Potty training son wants to be a baby again!

[Lindd]

Hello, can anyone offer any advice or opinion? My 3 year old doesn't want to use the potty, he wants to be wearing a nappy like his 10 month old sister. I think he's worried he 'can't do it' and I've taken a v. relaxed approach but some say I'm too soft and should be pushing the issue. Any ideas please???

I think there is a potty training bootcamp thread somewhere on here that might be useful for you.

Is the issue more that he wants to be like his baby sister? sometimes they get funny ideas about how baby gets all the attention, just a thought. Maybe a few days telling how much mummy loves having such a grown up boy and how good it is that he isn't like a silly baby who cant do much.
My son didn't regress in that way but he started to refuse to feed himself, bigging him up seemed to work. I just didn't mention the food thing but when I was feeding his little brother would say things like wow you are so clever being able to do this yourself your little brother cant wait until he is big just like you etc

Hi - I've just had this too. Have a 3.0 ds and a 11 month dd. DS has been able to use the toilet for absolutely ages but insisted on wearing a nappy as he as 'too little' to go to the toilet. I assume this is because being 'too little' is an enviable state . I had just gone along with it. But then I just wanted him out of nappies on his 3rd birthday - as he is totally capable of going to the toilet - so told him that the nappies were nearly too small and we couldn't get bigger ones so he needed to wear his boxer shorts and go to the toilet instead!! Bizarrely enough, it worked! He is now using the toilet!

He is the type that is not impressed by being told 'wow, you're such a big/grown up boy for doing xxx' as he'd much rather be small...or a dog...or a seagull!!

You do what feels comfortable for you. The relaxed approach has always been my preferred way - less stress for the child, less stress for you. It is no-one elses business, and you shouldn't be pushed into anything you're not happy with simply because others would do it differently.

My guess is that he is a little worried that he isn't your "baby" anymore, since you have your daughter too, and just wants to be reassured that he still is! Letting him have a nappy wouldn't hurt, and there is every chance that he won't want to stay wearing them for long.

I'd try subtly drawing his attention to how much more he can do than his sister, and how much more fun that is. Poor old dd can't ride a scooter/help make cakes/paint a lovely picture, whatever he takes pride in doing. Don't make a huge issue of it, and don't try to connect it with the nappy, but try and draw his attention to all the good things about not being a baby. That might help.

Hi thanks for the replies. I have gone with a suggestion of keeping him in pants and not going back to nappies except for night time. However he won't tell us when he needs to wee or poo and has gone through dozens of briefs today but its early days. I'd like to just put him on a potty like people say but I am just so tired. I am constantly on the go with both him and the baby, maybe this doesn't help?

lind keep going i know its frustrating but none of us got straight on a bike and rode it
my dd will be 3 next month has soiled and wet today then tonight during a nap she woke and told me she needed the potty she didnt have a nappy on!
it does take time and is worth the effort.
keep the good work up you are a fantastic mum.