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Is your child ready for potty training at nursery? Here's the place for all your toilet training questions.

Potty training

Starting today - and he just won’t go on the potty

10 replies

wheezing · 22/06/2018 14:02

My son is 23 months and we’ve started today - pretty much the Oh Crap method.
Anyway for his first wee (3 hours after I took nappy off, so physiologically ready for sure) he told me 5 mins before “I want to do a wee” - which is quite typical for him to tell me a while before - but other than a half hearted few seconds on the potty he wouldn’t sit on it and then eventually did the wee while reading.
So he’s fully aware of the feeling quite far in advance and can articulate it, but I just don’t know how to get him on the potty.

3 hours later for the next wee it was clear he wanted to go for a while but then went on the floor the second I’d left the room to get food.

He did a poo having gone off to find kitchen roll and literally did the poo holding on to pieces of kitchen roll that he told me was for wiping. He helped me clean up from the floor and ran off himself to put a dirty piece of paper in the toilet which he was very proud of. So again, “gets it” but not quite.

So anyway, I do think he’s ready - I just can’t for the life of me see how we make the step to him agreeing to sit on the potty. Oh crap book suggests literally picking them up mid flow and putting on the potty but he won’t let me place him on it.

Thoughts?

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wheezing · 22/06/2018 14:04

Also to add some of the examples in the book are toddlers who seem oblivious to weeing or only realise the second it’s happening and it just seems like we’re quite far past that point because he knows his own body signs well in advance... I just have visions of us doing days and days bare bottomed with the potty untouched.

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Igottastartthinkingbee · 22/06/2018 14:07

I know this sounds bloody obvious but does he know what the potty is for? We used the princess pollys potty book for DD, which explains the whole process very clear. It’s definitely helped being explained via a book rather than just me telling her! I’m sure there’s a boys equivalent (didn’t know about the book at the time of DSs potty training.).

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IveHadPraiseIveHadRidicule · 22/06/2018 14:09

I waited until mine were over two (and definitely ready) and went straight to the toilet with a seat adjuster and step. But then i'm quite lazy, have a weak stomach and had the advantage of working from home not everyone does (so they weren't in nursery).

I was given the suggestion of putting a ping pong ball in the loo for them to aim at Grin

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statetrooperstacey · 22/06/2018 14:11

Straight on the toilet? Is there a bush in the garden he might wee up for fun?

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wheezing · 22/06/2018 14:20

Maybe we could do the toilet. He has in the last month or so been asking to use it, and then I hold him up sitting on it (but again nothing happens, he gets off and does a wee next to it).
He does know what it’s for because we’ve done some books but I think the issue is that no one at nursery uses one because he’s in the baby room (moving up quite soon). The nursery staff FYI do think he is ready to be taught.
I’m just feeling like if I can get him on it one time I’d feel so much better about the whole thing. A lot of the other examples I’ve read of potty training fairly young seem almost to be the other way around - ok to sit on the potty but no real awareness of weeing until it’s too late.

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IveHadPraiseIveHadRidicule · 22/06/2018 14:24

Maybe it'll help when he moves and sees the "big boys" use one.

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JudgeRulesNutterButter · 22/06/2018 14:27

I’d suggest spending a few days just getting him to enjoy sitting on the potty, any time, clothed/with nappy/without. Sit with him and sing/read/whatever. Unless he actually likes/doesn’t mind physically sitting there then the whole thing is a battle.
YouTube works well, just saying...

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BendydickCuminsnatch · 22/06/2018 14:33

DS never weed sitting down (unless pooing at the same time!). Let him stand to do it. Boys are easy as they can go anywhere! DS was scared to sit on the potty too so saved his poos for nighttime nappy. That lasted a few weeks until he was happy with potty/loo, then just eventually stared pooing on the toilet by himself. Potty training also meant he no longer needed movicol, for some reason! It’s not always textbook but I’m sure it will work out for you.

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SoftSheen · 22/06/2018 14:38

23 months is probably a bit young. Some children are potty trained before 2 years but most are between 2 1/2 and 3 years old, with boys tending to be a bit later than girls. In any case it would probably help to do a few weeks preparation by e.g. reading books (Pirate Pete's Potty is a good one), sitting on the potty before a bath, role play with dolls/teddies.

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teaandbiscuitsforme · 24/06/2018 07:23

Definitely try the toilet with an insert as well.

He sounds very ready but sometimes they just need help to relax in order to wee. You could try listening for the wee to take the pressure off (also model listening for the wee when he comes into the toilet with you). You could also try reading a short story or something until he gets used to the idea of sitting and then releasing.

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