Potty Training - feels like were going backwards!!! please help

[FarleyCharlie]

I have been trying to potty train my 2.4y ds for the past 4 days and what started out brilliantly has has almost gone full circle!!

On day 1 he had a couple of accidents, which is to be expected, but got on really well and enthusiastically, constantly telling me when he needs to go. Day 2 got a bit worse and so on till today where he is peeing in his pants within 20mins of previous pee and not saying anything (unlike day 1 & 2).

I really hope this doesn't sound too confusing. I have been praising him everytime he goes and giving him stickers etc and its just getting worse.

Is this normal and how long will it last?? Thanks!!

Is he getting anything in the potty now? If not tbh I would be tempted to go back to nappies and try again in a month. I did this twice before we cracked it and when we did it was obvious we were going to IYSWIM. From observing friends, boys do seem to crack it a bit later than girls, 2.4 years seems a bit early to me for a boy - others may disagree! HTH

Thanks pinkteddy. He does go in the potty but he has to be reminded instead of telling us like on day 1 & 2. Also, I forgot to say, he did a poo on the potty on his own (after being reminded, of course) which he has never done before.

I just wondered if it was normal to have a few days of distraction... could I be over praising him? He just seems to want the stickers as now hes peeing every 20mins (and asking for a sticker regardlessly (!!)) which I obviously dont indulge him with. I've heard that 2-3yo kids can usually go 4-5hrs between pees.

Yes its quite common once the novelty has worn off to revert back.

When he wets himself make sure you don't give any attention, good or bad. Just calmly say oh dear lets get you changed, and make it all seem very boring.

Speaking from experience if you show the slightest sign of annoyance, it becomes quite a game wetting deliberately to see what patience (or not) mum has.

I agree with pinkteddy's advice. Sometimes its just as well to go back to nappies and let the child realise they are not so comfy you may find in a couple of weeks he'll ask to stop wearing them and make more effort to not wet.

Cool, I have been getting a bit het up over it all (preg hormones).

I'll try the no attention thing and if that doesnt work will put him back in nappies till he starts school!! (joke) thanks!!

My DS is the same age and we haven't given it a proper shot yet as I think he's too distracted even though he grasps everything ok. He can definately go a couple of hours between wee's if that's a benchmark for you.

If there's more out than in the potty I'd go back to nappies for another month or two.

Hi, thanks for all the tips.

He's cracked it!! bless him. Yesterday he decided he'd do everythig in the potty including poo's and I even took him out (in pullups - not that brave) shoe shopping for some new flashy trainers with no accidents!

He's gone to nursery today armed with pullups and his new flashy trainers today, happy as larry!! we'll see how he gets on later when I pick him up.

Thanks again for all the tips

If it carries on , go back to pull ups or nappies and try again in a couple of months time. It's really not worth having any angst about - and he is very young!

After several failed attempts, we did potty training with the nappy on - no stressful accidents and lots of praise when he actually went. When he'd had a week of very few accidents, we moved on to pants. It's much less stressful for everyone (oh, and we waited till he was 3).