Little one refusing to wear nappies, but won’t use the potty/toilet

[JessD198]

Just wondering if anyone’s had a similar experience…

My little one is just 2 - she’s been fussing whenever we do a nappy change for a few weeks now, not wanting to be changed etc. Then, this morning, outright refused to have a nappy on, then went and peed in the corner of the room! However, she’s also refusing to sit on the potty now, too. We’ve been introducing her to the potty at bath time for about 4 months. She keeps saying she wants to wear pants, but doesn’t want to go on the potty (or toilet, as we also have a toddler seat for that). When I say “if you want to wear pants, you have to use the potty,” she gets very upset, and won’t sit on the potty, but then refuses to let me pop a nappy on her, instead.

I’ve been contemplating potty training for a couple of months, as she knows when she’s pooping and has been showing most of the signs that she’s ready (minus literally telling me she wants to go). However, I don’t want to push her into it too soon.

If anyone has any advice, I’d be most grateful!

Honestly? Put a nappy back on.. or pull ups if she's inclined to take her own nappy off. She may be physically ready but she's not mentally/emotionally ready to co-operate and you will just be getting into a battle that you cannot win.

And you are the parent here.. she can't simply decide not to wear one and pee everywhere instead; over the next year she's going to throw an awful lot of wanting her way at you ..they are little tyrants ! You can make it jolly or you can use a wriggler mat (they are amazing..basically a changing mat with velcro straps) but she has to wear a nappy as she's not ready to use a potty.

My dgs was exactly the same.. physically he could hold his wee for hours and knew when he was pooing by 2, but he wouldn't sit on the potty.. he just wanted to be naked. Peeing alfresco wasn't an option so pullups it was.

We started again just over a week ago..aged nearly 2 and 5 months, and now he IS ready to cooperate.. yes we've had a couple of poos in pants as that's a bit more hit and miss, but he's taking himself for a wee, after just a week, and will even 'go before we go' if we are going out. 4 and a bit months has made a HUGE difference to his emotional readiness!

Take a step back!

I would agree that if she won't sit on the potty or toilet, then she has to wear a nappy. I'd keep the option open to her, though, keep offering the potty, keep explaining that if she does her poos and wees in the potty/toilet, then she can wear pants – if she decides next week that she's willing to use the toilet so she can wear pants, by all means have a go at potty training. If it's six months before she decides she's up for it, then it's six months.