I desperately need some mumsnet wisdom.
I've decided to start potty training my 2.9 year old DS. His nursery said about a month ago that he's completely ready (says when he's done something in his nappy, wants it changed straightaway etc). I had picked up on this too but had a family holiday last week so decided not to try to start anything before then.
So how on earth do I start? I can't really find any concrete, practical guidance. He's going through a typical toddler stage of pushing every button he has worked out I have and in addition I have a 3 month old as well.
This morning's first attempt went like this:
I changed his nappy first thing and just put on a pair of pants and explained I want him to let me know if he needs a wee or poo. Stickers as a reward if they go in the potty. My health visitor yesterday advised me to leave the potty upstairs instead of bringing it to him wherever he is so I'm now feeling anxious that I've got to get him upstairs in time if he says he needs to go. My 3month old won't stop wailing at me. DS then decides to start spitting (a bad habit he's currently testing me on) so I put him on the stairs for two minutes.. He's insisted that his trousers go back on so now I'm worried about getting trousers off, pants off, getting him to the loo, and potentially having to interrupt my punishment for spitting if he says he needs to go. All with my baby screaming as well.
We get through that ok. Then he does a poo in his pants. I stay calm, take him upstairs to flush away and then attempt to clean him up. How in the world do you clean up a toddler effectively when they're standing? No matter how much I wipe, I don't seem to be cleaning him properly so throw in the towel, get him to lie down and put a nappy back on him as I just don't think I'm ready for this even if he is! All the time, baby still crying in the background as he wants me to rock him off to sleep.
Sorry this is long but I feel so totally unprepared for this and seem to have no guidance on how this works. Help?