candles I'm pretty calm with all the accidents. Idiot DP had a go at her for peeing on the floor yesterday which I was furious about (although with hindsight me shouting at him in front of her was the worst thing I could have done to deal with it )

jilted have ordered the book thanks. We are sitting her on the potty regularily but she just wanders off then pees.

I'm not convinced that she's got sufficient bladder control yet but I guess I give it a try for a week (or as long as I can stand) and see where we are. I'm just a bit confused as when we introduced the potty a couple of months ago she did a lot of pees in there. My sitting room smells of wee 😣.

molly I guess I may be being too impatient. At current rate I will crack before her!

So far the tally is
3 poos in the potty vs 1 in pants (happy with this)
0.5 pees in the potty vs 6.5 in pants (really not happy with this)

[JaxingJump]

All normal. You need to focus on this properly for at least a few days but for many kids it's a lot longer. Try to help her not to have accidents by putting her in the potty every 30mins for the first day or so. Then less once you have an idea of her pace and habits. Ask her if she needs to go regularly when you think she might understand she needs to tell you.

[newmumwithquestions]

Thanks. After 2.5 days of her looking confused and making puddles she suddenly shouted wee-wee, ran to the potty and peed in it. We've had accidents since but most excretions are in a potty now (when in the house), so I think we're right to persevere.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

That's good news newmum.