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New actively potty training thread - please join

283 replies

PetitFilou1 · 19/06/2006 09:42

This is minus Cod's expert advice at the moment as she's busy (see boot camp thread)
We've been going a week (ds is 2.4) and he's doing ok I think. Had a poo in the potty last night - first (in the right place) of the week! and and an all dry day on Friday - Grin Weekend was not so good as we were visiting people both days but he was still pretty good considering. How is everyone else doing?

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tamsino · 28/06/2006 08:15

longwaytogo. my DD was the same. we had to have 2 pantless weeks as every time we tried pants she weed in them. she will now wear trainer pants(has been for about 4 days) with no accidents but still weesin big girl pants so i am going with trainers for 2 weeks and then trying big girl pants again.

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PetitFilou1 · 28/06/2006 09:15

Bozzy I just take an ordinary potty round with me and have got it out on the pavement when necessary. People will realise you are potty training and the majority should be understanding. I now have a travel potty but am dubious about whether ds will actually use it (seems very small and a bit unstable to me!)
Sockmonkey Don't despair- the second day with ds was like that and we've now had two completely dry days after two weeks and he is asking to go all the time. Not convinced we've cracked the poos yet but he is doing really well now. Don't give up just keep going with pants, try bribery with a chocolate button (you can phase it out later) and get him to sit for a bit longer by reading or using a dvd (although you have to be careful with the dvds - we've had to wean ds off again!)

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longwaytogo · 28/06/2006 10:13

I'm not using pull ups with him just big boy pants but he just wees them. If left with nothing on then he's cracked it poos and all. Again this morning wees and poos on the potty about every 15 mins or so without prompting, pants on to go to playgroup, as soon as we got there he weed despite me asking him numerous times but didn't care that his clothes were wet. Brought him home changed him put his pants on and within five minutes he was telling me mess on floor, now put him to sleep with a nappy on. Will see what he does when we go to pick dd up.

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bozzy · 28/06/2006 11:22

sockmonkey, don't despair. My son is 3 in August - after the first 2 days I almost gave up - so exhausting and you think that they will never get it. Day 3 he started realising and would say "sit on the potty" at which case it was a bit of a mad rush - sometimes didn't make it but it finally started! I made some Thomas cakes with him (bought them at supermarket with ready made mix- just add water and egg and then can ice them) - this was the only thing he was really interested in as an incentive (ie you can have a thomas cake when you do a wee in the potty). Wasn't interested in sticker chart etc- so DON'T GIVE UP!! I am off to supermarket this afternoon for first time ... thinking of putting on big boy pants and then putting trainer pants inside his shorts ... trainer pants are quite bulky...

tamsino · 28/06/2006 13:54

hi all,

been out on train and in shops today and DD went on travel potty when we got there and before we left. No accidents hurrah.

Shame she totally forgot when watching the tigger movie this morning and weed on the sofa :-(

tangox3 · 28/06/2006 19:36

I hear you, tamsino, about the sofa weeing while watching the Heffalump movie...or any movie, or Dora, for that matter! Drives me insane!

He's having problems differentiating between the nappies and his pants, I think. Seems to be mostly OK with the pants off but sadly, cannot run around bare-arsed for the next couple of years . We're trying" wet pants are no fun, dry pants are lovely" approach. I'm not sure if he gives a bugger!

Stickers have lost their appeal, and we can't give him chocolate forever. Maybe I'll try the Dora cupcake approach...

Still, will soldier on, mainly because can't bear thinking about putting him back in nappies and doing it all over again!

sockmonkey · 29/06/2006 09:19

I don't think my little boy cares if he's wet or dry either. He has just done a poo on my DH's computer chair. lovely . i don't think i will tell him about that one!!

We are on day 4 now & still no progress. waaaaah!!!

Vivi36 · 29/06/2006 11:01

Can someone cheer me up?! Everyone seems to be cracking this potty business by 1-2 weeks. We're on week 8 and still not dry. Help!

Spent first week out in the garden & wees everywhere. Things have got better and ds (aged 3 1/2) will now sometimes say he needs a wee at home and will go on the travel potty when we're out. Still has accidents everyday though (mammoth wee in Tescos yesterday ) and only poos in his pants.

He's getting stickers / choc buttons / thomas trains when he collects enough stickers or has a dry day etc but he just doesn't seem interested - I bascially don't think he cares where he goes. When he wore nappies he would never admit if he'd pooed and would rather stay in a pooey nappy than be changed!

One of my friends had suggested keeping my own chart of successes / accidents each day so that seeing the improvement day by day would cheer me up but after 8 weeks of putting Xs for accidents in each day it's starting to get pretty depressing! Any advice, anyone?

tamsino · 29/06/2006 11:39

Vivi, You may be best taking a 2 week break. He may be picking up on your stress/cant be bothered or anything. I would suggest taking 2 weeks out and starting again from scratch.

Well, we've been out swimmming, shopping & duck watching this morning. We've had 2 wees on travel potty when out and no accidents. Hurrah. This weekend we're going to move from the cloth training pants to big girl pants. wish me luck :-)

Reece · 29/06/2006 12:44

Vivi36 I am pretty much in the same situation as you.

I am into week 3 now and DS 2.7 is pooing in pants every day and wee accidents every day to.

I was thinking of having a break but am also reluctant to have to start all over again. The first 6 days were sooooo stressful! I keep being told to persevere and also never never ever go back to nappies once they are off or child will be confused.

So I am going to stick with it a while longer. It took a friend of mine nearly a year to crack it with her DD.

DS just did another poo in pants whilst I was posting this message. I checked his pants and he said "don't do that mummy". "don't change me". Um He knows its not right but still does it. Very frustrating.

tangox3 · 29/06/2006 13:21

We went out to the park yesterday and stopped for dinner on the way home...a recipe for a wee-fest you may think, but...

he did a 4 wees in the big toilet when we took him in, with his Pooh bear, who also "did a wee", complete with sound effects! God knows what the people waiting thought, bet they had a grin to themselves! Only one accident.

Then he was sick when he got home (for the first time said "sick" beforehand) because we let him eat too many Oreo cookies! Poor little man.

Seem to be having a good day followed by a bad day at the moment. Will see how this one goes.

Vivi36 · 29/06/2006 13:45

Reece, I agree with not being able to face starting again. Also, I think ds would actually prefer nappies so if he went back to them once, he would definitely try to get back to them again! So, I'm going to stick with it.

But he has started to get a phobia / issue with pooing in the potty. If I try to get him on the potty when I see him squat down, he gets really upset and sometimes throws the potty across the room - then poos in his pants a few minutes later.

Everyone keeps saying "don't make an issue of it" and "just change him without saying anything" but if he's happy pooing in his pants & I "act happy" with it too, why would he ever bother using the potty?

Any ideas on how to get past this?

Reece · 29/06/2006 17:32

I would love someone to give me the answer to that same question.!!!

Good for you to decide to stick with it.

DS has been great today with wees. We were out for 3 hours in car and shopping and he went to the supermarket big toilet twice! I was amazed. He isn't phased by the toilet at all.

It's the poo in the pants thats the issue with us. You are so right - how do they know any different if you just treat it as normal when they poo in their pants? When will they cop on that poos are supposed to go into potty/toilet?

tbh I think DS understands full well where poos should go but just knows it annoys me so I am going to ignore it for a few days and see what happens.

Keep me posted.

Vivi36 · 29/06/2006 19:37

Reece, good luck with not saying anything about poos in pants. I tell myself I'm going to do that each day but then when it happens I just can't seem to stop myself from saying something - even if it's just "try again tomorrow". Frustration, I guess!

Anyway, we're going swimming tomorrow so fingers crossed for no accidents!

bozzy · 29/06/2006 19:48

Wish I could offer you guys advice but I have mixed results ... today made an effort to keep reminding him so no accidents but it was me initiating the potty - put him on the loo and he happily watched himself do a wee wee-I got very excited!! Not putting pressure on him to pull his pants down now. Went out to park yesterday - had to drive there so no accidents until we got there - he did a wee - didn't like the travel potty much. Haven't been out today apart from swim this pm when he has a swim nappy. I'm happy that he is happy to wee and poo in the potty and now the loo - now I need him to tell me..like he did on day 3 (it is day 8 now). talk about hard work! This is definately more stressful than anything else I have had to do for him!

sockmonkey · 30/06/2006 16:18

Well Bozzy you are so right. It is a HUGE stress! It feels like you can't relax for one minute. I am finally making some progress though. We have had no accidents today.... so far. Still it's been ok cos we have stayed in all week & DS1 has been able to roam with no pants on. I think we will have to see how it goes with the whole pulling pants up & down soon.

bozzy · 30/06/2006 16:24

Yes, we have had to stay in because people delivering things etc - weather is hot so DS in t-shirt and underwear- find it easier for him to have pants - a) it stops too much of an accident b) he seems more aware of it if he has pants getting wet and c) sometimes he does a little dribble and if I am paying enough attention i can get him on to potty on time!! It protects my floor!!

bozzy · 30/06/2006 16:35

Having spent all day yesterday constantly reminding DS, today decided to see if he could take the initiative - he hasn't really initiated any (only once so part accident and he was upset about it) - no accidents for rest of day (incl 2 poos, one in potty just, and the other in loo) so not as stressful, just reminding him hourly rather than every 20 minutes! Hope everyone else have had a good day ...

Vivi36 · 30/06/2006 17:31

Bozzy, glad to hear you're having a good day. Not doing too well here. Three accidents so far . I keep trying to get him to sit on the potty and he keeps refusing - then accident.

I'm thinking of going back to staying in one room and sitting on the potty every half hour again - has anyone tried going back to this when you're not making any progress?

Reece · 30/06/2006 17:33

Just back in after 3 hours shopping trying to find something to wear. Not easy with DS and potty and DS2 who is 15 mths.

It was a disaster shopping wise and the 3 hours were spent running to different department store toilets only for DS to say "don't want to". What a tease.
The last time he said it I said just hold it in for a while and he did! Still no poo.

sockmonkey · 30/06/2006 17:49

Vivi36 I had an idea that worked for my little boy. I put pictures of wheels on his potty to make it look like a car. He was a lot happier about sitting on the potty for a bit, as he could pretend he was off for a drive.

franch · 30/06/2006 21:02

Hello, just popping in as we're starting tomorrow ....

DD1 is 2y 5m and seems ready. Did a poo AND a wee on the potty today (a first), which seemed like a good omen ...

Will report back - wish me luck

sasa15 · 30/06/2006 21:05

what are the best tips to suggest for a beginner?

DS is 2 only start to talk yesterday and sitting him in a reduction toilet few times....

did a wee on the floor and first poo in the toilet....

what to do????

He doesn't like sitting on the toilet....

he doesn't like the idea.....

help with few tips.....

no nappy .......no pants in the house...

sasa15 · 01/07/2006 17:21

Hi mums....sorry to insist again.....

I do understand from others.......

  • that is normal he doesn't say wee or poo in the toilet......!!! But I need to ask...often

  • that is better leave him with pants then pull up!!!

  • that it might be ok use the toilet reduction...

  • that I never should put on nappy even when going out....but maybe is good to buy travel potty?
    have you got any link?
    how do they looks like?

any more tips???

tamsino · 01/07/2006 21:18

sasa15,

My DD didnt say she needed to go until about 2 weeks after we started. Ask them lots if they need to go at the start.

Pants are better than pullups. I started with a bare bot.

travel potties are great - tommee tippee make one and mothercare and boots sell them.

Nappies or not is up to you. I have only used nappies at nap and bed time.