PLEASE HELP: Why has toilet training gone into reverse so fast?

[franch]

Put DD1 into pants a couple of weeks ago - she's nearly 2 and a half and had been keen for ages, I'd been delaying it for months because of house move, holiday etc. She was delighted and really positive about the whole thing. First couple of days, 2 accidents first thing, everything else on potty. Next 4 days completely dry. A few days after that, at least 1 SMALL accident a day - by which I mean she'd start doing a wee, stop herself, say 'I done a wee' and rush to the loo to do the rest. Then the last few days she's started having up to 3 BIG accidents a day - she says 'I done a wee' and carries on weeing, makes no effort to get herself to loo and doesn't seem that bothered by the mess she's made. In between times, she'll often say 'I done a wee' or 'I need the loo', but if I try to get her on the loo she'll resist completely, saying 'I don't need it!', and will often have an accident soon after.

We used a star chart initially - she liked this but soon lost interest in it completely so I started giving her a sticker (to stick anywhere) just when she used the loo instead of the potty, which she was fine with and soon abandoned the potty. She still likes the stickers but they don't seem enough to stop her weeing everywhere any more.

She's still in nappies for naps and bedtime, altho her nap nappy is always dry so I was going to abandon that soon.

People have started saying 'trainer pants' to me, especially after an awful accident all over the public library floor today, but I've been warned about that route ... Also am reluctant to use Smarties or anything as I've resisted food as bribery up till now and we mostly avoid chocolate.

I really need advice and insight here as I think I'm going to have to stop going out for a while if this carries on and that'll drive me mad (also have a 10 month old). I know many of you have had it much worse but in conjunction with other factors at the moment this really is driving me over the edge.

HELP

don't worry about it too much mine was just over 3 when he finally got in to pants, from my experence trainer pants don't work, they cost a lot more than nappys and are quite hard for children to pull down by themselves, have you tried getting her to choose out which pants she wants to wear mine loved his finding nemo and toy story ones from the disney shop letting him choose really helped, and don't worry about accidents in public we've had loads in a full lift in the middle of a busy toy shop it happens a lot in the shop i work in people always come up to me and say my little one had an accident it really doesn't matter! hang in there it will all fall in to place!

Just wondering whether the regression has coincided with something else - has your younger one just got mobile, or started grabbing toys or otherwise upsetting the routine for your DD? I have read in lots of places that the most disruptive times for an older sibling are when the new baby is first born, and then when the new baby suddenly becomes mobile, and a bit more of a threat. Good luck!

rather than disposable traienr pants which ARE just dispoasable nappies anyway IMO, you could get some washable trainer pants...

they feel wet and uncomfortable... and hold some wee (though NOT a whole big wee), but at least would 'save' you a bit when you are out and about!

you could then use them for your baby when the time comes as well!

NannyL and iwearflairs, they sound like a really good idea. The coloured ones on the website look good. Thanks

Am quite interested in this as a similar things has happened with my DD today. She's been going for nearly 2 weeks now and was doing fantastically - almost no accidents and quite often dry at night too.

Today she had a terrible day - 3 accidents one after another including one in the park where she sat herself on my lap and then weed everywhere - .

When we got home she wanted to put her nappy on, refused to wear pants or sit on potty and was very miserable.

Was thinking of reverting back to smarties for a couple of days but will watch this thread with interest.

Well Martini I'm heartened to know someone's in the same boat!

Same again the last couple of days - e.g. this morning 'I want to go', then refusing to go to bathroom - I persuaded her to use the potty but it was upstairs (I thought we'd got past that stage!), and by the time we got up there she weed all over the carpet.

So, my new three-pronged strategy is this:

1. Reintroduce potty
2. Introduce plain chocolate chips as rewards (DD1 very excited about this when I started it today, and returned to potty to do a poo )
3. Remove nap-time nappy (Not sure if this makes any difference but I want to minimise confusion and to try and re-engage her interest - she's always dry after her naps now so hopefully this will be a positive step ...)

She's fine on the occasions I 'schedule' a toilet visit, e.g. just before leaving the house, just before bed etc. - it's when she suddenly needs to go that she decides she'd rather wee on the floor than on the toilet.

So - training pants are ordered to save public embarrassment (she weed in a cafe with DH yesterday), and I'll let you know how I get on with the rest.

Martini - please keep me updated ...