To be worried about this?

[Mozfan]

My 2 year old DS isn’t at all interested in potty training. I know other people with 2 year olds who are starting to train them and having success.
He will tell us when he’s done a poo, but will only sit on the potty briefly (fully clothed) but often says ‘don’t like it’.
He’s been using it to keep his train collection in mostly!
He’s goes to nursery, his speech is very good and he understands lots. Knows his numbers, colours and shapes. Just doesn’t seem to be interested in the potty training at all.

Each child is different.

I had some very wise and reassuring women tell me that if I started toilet training at two, they'd finish at three. If they started at three, they'd finish at three, lol. For my two, that was very much the truth!

Is he just 2 or almost 3? There’s a big difference.
Boys often potty train later than girls. I wouldn’t worry about what other people and their kids are doing. He’ll do it in his own time. Also I know people that did it early and it took them ages. We waited until he was almost 3 and we had very few accidents.

I wouldn’t worry at 2. All kids are different.

@Idontgiveagriffindamn sorry I should have said, he turned 2 in October

Wait until he's ready. Mine had just turned three.

And a week in, his grandad took him to use an actual toilet so the potty was refused from that moment on.

My (just) two year old isn't interested either, but friends' similar aged children are. He doesn't even tell me when he's done a poo. I'm leaving it until spring/summer, I have no interest in clearing up accidents for the next year.

Mine was knocking 4 before he was trained. He is now at university and toilets himself very successfully i believe

Doesn’t sound like he is ready. You aren’t suggesting any signs from your posts.

Don't worry about it. I had one done at just 2, one at 2 1/2 and one was over 3. He will do it eventually.

He's just not ready

I started when my daughter was two. She wasn't interested so I left it for a few months. It is easier in the summer when they can run about outside! Easy to say, but try not to stress. If it's not happening, leave it for a bit and try again.

Please try not to worry, my eldest son was 3 years 3 months when he was potty trained , i remember that i worried and stressed myself silly about the fact he took so long .... i wish i’d been more chilled out about it - they all get there.

I think if he can tell you he's done one he's ready physically. You need to incentivise him. Doing what 'daddy does' can work. Maybe take his trousers off for a few days and if you know when he is most likely to want to go have him sit on the potty (and also do not let him use it for toys). Lots of patience and encouragement and praise. But if you think he's physically not ready (as opposed to just can't be bothered), then take the potty away (if he asks you why just tell him he doesn't seem to be ready yet, which in itself may make him want to prove he can use it) wait a couple months, then try again.

He's not ready. DS1 is nearly 3.5 and we've not just managed to nail both wees and poos. He's been doing wees on the loo (won't use a potty) reliably for about 6 months, but without fail would always poo in his pants. Then one day he took himself off to the loo like he always does, but instead of a trickle we heard a splash! Great excitement from him, we all had to come and inspect the poo etc. He has never done a poo in his pants since.

Don't stress.

[quote Mozfan]@Idontgiveagriffindamn sorry I should have said, he turned 2 in October[/quote]
My youngest turned 2 in October - I haven’t even thought about potty training him yet. I’ll think about it in the summer.

Knowing numbers colours and shapes has no bearing on potting training.
Most kids can tell you they have done a poo at that age, it's needing and doing a pee that's more difficult.
Hes probably physically ready, but maybe give it another couple of months to see if his attitude changes towards it.
I would say to stop letting him store toys in it though, keep it in the bathroom and it's only to be used for going to the toilet.

sounds totally stupid but could you not show him by doing it yourself? look at mummy sat on the potty. it's totally safe don't worry? forgive me if that sounds rediculous

I didn’t even try until my son was 3 then he cracked it in four days. Don’t put him or yourself under pressure if he doesn’t seem ready. I would definitely think about doing it in the summer when he can run around with his undies on.

If he's telling you has done a poo he is aware of his bodily functions and Just needs to know where to put it.

Buy the book "Oh crap" it's brilliant, don't wait for signs, show him the way and dignity to use the potty.

You may throw his toy storage potty and buy a different one, so he doesn't associate it with his toys. This is not a toy, it's where his sees and poos go.

Kept him home for a week, clear diary (easy enough at three moment 😂) it's about reaching stages not days or time limits.

Strip him off completely, watch for his cue (no phones, no tv for you, watching your kid is what you are doing) he will have a cue before he has a wee or poo. Put him on the potty to start with when he stars to see or poo. Might take 2 days to see his cue, he will have one .

Once he knows Where it goes and uses the potty more often then not by himself, you Must hand the control over to him.
Introduce his trousers, baggy trousers (I'm assuming he can pull his up and push them down as this is needed for training )
Don't use underpants for about 4 weeks just trousers.

Then start a short walk, have a wee before he goes, don't force him onto the potty ,just tell him you are not going out until he has tried for a wee, and mean it.
Once you arrive at a destination he goes the toilet, if he says no, you just accept that he doesn't I keep

Then start with naps and bed fine or do them together, the book tells you it all

Quick run down, I've probably missed lots, but honestly buy the book before trying other ideas, it's a game changer. Our son was going on his own at 21 months and dry at night 2 weeks later.....game changer!!

I have twins and they were very late to potty train - well over 3. When they did it then went from nappy to potty to reliable loo to dry over night in about 2 weeks.

SIl had singles and tried much earlier but had a much bumpier time.

Overall all the kids were probably roughly at the same stage of reliability by the same ages.

It's not a competition or a rush and he'll get there.

I second the "Oh Crap" potty training book. We potty trained my son over Christmas and it has gone very well. He turned 3 this week. He wasn't ready before.

I'd wait until he is more interested else you are facing an unnecessary uphill battle. Leave a potty around but don't make a fuss about it. Have a non-apologetic 'script' prepared for those friends who think it is a competition. Follow your instincts x

Mine was 3.5, she just couldn't get it.

She's now 12, looking back i wish I'd of ignored people's comments. I tried at 2, she literally wet herself 7 times a day.

I would wait for Spring to try again and as already suggested a new potty.

We also used a sticker chart, not sure if they are still used these days but worked for us on both DD and DS.

My son (who is my oldest) was a lot later and took a lo longer than his younger sisters, he was 3 and took weeks before he was potty trained, his sisters were 2 and sorted within a couple of weeks (the exception of my eldest girl having a severe urine infection during that time which put her back) so I wouldn't worry, he'll do it when ready. I remember my son being nappy free for hours, sitting on the potty not doing anything for ages and then as soon as I gave up and put a nappy on, he'd burst it, he would literally wait until it was on 🤦🏻‍♀️ oh he's now 16 and has been fully dry for 13yrs now!! Don't stress