New actively potty training thread - please join

[PetitFilou1]

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 - Weekend was not so good as we were visiting people both days but he was still pretty good considering. How is everyone else doing?

sockmonkey, thanks for the car idea - I'll definately give that a go.

Have had a great couple of days. Went out shopping with husband, DS and DD. Took DS to toilet a couple of times but he didn't want to go (the loo seats seemed incredibly big and think it may have put him off - thinking of taking padded seat with me next time....) - no accidents from 10.30 until 2pm. He seemed to hold off until we got home - big wee in potty - as long as we ask him say, every hour, he either ignores me (meaning no) or quite happily sits on the potty and does a wee (or more). Still need to start getting him to initiate it but no accidents for 3 days now. He had a nappy on for his nap and for the first time it was dry (he protested when I tried to take it off and shouted POTTY and then did a big wee. So gradually he is learning to hold his bladder. So there is hope for everyone!!! !! Should I put a swim nappy on him when we go swimming? It is an outdoor pool - should I be taking potty with me? What do you think anyone???

Had a good day today - hope everyone else has too. DS had first accident free day for about two weeks. Helped by the fact that he didn't do a poo today which is the usual sticking point (or sticky pants point rather...).

I had DS and DD (8 months) in the paddling pool together with the potty next it. DD started to make her special "I'm about to poo" squeak and I managed to lift her onto the potty and catch an enormous poo. DS looked a bit put out that DD was doing something that he doesn't do yet! I'm hoping it'll spur him on!

hey ladies! makes me feel better reading your 'journals'!

ds is 2.2 and we are on day 3 today!
and oh boy is it stressfull!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

day 1 was lots of following him around and asking every 15 min! (we did get a wee and half a poo though )

• nappyless nap ended with a soaked bed! (about 5 accidents all day - so very pleased)

day 2: was close of giving up (already!!) - accident after accident; and just like so many he sits down, jumps up and shouts 'finiiiished' (empty potty) and 2 min later he wees on the floor!! - due to the hot weather he was bottomless too. i tried him in pants too - didn't make a difference - and he never ever asks or tells me!!!

BUT we had a big day out - without nappy!!! but potty in tow - weeeeeell, he had 2 accidents at the animal farm and did a wee at the pub

day 3: very good start!! no poo in his night nappy so i was rather worried! but i sat him down straight away on his potty (got some protest but he still did it) and i got a wee and a huuuuge poo!!! so very happy

i also tried to hold back more and not ask him every 15 min - not easy
seems to help somehow. i think he had 2 accidents all day but nothing more in his potty ?!?!
BUT a 3 hour nap without accident!!!!

so here is hoping to another good day (yeah right ... )

how are things in your camp???

I found that it became less stressful once you get an idea of when they like to go (ie reminding them every hour rather than every 15mins). So it does get easier esp when they understand a bit more about their own bowel control - they've never had to control it before so it is completely new to them (doesn't make it any easier for poor mum though). Keep going everyone!

Well, we have been accident free since the disaster that was 9 wet pants tuesday. I think he is getting the hang of it. Yesterday was the first day he didn't have a bare bum though. He likes to go off and have a poo in private, will grab the potty and run off with it to go - has anyone else found that?

I was surprised at how relaxed DS was when he did his first poo in potty - he sat down to what we thought was to do a wee, and then produced a poo and said "there you go!". He loves waving goodbye to poo poo down the loo as well. My major concern about potty training was that DS would have a fear of pooing on the potty as I know it can be a probelm to some toddlers. Lets hope today is a good day...

Iv just posted a new thread not realising that this is relevant to what I want to know.There are quite a few to read thru so sorry if this has been covered already.How do you actually train.Iv put my ds of 2.4 inn pants this morning and he haas done 2wees on his potty but hates sitting on it.What are the best ways to get him to sit on it?
How often should I ask him to if he needs a wee and when he I do ask him he ALWAYS says no.

hi everyone, we've had a good weekend. i swapped trainer pants for normal pants yesterday as she was getting a spotty bot as it was so hot. anyway, no problems at all. i am staying pantless in the house and panted when we go out. all seems to be going well with no accidents in 4-5 days. hurrah

Vivi36 - Got a poo in potty on Saturday (1st time in days) but then accident yesterday

DS went off to playgroup (sumer Camp) today for 3 hours and loved it. I've never left him anywhere before so I thought he would be clinging to my leg and also weeing everywhere. He was fine when I left him and still in same clothes when I collected him. He had used the big toilet there. I am so happy.

mum2oliver, I'm certainly no expert but I started DS with a week trying him on the potty after breakfast and then before his bath. When he looked "comfortable" with that, I then prepared myself for THE DAY. Made sure there was no interruptions, phone calls etc and kept reminding DS every 15 mins - got very tedious - next day every half hour and once you get an idea of when he is likely to go, remind him and take him to the potty. Keep a chart of when he had accidents, whether he went to potty himself etc . I think the key is once you start, NEVER go back to nappies unless it is for naps or sleep. It is very tempting if you are going out but it is best avoided if you can. I have a little padded seat i put in DS buggy and car seat just in case. A lot of people use star charts - I tried this but my son doesn't get particularly excited by this - he was more excited about having a thomas cupcake he had made. LOTS of praise when he does do something - at least your DS has already done wees in potty - it took the first 2 days for my son to do that! Just loads of wet pants! Now I ask him every hour or two and no accidents for 4 days.... What I have been doing when I go out is putting DS in his "big boy pants", and trainer pants inside his shorts so he doesn't realise that he has added protection.... good luck!

Well - I'm amazed. Started Sat, cold turkey, in pants (presented giftwrapped, with a big fanfare), on potty every 15 mins or so - 2 accidents first thing, then everything in potty for rest of the day (13 smiley faces on sticker chart!). Yesterday, reminded her every 30 mins or so, much more hands-off - again 2 accidents early on, potty for rest of the day. Today (day 3), no reminders and no accidents! She just says something like 'I do a wee', pulls her pants down and pops herself on the potty. (Has pretty much lost interest in the sticker chart now.)

Not out of the woods yet I'm sure - have only gone as far as next door (and a short walk with DH), but a miraculous start I feel.

day 4 and not too bad really.
started the day with a wee and a tiny poo accident - and a wee into the potty 'yeaaah'
then trip into town (with 2 sets of spare pants but i forgot the potty!!!!) - i kept asking every 10 min i think
at one point he sort of kept fiddling with this trousers (while we were in a shop) so i grabbed him, ran outside, pants down and held him towards a drain - ehm, nothing
poor boy, bare naked in front of all those people!!! - we survived the trip with no accident - and the nap later one (2.5 hours) as well!!!! - nothing all afternoon ...
has he dried out??????

Can I join, just started training, but still at the "oh dear wee wee mummy" stage!! Still at least its warm!!

Thanx bozzy.Good advice and I auppose thats what iv done really.I popped into town and I did put a nappy on as didnt realise thats not a good thing to do so def wont do that again.I purchased a thing that goes on a toilet and he loves it,he is so pleased that he can go on mum and dads loo!!Although I do think it may take a little longer as play outside most of the day so it is a longer journey to the toilet rather than a potty but hey no accidents all afternooon.

I'm having a go with DD (2.2). Seems a bit early to me as didn't do DS until he was 2.11. With him went for pretty much the GF method - first day stuck at home jumping on and off potty every 15 mins but after that just took potty with us everywhere.

We did use heavy bribery - smartie for every production on the pot. He got it after a few days and after 2 weeks was pretty reliable about self inititated pottying, pulling down pants etc. He was dry at night less than a month later.

There seem to be quite a lot of people here worried about having to issue reminders but to me that's not really a problem if it results in a wee/ poo in potty rather than in pants.

I agree with the no pull ups idea - we did use them with DS once as we had a 4 hour drive to go on holiday. As we don't have a car (hired one for the hols) we told him they were special "car pants" but actually he didn't wet them anyway.

Standing up wees - DS started them after he'd been using a potty for about 2 months. Still has a dreadful aim - fortunately we have tiled floors.

DD has managed to get through today with 2 accidents (one when she was strapped into high chair so not really her fault). She's v keen on the Smarties - we'll see. If its not working out after a week or so will give up for a few months as cannot bear a summer of wet pants.

For poo accidents - I recommend buying supplies of v cheap pants and just throwing really bad poo ones away. Life is too short to scrape poo off pants. As am on child no 2 have a large supply of slightly worn out pants from DS to use for DD (she'll just have to get into Thomas the Tank Engine).

It is so good to read everyone's messages and know I'm not alone! Dh is away for 4 days with work so I'm going it alone for the first time!

Ds is still at much the same stage as he has been for the last couple of weeks...pretty good at going when naked, not so good when he has pants on (have to remind and sometimes insist that he sits on the potty/toilet)

Sometimes he is just blatant about going wherever he fancies...and I let him know I'm unhappy. Don't understand the concept of just cleaning it up and saying, "better luck next time", which I did for the first week and a half...how will he know it's not acceptable to sit on the couch and pee 2 mins after you've been asked if you need to go?!
We make sure that we're really positive if he goes in the potty the next time and he gets a smartie too.

He's definitely got better bladder control...can hold on for about and hour and a half if the mood takes him!

We may have to fly back to the UK in a few weeks...should I resort back to nappies/pull ups...would get some of those Pampers thingys you protect the bed with but i can't find them in bloody Canada! May get a friend to send some over. I have a seat protector but that's only as good as one wee!

tangox3, just read about your flight - it is in a few weeks time and you may be amazed at the advancement in those weeks - in case of accidents, maybe you could hide a nappy inside the special seat/cushion (or make cushions out of an inside out nappy or something? ) I have a special cushion for DS but haven't needed it yet. At the moment I put trainer pants inside DS's shorts when we go out (ie pants then trainer pants inside shorts) but he hasn't had an accident for 5 days! He did a wee at 10am before we went out and then held on until almost 4pm despite me taking him to loo, trying travel potty etc. So I know he has a good bladder control!! May take a padded loo seat with me next time as he almost falls in when I stick him on a public loo! Prob why he refuses to go!!

mum2oliver, sounds like you've pretty much cracked it anyway! You may want to take a special cushion to put on car seat or buggy just in case, or use trainer pants inside trousers to be extra sure if you are as worried as I was! DS seems to know to hold on if he has to which is great! Just hope he will start going when we are out otherwise it may start getting interesting...!

Reece - congrats on the poo! No joy here. DS hasn't been for 4 days. Probably too constipated to go now...not helped by the fact he won't drink anything.

Anyway, at least the lack of poos meant we got our first two consecutive accident free days! So that was something to celebrate.
But back at nursery today so three wet trousers.
Oh well, at least the washing is drying quickly.

day 5: got woken up at 4.30am 'muuuuummy nappy change, muuuuuuummy' - oh well, that was the first time he actually told me
then we had a little accident while he was having a tantrum (should i count that one??) - then he did a big wee in potty while i was in the kitchen. i only heard little feet coming inside and 'thump! bang! crash!' and he came running to me, crying 'potty empty!' - he tried to carry the potty to the toilet and empty it and obviously fell over - bless!
another dry nap (2.5 hours!!)
in the afternoon we went to see a friend and he had 2 accidents there!!!
nothing till bathtime and then a big wee and big poo in his potty!!!!!!
but still all with prompting him...

DS has now had around 5 days accident free - should I risk his naptime (although most of the time it is quiet time in his bedroom) and not put on a nappy? When do I attempt going through the night? Should I check how wet the nappy is in the morning? (ie is this a sign of whether they are ready??). Vivi36 - sounds like you need to feed DS some prunes to help him on the way! Isn't it amazing how they can hold on when they want to? My DS gets very excited when he does a poo and loves waving it goodbye down the toilet... I guess I should be grateful...!

SusiS stick with it. It took me until day 6 to get DS to use potty without reminders/prompting. Today was day 21 and even though he still has the odd accident things have improved loads. Tbh I am still reminding him at times when he is playing and tired and I think that an accident may be heading our way. It sounds like you are doing great!

Vivi36 - your Ds will have the urge to do a poo soon and may well surprise you and do it in the potty! It must be difficult if he doesn't want to drink but I suppose all you can do is keep offering it. Try to get in as much fruit & veg as you can. (who am I to dish out advice?, my DS doesn't eat any fresh fruit!). If ever he is constipated I give him a couple of Humzingers and things soon get moving.

DS did a poo in his potty, and tried to tip it into the toilet. he missed, and ended up stepping in it. i got a shout of "mummy, whats that on my foot?" niiiice .

Still he seems to go without being prompted now, so I am very happy.

lol.