Potty training DS (3.3): do I try again today?

[QueenBOObread]

I posted yesterday in the potty training section but am reporting here for more traffic. Day 2: WWYD?

DS is completely developmentally on track and switched on, but is almost phobic about potty training. We've left it and left it (even though over last summer when he was 2.5 we dabbled and he was reasonably competent for a couple of days) but he's showing no sign whatsoever of being interested - in fact, the opposite.

We've been building up recently by increasing the level of bribery to three Spider-Man toys in the hope that it becomes an attractive enough prospect for him positively to want to get on with it. Today was the first day of cracking on and it hasn't been good:

• hysterical sobbing at having pants put on, then a good half hour's silent treatment;

• hysterical sobbing at having pants removed to sit on the potty;

• hysterical sobbing and clinging onto me when I first lowered him onto the potty - dealt with by having Spider-Man on at the same time and a bit of chocolate button bribery;

• he has on two occasions now sat on the potty for a good session - around half an hour I'd say - but it's almost like he holds it in because the minute I put his pants and trousers back on, he's done a wee (x2) and just now a poo.

Is this a normal start to proceedings or is it still too early? I'm sorely tempted to throw in the towel...

I feel your pain! My experience with DS was that I tried twice when he was 3.2 yrs and 3.6yrs and both times were horrendous and similar to your description. Then Xmas 2011 with him fast approaching 4 I tried again - started on Boxing Day of all days, why not??!! - and it clicked. Yes we had a few accidents but because I didn't force the issue before he wasn't scared about it. Was dry day and night within 2 weeks (at 5 we now have to lift him before we go to bed - jury's out on whether that's the best thing but it means i don't wake to a wet boy and bed.

I would leave it and try again - even a month can make all the difference. Good luck.

Have you tried not bothering with the potty at all?
Buy a stool so he can stand up at the toilet and wee straight into the toilet? Get daddy to show him how to do it

It sounds daft but my DS (2.4) was amazed when his daddy weed into the toilet, he never bothered with the potty at all and now just toddles off himself to the toilet.
Worth a shot maybe?

Thanks for the replies ladies, which I've just seen.

We have been at it again today and it has been much less stressful but not particularly successful. Much less screaming in response to each element and actually some sweet "look at my pants Mummy, they aren't wet" so I think he is feeling positive about it when he's not having accidents.

He clearly has a better pelvic floor than his mother decent bladder control because he went from 8am-12.30pm before he had an accident (big wee). There were a couple of long but fruitless stints on the potty over the morning but again he has saved it up until I'm out of the room.

No poos yet

I've not tried the standing wee thing Lollipoppi but it must be worth a shot - I fear we will be there forever, waiting, but I don't know that for sure yet so shouldn't second guess him.

Keep fingers crossed for me please!

Hi we used a sticker chart to get ds over final hump of potty training which worked eventually - before that, we just let ds come to his own conclusion about it. Is the potty comfortable? My dd2 showed signs last month and we had about 2'successful weeks of it, but she has regressed again and is doing it in her pants or on the floor. It's like the novelty has worn off so we've just pulley up pants again for the time being as she's been a bit funny generally this week - not sure why. Eventually I think they see their friends doing it and it clicks. Ds was just over 3 but still has the occasional accident or at night (he's 4.5 and generally cos he's had too much to drink b4 bedtime). It will eventually happen. My friend used a special ping pong ball in the toilet to get him to aim for, especially with poos!