Potty training expectations after day 1

[EugenesAxe]

A genuine AIBU (ie. not an opinion I am hoping everyone will share) and plea for people that have got through potty training to respond to.

If your child had almost no successes at weeing in the potty over day 1&2 (he managed it once; I think I asked him to sit), would you say they aren't ready? He has some pointers such as knowing when he's done a wee or poo but I would have expected more willingness to do it if he was truly ready. He's 2.8. I don't expect perfection but have you gone on to successfully train having all accidents and no successes on day 1?

I did my dd aged 2ish and I think she got it in about 5 days but she wouldn't poo in the potty / toilet for months as she would only go in her nappy standing in the hallway holding on to the radiator!!! :)

I knew she had finally got it when I came out to find she'd removed her nappy, picked up the poo (!) And balanced it across a dolly teacup as she didn't know where the potty was (I was washing it at the time).....!!! After that she went in the potty and then the loo.

Its one of my favourite funny memories.

Every child and every parent is different, I've kn own people who claim that their 18 month old is already dry, when actually they (the parent) runs round after them literaly holding a potty so they can spot when they need to use it. My own mother claims that I was fully toilet trained (apparently never used a potty!) when I was 13 months old!! I'm obviously a genius who never reached their potential. I think you can potty train as early as you want to but if you try too early it becomes a real drag and far too stressful for me. I'd give it a few more days but if your DC doesn't seem interested I'd wait a few weeks. It sounds great to have a "dry" child before starting nursery but I can guarantee that any nursery worker would far rather have a child in nappies for a few extra weeks than have loads of accidents to clean up.

Hi, I haven't read all replies, so might be repeating advice. However, have 4 DC and have just trained my 3.3yr twin boys. I've decided that the best rule of thumb on readiness was whether they made an attempt to make it to the toilet. At least then I knew they were aware a pee was coming. And awareness is everything. Otherwise, you are really just hoping to get the timing right.

On my previous attempt, neither of the boys were aware of what was happening. The flood would appear at their feet as if from heaven. Once it clicked, I didn't mind the odd accident as they usually happened on route to the toilet.

So, I say rather than popping your DC on the loo every 20mins in hope of catching a pee, or asking every 20 mins if they need to go, just leave them. See if there is any awareness of impending pee and use that a gauge on whether to keep going or leave for another month.

Good luck.

Sorry glitch on ph so posted twice.

RCOR - yes that's actually a very good acid test, and the one time we attempted DS did go to the potty unprompted and did a small poo. I think he gets bothered by continual asking of 'Do you need to go' and general hassling if it's been a while (like the other day, when I left him nappyless for a morning on a whim - he didn't piss for three hours...).

Tonight DM was over and she suggested to DS doing a wee on the toilet prior to bath, which he did, so that was cool. Her voice was so easy though... I said I'd have to channel it. There was just NO tension or expectation; she kind of made it fun.

Wiggle - that is classic!

Thanks again to all respondees.

OP, i would keep at it for a week or two.
dd1 was reliably potty trained within 5 days.
if you'd have told me that on day 3/4, when i was knee-deep in dd1's pissy clothes, I'd have laughed in your face. i think that sometimes, they are physically ready, but just take a while to get used to the new routine and expectations.