I'm concerned and exasperated.
I started potty training my daughter 9 months ago when she was just over 2.5yrs. She took to wees quite well at the beginning but a pattern started developing which now seems completely entrenched. She holds her wees for hours on end (7 hours is the day time record so far) and has only once, right at the start, managed a poo in the potty - it HAS to be in a nappy.
She goes to nursery 3 mornings a week and has only once done a wee in the loo there, so when I go to collect her she is bursting and uncomfortable. It affects her behaviour as she sometimes sits for hours on a chair wriggling and not joining in with anything. Part of the problem at nursery seems to be that she is incredibly private about it and doesn't like other children or adults to be in the vicinity. I have no idea where that came from.....
She only very rarely tells me she needs a wee or a poo and even when it is clear that she needs one she tells me she doesn't and gets cross and agitated. I have tried everything from bribing with smarties (which worked with wees for a while but no longer) ignoring and going at her own pace, sitting with her and reading.....and I have to admit, on a couple of occasions have lost my cool and shown my stress. She has never done a wee or poo with anyone other than me or my husband helping her even though she is close with other family members...
The problem seems to be getting worse and now she doesn't want to poo at all. I have tried to take the approach that she will just get there in her own time, which I suppose she will, but I'm worried now, as it doesn't seem to be going in the right direction. She is very stubborn but more worryingly I think is becoming very anxious about it.
Any suggestions or reassurance would be really appreciated.
THanks.