Toddler crying inconsolably while weeing - naked only!

[ScrambledSmegs]

This has happened a few times over the last week, but only in the bathroom where the as yet unused potty lives.

My normally cheerful DD (21 months) has recently started saying 'poo poo', taking all her clothes off, including her nappy, and pretty much wailing. She then does a wee while still crying, and only stops when we've cleaned her (and the floor) up.

The GP says she hasn't got a UTI as she's quite happy to wee in her nappy, there's no redness around her bum and she seems quite comfortable there normally.

We think she's too young for potty training so we haven't pressured her to use the potty at all, we just play at taking turns at sitting on it at the moment in order to get her used to it. Also it makes a great bath toy! I've tried suggesting she sits on the potty when she gets upset and she refuses vociferously, in fact it makes her more upset. Once I even suggested the toilet (in desperation) but that met with the same response.

I've asked her nursery if she's done anything like this there, but they say no. They haven't suggested she's ready for potty training either.

What the heck is going on?!

She may be able to sense that she's going to do something and knows she doesn't want it in her nappy. Have you tried sitting her in the empty bath when she wails? She may not grasp yet that the potty is a 'safe' place that she can wee in and might be more comfortable in the bath. A book like the Pirate Pete's Potty one might help too.

Hmm, I could try that but sadly this usually happens at bathtime so the bath isn't empty at that point! But I'd rather sacrifice the water than have her upset so will give it a go. Thank you!

Can't you put her directly on the toilet rather than the potty? My DD was a little older but never really wanted to the potty and went straight on the toilet, because that's what she saw her big brother do.

Also I remember reading when mine were little that some children think they are losing part of themselves when they are weeing/pooing which is why they get upset.

You could also try sitting behind her on the loo - put her on your lap kind of thing. You might need to be prepared to be weed on but it might make her feel safe. Or just let her wee in the bath - wee is sterile, after all!

Ooh, that's a good idea, thanks Octavia. Bruffin, the problem with the toilet is that she cried even more when I tried to get her to use it, so it wasn't exactly a good option. But maybe if I sit on it too (and get wee'd on, oh well) then that might be a good option.

I do hope this isn't the start of potty training, I really don't think she's ready to go for it properly. I'm definitely not!

My dd was like this too getting very upset about needing to wee or poo. I think it was as another poster said just her growing awareness of what was going on. My dd was one of those children who didn't like the sensation of stuff falling away from her so if naked would freak out about "losing" her wees if you know what I mean. DD pretty much came out of this on her own and was toilet trained very quickly after this stage. I think all you can do is reassure your dd while at the same time not making too much fuss about it.

Thanks yawningmonster. That does make sense, and I think she definitely is growing more aware of her body and what it's doing.

I also spoke to my mum about this last night, and she says my brother was like this at about the same age, or a bit younger. He went on to potty train when under 2 . I think we'll wait and see.

My DD is 21 months and just lately, says wee wee or poo poo when she knows she's doing one or the other (well, she prob doesn't know which one yet).

Whenever she has her nappy off though, and she does a wee and feels it on her legs, she freaks out and starts crying saying 'don't like it' and 'nappy on'.

I too think we're quite a while off actual potty training, have earmarked May half term, possibly Easter hols if she seems keen. The potty is just a toy to her at the moment.