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Original poster

Should I attempt potty training now?

54 replies

BendydickCuminsnatch · 17/08/2017 11:34

For whatever reason, this morning DS (26 months) ended up nappy-less while I was brushing my teeth this morning. I could tell he needed a wee so said "Don't wee on the carpet!". He came and tried to get in the bath (he wees at bath time a lot!) but couldn't so instead he climbed onto his step and weed into the loo! Wahoo!

Totally get it could just be a fluke, I was imagining potty training much closer to age 3. I don't see the point in trying before he's ready and failing. I was planning on waiting until he's definitely ready.

I don't want to overwhelm him - recent/upcoming changes he has:

Starting nursery next month

New brother in November

Just moved to single bed

Just got rid of bottles Blush

Our only loo is upstairs, could get a potty for downstairs but if he's weeing standing up at the loo upstairs, wouldn't that be confusing? He knows when he needs to poo I think but I should probably start paying more attention.

If you think I should go for it, any tips? How does one potty train somebody? Thanks!

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Cutesbabasmummy · 21/08/2017 09:37

Just hold him over it if he wont sit on it. Keep repeating you do wee wees in the potty now! We have a poo fighter - he's scared of it and held it in to start with which made it worse but he will do it on the potty now after running around complaining about it first! If he gets constipated it might be worth asking your GP for some movicol to start him off. He wont hold in his wee all day, don't worry about that. He will be shocked when he wees down his legs though!

Original poster
BendydickCuminsnatch · 21/08/2017 10:15

Will hold over the potty, ok, thanks! Don't want to traumatise him. Since my last post we've had about 6 wees, all on the floor, whatever has been in the potty is because I've caught it. His potty is really small and so I have a bigger one arriving today before 1pm, hopefully that will help.

Another friend has started potty training today which is good in a way but conflicting methods etc, I just want to hunker down and do it really!

Trying to stay light and breezy! He is helping me clean it up. He's been on lactulose for about 3 weeks and I think I have some movicol kciking about somewhere. According to docs he's not actually constipated though because he does go most days, always v v small and hard though, hence the lactulose. His record was 9 days! But he was a tiny baby then.

So glad I have the next TWO WEEKS completely free, except midwife tomorrow!!! Should see an improvement in that time right? It's only the first morning! Lets stay positive bendy! Grin

Thanks SO MUCH for your replies friends!

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BendydickCuminsnatch · 21/08/2017 10:20

2 more wees, one i didn't even see happening! I'm not getting any signs! I am watching him and playing with him except to post here.

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Cutesbabasmummy · 21/08/2017 10:34

Oh seriously halfway through day 1 I said to my mum, "He's one of the absolutely clueless ones!" He seemed to have no idea what was happening at all! By the end of day two - all wees apart from 1 in the potty! Keep going and watch him like a hawk!xx

buckyou · 21/08/2017 12:04

Aww bless him hopefully he will get the idea soon. Sure he will. Sounds like you are doing a grand job!!

I was just quite brave I think, took DD and baby out to dancing class with no nappies!! It went great! Took her seat and she went when we got there And then again after about an hour. So no accidents and went no bother on another toilet.

She is telling me now that she needs a wee but she can't climb on the toilet herself - doesn't anyone know any good products that are easy for them to climb on?

Poos are a different story she is not getting that yet. Like yours OP she is a bit constipated so she doesn't go loads.. I'm a bit worried she is holding it back more because she's unsure?

Sorry to highjack post OP!

Original poster
BendydickCuminsnatch · 21/08/2017 14:20

Think I've just traumatised him, great.

Did tiny poo onto floor, I said lets sit on potty and I'll read you stories to see if more comes. Cue massive screaming running away, tears etc... basically force him to sit on the potty, bend his legs for him etc, he is sobbing :( cuddle (sat on potty) for about 10 secs, then give up and he sits on my lap and we read stories!

Still not managed to get anything in the potty :(

I'm really not understanding how to prompt him without pestering him. There aren't really any suggestions in the book or Oh Crap Youtube channel. He liked showing DH his new potty and they stuck stickers on it together, and if you ask where poo and wee goes he says 'in potty!'... but he won't sit on it :(

OP posts:
buckyou · 21/08/2017 14:59

My DD doesn't like the potty either. DH decided she would be better going on the potty but she did a tiny bit of wee and then stopped.

Could you try him with the toilet instead?

buckyou · 21/08/2017 14:59

I live in a bungalow though!

Original poster
BendydickCuminsnatch · 21/08/2017 15:07

Well he did 2 wees in the toilet on Thursday which prompted this whole shebang. But now he won't and is scared of his loo seat :( No way I can get him upstairs once he starts weeing, he'll have finished by the time we get to the loo.

I've really messed this up and not entirely sure how I did Confused Plus I have midwife appt tomorrow so I guess I'll put him in a nappy for that, which will no doubt confuse him.

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buckyou · 21/08/2017 15:14

Maybe he's just not quite ready yet? 26 months is still quite early, especially for a boy. I would be tempted to abort and have another go in a month or two.

Shemozzle · 21/08/2017 15:17

Yes, all mine have trained at this age. Just have them nappyless and naked for a week. No pants. Potty and access to toilet. Lots of drinks and water rich food to give lots of practice. That's the easiest and fastest method.

bettybyebye · 21/08/2017 15:32

Sounds like he might not be ready. At this stage I would be tempted to stop, but to encourage him to try and do a wee on the toilet at nappy change time/before bath time with no pressure and go from there.
We had several attempts before my DS was ready and he trained in 3 days aged 2.10. But the potties had been out since he was around 18/20 months and he would wee in them before bath etc.
DD has just turned 2 and recently stated to want to wee on the toilet (not at all interested in the potty), so we are encouraging that first thing and before bath, will probably wait a couple more weeks before we try properly though.

curlyLJ · 21/08/2017 15:37

personally, I would be very wary about continuing, I did very similar with my DD1 at the same age and she freaked out about poo in the first couple of days and we went on to have issues for 2 years. She would hold it in, wait for the night nappy, or not go for days (which was v worrying) especially when away from home or on holiday. I can't tell you how many pairs of soiled knickers I threw away Sad

I always put it down to me over-encouraging her to train before she was actually ready.

With DD2 I waited, and waited and waited until one day she declared she didn't want to wear nappies any more (at 2.10) and after a few accidents in the first 2 days, she has been clean and dry, day and night, from then on.I think it worked better because it was totally her choice.

I am not saying yourr DS isn't ready, but he is quite young and the initial couple of wees on the loo might have just been a fluke. Could you put him in pull ups for a while so he can push them down and use the loo if he wants to?

Original poster
BendydickCuminsnatch · 21/08/2017 16:45

Argh where were all you naysayers before I decided to try!! Grin I'd rather persevere now I've started and see if things improve - I'd rather not do Day 1 twice if poss, and I have 2 weeks completely clear so I'd like to grasp the opportunity.

buck why would boys be any later to learn than girls? Their equipment is more visible so if any I'd have thought they'd have been easier... that's what I've read too.

Shemozzle that was the plan, I think I'll try tomorrow at least too.

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buckyou · 21/08/2017 18:15

I just thought it was common knowledge that boys were harder to potty train? I know bugger all on the subject so could well be mistaken.. but I think that's 'what people say'. Could of course be a myth!

Good luck tomorrow!

Cutesbabasmummy · 21/08/2017 20:19

My health visitor told me it tosh that boys are harder! Keep going you are doing well. You are right to not put him back into nappies. My sister in law keeps doing that with my almost 3 year old nephew and he doesn't know if he's coming or going (literally!!)

teaandbiscuitsforme · 21/08/2017 20:21

Oh no OP, just catching up! Sorry it hasn't been plain sailing so far Confused

Personally I'd carry on if you can although I know there's an issue with the potty now. Not sure what to suggest other than trying to back off a bit? Like no bottoms on, 'I can see you need a wee, the potty is just there,' casually saunter out of the room and peer from behind the door?

How was the run up to bedtime?

teaandbiscuitsforme · 21/08/2017 20:22

And I agree about the boy/girl thing. I don't see why it would be any different.

Hope you've got some chocolate in for tonight!

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BendydickCuminsnatch · 21/08/2017 20:47

At the end of the day he needed a poo and did 2 tiny bits in potty, but that's after we (DH was around) had to basically force him onto the potty kicking and screaming, which I really don't feel happy about. He basically started to poo, sat on potty and first tiny bit just fell in potty, then stopped pooing. Still weeing all over the floor if I'm not watching him. Got him to sit on potty to watch TV for a bit. The excitement of putting the poo/wee in the loo has waned too and he didn't care by the end of the day Grin waaaaah.

Going to see how he is tomorrow and maybe give up. I dunno. There is so much conflicting advice out there, how are you meant to know what to do! Maybe it will be handy having nursery to advise? He starts end of Sept. Oh Crap says it's easiest to train before 30 months, so that gives me til Nov.

None of his little friends are potty trained though so that makes me feel not so bad.

Happy to say he did go to sleep very very happy though and wouldn't stop beaming for some reason! And I really enjoyed playing with him all day.

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BendydickCuminsnatch · 21/08/2017 20:47

But I deffo did cry at one point.

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Cutesbabasmummy · 21/08/2017 21:03

Oh forcing him on isn't good... I agree with tea use the casual approach xx

Original poster
BendydickCuminsnatch · 21/08/2017 21:04

So I should just let him poo on the floor when he's doing one? (genuine not sarky!)

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Original poster
BendydickCuminsnatch · 21/08/2017 21:08

I am easy breezy when prompting throughout the day, but he didn't sit on the potty voluntarily all day so when he starts pooing my only option is to either

let it happen on the floor then be all 'whoopsie! You pooed on the floor! Where does poo go?" DS:"potty, yaaaay!!"

or 'take him to the potty' i.e. initiate a kicking and screaming session.

Seems I should just give up! Fail. I shouldn't have told anyone IRL about this but it's so hard to not ask for others' experiences, ha!

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Cutesbabasmummy · 21/08/2017 21:22

Maybe you're right and he's just not ready? X

teaandbiscuitsforme · 21/08/2017 21:33

Is he spending lots of time with you and your DH when you're on the loo? I know this sounds tempting Wink but just wondering if you let it go for a few days (hide the potty?) and you spent time with him in the loo with you, it might ease the anxiety?

This is grim, I know, but my DD loved listening for the wee/poo when we were on the loo and we could transfer that to when she was on the potty.

I really don't know what to suggest. It's such a shame to give up when you've got a good timeframe but you can't force him.

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