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Original poster

2.5 Yr Old DD1 taking off her nappy, definitely not ready for potty traning - HELP!!

32 replies

CaptainDippy · 18/07/2006 09:53

.... that about covers it really!! DD1 keeps taking off her nappy (reusables and disposables.) Not a problem during the day in this hot weather; but a real problem when she is in her cot for sleep. She does it before she goes to sleep and when she wakes up - usually resulting in her weeing and / or pooing all over her cot - bedding, slats, walls etc etc

She is not ready for potty training IMO, she has no concept of weeing or pooing - she runs around in the garden naked all afternoon and when she needs to go, she just goes - and doesn't even notice!! I always have a potty available, but she is really not interested ATM.

Any suggestions - am I alone??

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zubb · 18/07/2006 09:55

put it on back to front maybe.

curtaintwitcher · 18/07/2006 09:55

no tips at all sorry..just sympathy..how about nappies with nippas or is she undoing them? OR dont know if you can get them but the bodysuit vests so she cant undo it.

Mercy · 18/07/2006 10:01

CaptainDippy - no you are not alone

ds started doing this a few days ago, he's also 2.5. Fortunately he doesn't do it in the cot - yet. I had planned to start potty training during the school holidays so I'm completely unprepared atm. ds also complains that the potty 'hurts' - I may need to get a bigger one, if they exist.

JoshandJamie · 18/07/2006 10:07

Why not give potty training a try? My son is 2.5 and showed no signs of being 'ready'. He started taking his nappy off and getting poo everywhere so I just said, fine, lets do it. I just took his nappies away for everything except bedtime and said: if you need to wee or poo, sit on the potty. He got rewarded with smarties and stickers.

We had loads of accidents to start (and still do - its been about a month) but for the most part he's done it. I was gobsmacked because I really didn't think he was ready but just sticking with it worked.

Original poster
CaptainDippy · 18/07/2006 10:13

Thank you - perhaps potty training is the way forward???

Liked the suggestion of putting the nappy on back-to-front, made me LOL - sensible suggestion though, will definitely try it and tell you if it worked!! Can't find body suits with poppers big enough for her - but of a heifer!! She can do Nappy Nippas no problem!!

I'll get the Smarties in then J&J!! DH is off work for a week mid-Aug so I might wait til then and then go for it - all guns blazing!!

Keep the suggestions coming, you guys are fab!!

Glad I am not alone Mercy - Truly Madly Baby do nice, big comfy potties if that helps, can be found \link{ shop.trulymadlybaby.co.uk/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=456\here} - I have one for DD1 and she enjoys sitting in it to read her books, if nothing else!!

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Original poster
CaptainDippy · 18/07/2006 10:14

Darn!

Link for Super Comfy Potty again .....

PottyAhoy

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Original poster
CaptainDippy · 18/07/2006 10:14

Hurrah!!

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Original poster
CaptainDippy · 18/07/2006 10:16

Oooooh - and here's a link for a much cheaper version of the potty - it is going out of stock, so order it sooooooon!!

PottyAhoyTwo

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JoshandJamie · 18/07/2006 10:26

If you're going to start PT also consider:

  • taking your daughter shopping for big girl pants - let you choose them and get really excited about them

  • make a star/sticker chart and get your smarties or whatever in a nice little dispense (we have a winnie the poo dispenser) - it all just heightens the excitement for them. Be prepared to change rewards half way through when the novelty value wears out. So maybe start with stickers and then move onto smarties or whatever

  • for at least 4 days but ideally a week, try not to go anywhere. Resign yourself to staying at home and wiping up wee. it's not fun but it's just a week of your life in return for getting rid of nappies.

  • it will be monumentally frustrating. Just when you think she gets it, she'll regress. Or it will seem that she's deliberately trying to annoy you buy weeing on the carpet. Just remember that she's having to unlearn a habit that she's had for 2.5 years now and having to learn a new habit at the same time. It's hard (imagine someone told you to stop speaking english and learn spanish in a week!)

  • don't shout if she makes a mistake. Just clear it up and say: next time, let's try and do it in the potty.

  • if she gets it right, be completely over the top with praise. If she does a poo, be sure to praise how lovely the poo is (lots of kids of scared of poo) so you can't say anything about it being yukky or smelly. Justoh how clever to do such a big poo etc.

  • don't give in. It sends mixed signals. Once you've decided to do it, stick with it. It will happen. At the time I did it I thought it would never end but truly it was only about 2 weeks of really difficult frustration and now it's fine for the most part.

Good luck!!

biglips · 18/07/2006 10:28

CD - i had all this for 2 weeks till i bought Easy up pants and DD - 21 mths old - hadnt taken them off at all - phew!!!

biglips · 18/07/2006 10:30

but just noticed that youre gonna try PT - good luck xx

fuzzywuzzy · 18/07/2006 10:43

dd2 22 months does this I honestly think it's the heat she prefers the nudist approach.

When I ask her what she's done withe her clothes she tends to put her head between her ankles and look at me upside down all the wahile laughing maniacally. The last time she'd put her clothes in the was h basket and was happily scampering around in her birthday suit (luckily for me dd1 usually tells me).

Nap times are the worst as she flings off her clothes before settling into sleep I just go back up when she's almost asleep and put the nappy back on.....

No advice, though I may resort to duct tape if this continues, so far I've only had to clean up wee thank goodness

Original poster
CaptainDippy · 18/07/2006 10:43

Thank you very much J&J - I've printed out your post and put it on my notice board!! Have just gone to the Truly Madly Baby website and ordered potty and loo seat - I mean business!!

Psyching myself up for much poo admiration!

Thanks for the tip about Pull Ups biglips, but unfortunately as a eco-warrior, tree-hugging, cloth nappying supermum (puke!) I personally think Pull Ups are the epitomy of all that is truly evil.

No offence.

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Original poster
CaptainDippy · 18/07/2006 10:45

FW - We have clearly spawned a generation of little nudey exhibitionists!

Duct tape.

Mmmmmmmmmm.

Now there's an idea.

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Original poster
CaptainDippy · 18/07/2006 10:50

Your DD sounds cool BTW, FuzzyWuzzy!

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fuzzywuzzy · 18/07/2006 12:30

CD, I should imagine her temperature's very pleasant the amount of time she spends completely naked....why can't she just leave on one little cotton nappy eh eh????

wishfulthinking · 18/07/2006 12:53

This has made me laugh; our dd (2.4) likes to take her nappy off and, for the first time last night, took her nappy off in bed. She had had a poo and decided to change herself - wipes everywhere (some clean, some dirty), wee and poo on the bed, over dd and the bed side. She thought it would be a good idea to put the poo-poo in the drawer where the clean nappy's are kept!!!!!! Bless her - all she could say was 'I'm sorry mummy' over and over. I'm being a bit lazy; we go on holiday for a week at the end of July and am putting off potty training till we return. I have also been advised to take a week off, stay close to home and be prepared for a lot of mopping up.

Original poster
CaptainDippy · 18/07/2006 22:36

What a helpful little thing your DD is!

Glad it is not just me - feeling less alone in my frustration now!

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wishfulthinking · 19/07/2006 08:12

Thought I'd just add that our dd did the same thing again last night - not so amusing this time. Off to buy more protective mattress covers; I foolishly thought that having the one and a spare would be sufficient....silly me!

fuzzywuzzy · 19/07/2006 08:14

do we all have girls doing this??? I'm sure my nephew never ever took his nappy off by himself....many sympathies though.... my little nudist is still fast asleep...and wearing a nappy for a change....

Original poster
CaptainDippy · 19/07/2006 11:29

Mine too!

Put her nappy on back-to-front last night - still on in the morning - Hurrah!! Thank you Zubb!! I'll let you know if this solution works long term!!

Bless our little nudies!!

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farmerted · 19/07/2006 14:13

Hi there - I am starting PT - just the weather for it! Have ordered some washable 'Imse Vimse Bumpy Trainer Pants' (cant do links but got mine from www.twinkleontheweb.co.uk). I see that you can also get trainer pants that can hold 'one wee' so maybe you could just make it out to the shops

Original poster
CaptainDippy · 19/07/2006 18:59

I lied earlier btw - when I went in to wake DD up from her sleep she was, you guessed it, nude!!

Maaarvellous!

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fuzzywuzzy · 19/07/2006 19:38

I've bought washable matress protectors, that'll do for the time being methinks... It's definitely the heat that's to blame, one hopes our dd's stop this once winter sets in...... otherwise we'll have frost bitten bottoms to deal I expect.

wishfulthinking · 20/07/2006 08:14

She did AGAIN last night...poo everywhere. DH saying in a gentle tone 'you mustn't do that'; me saying 'will you tell her you are cross!'
DH took her off for another shower, I'm left changing the bed, then I hear them laughing and giggling.... Try to explain to DH that he mustn't engage in conversation/eye contact etc, he say's it's too harsh. Who's right please?