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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Potty training - anyone like to offer me some tips?

12 replies

Jubilcece · 29/05/2012 22:40

DS2 is my third child so you would think I would know what to do. However, he is now three and showing no signs of wanting to potty train. Anyone got any tips?

Firstly, I am very laid back about this issue. DD and DS1 were left till they wanted to do it themselves - putting the idea into their heads through stories, seeing other children use the potty and talking about it with them - they then just did it. No 'training' involved. Both did it at about 2 and three quarters. I kind of assumed DS2 would be similar. However, he shows no interest whatsoever and now even resists the offer of sitting on his potty. He is yet to produce anything in his potty (when he deigns to sit on it). Well basically he doesn't want to do it!

So do I wait and see or do I attempt to 'train' him. I really don't want to go down this route as that is not my style. However, I am starting to get comments and I am thinking maybe I should force the issue a bit?

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MsInterpret · 29/05/2012 22:49

Watching this thread and perhaps joining you with a bit of hand-holding but little advice to offer I'm afraid as I'm a first timer...

DD is 2.6 in a few days and it coincides with half term (i.e. time to focus on weeing in the potty instead of working!) and (hopefully) warm weather and we are going for it!

I'm not overly bothered and normally pretty laid back about these kind of things but I'm expecting DD2 in September so really want to have things sorted before then. And she hates having her nappy changed so really seems quite ready for it, I think it's just I've not tried to get things happening properly as working FT at the moment. Although with what you're saying about your first two just getting the hang of it, I do worry that 'training' isn't the best thing.

Oh yes, that's me, verrrry laid back.

LadyKA · 29/05/2012 22:50

I think you should start to train him, because he is old enough to understand potty training.

tacal · 29/05/2012 22:56

my ds would not do anything in the potty until he was 3.5. He would only do it when he was ready and not before. I tried training him and it did not work, it just upset him. I wish I had just followed my instinct to wait until he was ready. I felt pushed into training him by the nursery he attends.

Original poster

Jubilcece · 29/05/2012 22:57

Well I have the long school holidays coming up in 8 weeks or so. I am kind of thinking I might try then - as no childminder/Nursery to worry about. He will be 3 yrs and 2 months by end of July.

DD really did just do it. Anounced one day she wasn't wearing nappies anymore and that was it. DS1 was similar but he had a few accidents.

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RosemaryandThyme · 30/05/2012 11:54

Sounds silly but my tip would be - take the nappy off.

The number of mums I've met who think children can wear nappies, ask to go to the loo, take down nappy and replace - its just utterly bonkers, it's as though a bit of wee and poop are soooo awful for mum to have to deal.

Honestly, ditch all day and night nappies give it a darn good go for two weeks with loads of reminders ( no potty - at three he can go straight to a regular size loo with a little stool for standing-up wees).

tacal · 30/05/2012 18:57

Rosemary - that is the advice everyone gave me and I honestly gave it a good go but it just did not work for my ds. But it does seem to be the way most parents I know have had success. My ds always has to do things his own way!

MsInterpret · 30/05/2012 19:26

Definitely having the nappy off all day but you think also night-time from the start Rosemary?

Original poster

Jubilcece · 30/05/2012 19:30

Well thanks everyone. I think my plan will be more chat about it and if he still hasn't asked by the school holidays then I shall try a week where we don't have much on to try the nappy off technique.

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laura4jasmine · 30/05/2012 19:40

I waited for my older 2dc to tell me they were ready. DD1 was 2.10 and just said one morning that she didn't want a nappy and that was it, never had an accident. DS1 was 3.2 when he said he wanted to use the toilet and again no accidents at all. It's almost like they did it themselves! DS2 is a whole other story, he is 4yo and still nowhere near ready, have tried but no luck at all, so I am just going to wait again. The child wanting to do this is the biggest part of the process in my mind.

Original poster

Jubilcece · 30/05/2012 22:27

Laura - that is exactly how I did the first two! I just assume DS2 would be as easy... but thinking about it, nothing much is easy about him.

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RosemaryandThyme · 30/05/2012 22:38

Just a point about nights - it is much much easier for a child to go through the night without needing the loo / wetting the bed due to a hormone that kicks in during dark hours.

tacal · 31/05/2012 08:37

The elmo potty training dvd helped me explain things to ds. Chatting about it turned things around for me. He is still in a pull up at night but it is usually dry in the morning. I dont think that putting him in pants at night before he was ready would have helped him but I probably should do it now that he is ready. Good luck I will be interested to hear how you get on.

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