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Original poster

should I start potty training my son this weekend?

34 replies

miranda2 · 08/12/2003 21:23

I'm wondering whether to just stop using nappies, put him in pants, and see what happens. If no progress over the weekend, go back to nappies. If some progress, over to the nursery to continue the good work (tee hee). What do you think? Am I mad? He's 2y4m, doesn't have all GF's signs (only just getting interested in his clothes and nappies often wet); but he's very big and the nappies are getting a bit small! Don't want to go to pullups because they are so much more expensive.
I shall sit back and await your wisdom...

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twiglett · 08/12/2003 21:30

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Original poster
miranda2 · 08/12/2003 21:34

! But don't you think they'd twig??

OP posts:
twiglett · 08/12/2003 21:42

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Original poster
miranda2 · 10/12/2003 21:34

Any other tips from any of you? Tempted though I am, I feel I'd better stick the pants on and see what happens rather than simply leave it to nursery. My mums coming up on Saturday for moral support. But any ideas gratefully received.

OP posts:
codswallop · 10/12/2003 21:36

dont go back to nappies ever!!

codswallop · 10/12/2003 21:36

just keep going - bribe hinm with sweets it always works

tanzie · 10/12/2003 21:45

Agree with Twiglett and Codswallop. Don't even think about pull-ups - my DD liked her Minnie Mouse ones so much (her "night time knickers" that she still wants to wear them at night even though she's dry. Enlist the nursery's help, and you should be making good progress by the weekend. Good luck!

Finbar · 10/12/2003 22:18

Best advice I had from my Health Visitor - don;t even bother with pants around the house - they still think it feels like a nappy and will continue to wee!

suzywong · 10/12/2003 22:48

this is all most interesting, I was thinking of doing Ds this weekend too, but how do you make a child who runs about all day stay still long enough to climd on to the loo?
We have got to the stage where we empty the turd from the nappy in to the loo, flush and was hands and talk about actually sitting on the loo the next time, but what's the next stage?
Any advice?
I like the sweetie bribe idea but does this wear off or lead to a scatalogical/confectionary obsession?

maryz · 10/12/2003 22:48

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suedonim · 11/12/2003 09:24

I'd go cold turkey and put on pants (or nothing at all!) and see what happens. It's what I did with all four of mine. My boys were trained at the first attempt at just over 2yo while there were a few false starts with my girls before they finally achieved it at nearer 3. Good luck!

twiglett · 11/12/2003 09:32

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Azure · 11/12/2003 10:21

I recently had my first attempt at potty training DS (2y3m), putting him in pants at the weekend and letting the nursery continue with him in the week (it was the nursery who thought he was ready and was encouraging me to do it). He wasn't too bad at sitting on the potty (thank-you CBBC) but didn't seem to get the concept of actually doing a wee - he would jump up and say "finished" as if it were a game. In a week he weed in the potty once only - the washing machine was on a lot that week. I decided to stop and start again at a later time. I've also instructed DH to take DS to the loo with him, so DS can actually see a wee taking place - he's seen me sitting on the loo more times than I can count, but I guess he's never seen what I do there. Good luck for greater success than I had!

marialuisa · 11/12/2003 12:23

Don't waste money on pull-ups, expensive waste of time. DD pretty much trained herself at 18m but the one thing her nursery insisted on was no pull-ups. Think they must have had something right as they had 6 kids aged between 18m and 2y3m trained witghin a few weeks! never quite figured out what they did though. Personally I don't get the whole thing about leaving off clothes and letting them go bare-bummed. The boards always seem full of people struggling with then getting their child to be dry and clothed. Also, I don't think DD was showing half of GF's signs, esp the thing about managing clothes. Even now she struggles with tights and so on.

One thing that I did think helped DD was that from about 16m we took her nappy off and put pants on when she came home from nursery (4pmish) until bath time. Kept a close eye and usually got her to the potty or toilet or she went by herself. Maybe you could try something like that instead of going cold turkey immediately? As Coddy said going back top nappies must be quite depressing.

bluebear · 11/12/2003 15:38

Did you go for it then Miranda?

My ds, same age as yours, has been saying 'no nappies' for a while, so we took the plunge last week and went straight into 'big boy' pants - result, all wees have gone into the potty, all poos are in pants/night time nappy. Heck of a job trying to get him into nappy or pull-up for his nap though - did just let him nap in buggy on a pampers care mat one day, he woke up wet but buggy was okay.
Nursery was very sceptical when he turned up wearing pants (had warned them, and he had been fine at home), the first day there he went through 5 pairs of pant/trousers and nursery staff told me he wasn't ready for potty and if we insisted on continuing, that we should send him in pull-ups. We sent pull-ups and pants the next day, they tried him in pants again, and success, no accidents and all wees in potty.
Sooo, any advice from anyone on getting the poos in the potty, he will sit for quite a while on it, but then gets up and hides behind a chair or around a corner and poos in his pants Have tried bribery with chocolate, run out of ideas, help!

VFeist · 12/01/2004 11:02

Despairing mother - My DS is 3 next week and still in nappies, I've tried everything and feel we're in check mate. Too upset about it to be calm! Is anyone else having potty training hell?

lydialemon · 12/01/2004 11:23

V. quick 'cos have to get DS2 from nursery.

IME

  1. Pull-ups are a waste in regards to potty training, they feel like nappies so they use them like nappies.

  2. Best way to get started is let them run around with nothing on the bottom at all. They'll start realising they can't just 'let go'. When they get that go to pants.

  3. Be prepared for accidents - invest in some 'pet accident spray' from the vets or Kleeneze ( why has no one started making a kids version?? Boots, Mothercare are you listening?)

  4. Once you start, never ever stop. You're sending mixed messages and the canny ones will know exactly how to wind you up

  5. Remember they'll be dry by 18, if not you can kick them out..........

Once again this is IME!!

Good Luck!

mothernature · 12/01/2004 11:25

I have justposted this on another potty relate question, hope it help's..

Potty Training
Five Signs That Your Child Is Ready
Most kids show signs of potty-training readiness around the age of 2. The key to success, say experts, is not to push or force your child. He's probably ready when he:

  1. Can stay dry for several hours during the day, and
    wakes up dry in the morning and from naps.

  2. Has bowel movements at predictable times.

  3. Asks to be changed when he has soiled or wet a
    diaper.

  4. Takes an interest in the bathroom habits of other
    family members.

  5. Asks to use the toilet or potty.

    Parents' Toilet-Teaching Basics
    Ease her into it: To get your child used to the idea of a potty, start by letting her sit on it fully clothed while you explain what it's for. Try reading a book to her or singing a song to keep her sitting on the potty for a longer amount of time.

Start a routine: Once your child is comfortable with the potty, bring her in to use it when she shows signs that she may need to. You should also have her sit on the potty at regular intervals during the day; when she wakes up, after meals, and after snacks. If she doesn't go after a few minutes, take her off the potty. Don't worry if she has accidents or doesn't go in the potty very often at first.

Praise her successes: Be positive even if she's making slow progress. Saying things like "That was a good job of pulling your pants down' or "I'm happy you told me you needed to use the potty" will keep your child motivated. When she has accidents, clean them up in a matter-of-fact manner, and never criticize her.

Be a good model: Your child may be very curious about how other family members go to the bathroom. Let her observe an older sibling using the toilet, or let her stand in the bathroom with you, while you use the toilet

Kind regards..MN

GillW · 12/01/2004 11:46

Has anyone managed potty training with an active toddler whose time limit for sitting still on a potty is about 10 seconds? DS (2.4) has all mothernature's 5 signs, but although he'll ask for the potty (and has done for about 5 or 6 months now) he's never yet done anything in it, and we've never managed to get him to stay there for more than a few seconds. It's as if he's seen other children at nursery, and understands the request->trousers off->potty->redress sequence, but hasn't quite cottoned on as to what's supposed to happen in the middle.

mothernature · 12/01/2004 11:56

this to cheer you up..

LIZS · 12/01/2004 12:18

Gillw

Ditto with dd same age and has had all the signs for months. Was hopeful we'd get it sorted last summer but here we still are.... She has recently started to make for the potty a soon as she has pooed and even finished off or on a couple of occasions has had complete successes (for which she gets a sticker). Less success on the wee front though - can't yet seem to anticipate or sit on the potty and make it happen yet but will be dry for hours.

Frustrating isn't it, but one of the reasons I've held off formally training her is that I know I'll get frustrated if she doesn't catch on quickly and that was so counterproductive with ds. She is so advanced in other ways that I'm prepared to live with it until either she gives more cues or the weather improves.

Good luck if you decide to go for it !

emmatmg · 12/01/2004 13:04

Ditto here too.....DS2 starts nursery in exactly 10 days and we started properly potty training at the weekend!!!!!!!!!
He seems to have the wee thing worked out but so far every poo has ended up on the floor or in his pants, he really doesn't like it when either happens so fingers crossed we should get that sorted soon.

Agree with lydialemon on the pull-ups.......pointless if you ask me as they are just thin nappies. I'll use them for the first week or 2 when he starts nursery (next week.....I know I've told you that already but.....aarrrggghhhhhhh) but after that he and they will have to go cold turkey.

I managed to do DS1 in 3 weeks so am hoping for the same results. Then I'll have just DS3 to do but as he's only 4 months maybe I'll give him a little extra time

musica · 12/01/2004 13:43

Well, having said ds was doing well (no accidents yesterday), today he has had 3 accidents and no successes! AAAAARGH!!! Please tell me this is just a bad day!

littlerach · 12/01/2004 14:12

DD was dry by 2.4 months, but it took another 6 weeks to do the poo bit!! We tried every single bribe/reward under the sun but in the end she did it herself. We did make a huge fuss of her when she managed it!!
We used stickers as rewards for wees, and as she learnt more, we stopped and told her what a big girl she was. We also used choc buttons for a while.
Agree that it is easier if they can go without pants on. Sometimes using a toilet seat can be easier than a potty, as it is more of a novelty.
I got so stressed too, which didn't really help!!
Good luck.

JanHR · 12/01/2004 14:30

My DD is 17 months old and uses ther potty for me.
She usually tells us when she needs or we ask her isf we see her starting to poo. When we ask if she needs potty she will usually nod her head the go off to the bathroom to use it. This morning after doing a pee she wanted the potty back on the floor then proceeded to do a poo.