Advice needed please

[KaySamuels]

My ds is two and a half (32 months), we have had a potty chair around for a while and potty picture books. He has had spontaneous moments of sitting on the potty for a wee once and another time once of standing in front of it and weeing into it! This was a couple of months ago, but I continued with nappies as I didn't feel he was verbal enough at the time.

Anyway yesterday he took his nappy off, brought his potty down and had a sit in it, then asked to "sit on the toilet for a wee wee" (dragged me to toilet and I put on the seat, and step up the step and sat on it. He was getting off it, putting a little tissue down, then flushing it, did this a few times but with no wee. I was really pleased that he had took an active interest and he got lots of praise.

The trouble is I feel like I don't know what I should be doing next! This afternon he was wandering woth nothing on his bottom half and he asked for his nppy on, whilst holding himself, I asked him if he wanted to sit on his potty and he said no nappy on. I put it on and he wee'd in it. ??

Has anyone else been in this situation? I would like to go ahead with this this week as he is really big for his age and nappies are becoming really tight on him, so was so relieved at yesterdays behaviour.
I guess I would welcome any tips, and please be as patronising and/or wise as you wish as I feel rather lost about how to go ahead really!

I have rambled - thanks if you got this far!

Have you got any cloth pants for him? If so I might just bite the bullet and stop using nappies. Tell him that he wears pants now(during the day). Every hour or so take him to the potty/toilet for a wee. If he does one give lots of praise. In the house he could even wear no pants if it's warm enough. If he wees on the floor, don't tell him off, take him to the potty and tell him this is where he has to go now.

I used to be able to tell when mine were about to poo, so if you know the signs take him to the toilet ASAP and give lots of praise if he does it. I would even reward with chocolate.

I put my DC in pull-ups when we went out. We called them paper pants.

It sounds like he is ready for toilet training and the warm weather is the perfect time to do it. My DS1 was fully toilet trained in a week, DS2 took a couple of months. I think it just depends on the child/technique used.

My tips would be to expect accidents, try to relax through them, even if you feel they are a backwards step. I trained with chocolate for poos - never had an accident, and then when he was 3, said he was too old for that and he didn't even question it. Someone else advised me to wait for a hot day, fill them as full as you can with their favourite drink, and then do it outside, and she reckoned she had it cracked in 2 days (although I sometimes wonder if time taken to potty train is right up there with sleeping through from 1 minute old - ie if yours doesn't, don't worry, lots don't. Good luck, and take a potty everywhere for a while!!! (PS I was rubbish at teaching him to wee standing up and had to get DH to show me and him!!!!)

We have two boxes of big boys pants but he prefers 'noooooo pants on'!! He has spent our indoor time this afternoon with just a T shirt on, luckily we have laminate floors downstairs so ideal for pt! Will stick him in pants, trousers and sandals if we go out I think.

I did wonder whether to put his nappies upstairs and say they are for bed time only? I could then put his pants downstairs for day time. I bought him size 2-3 underpants a while ago in preparation and I fear they wont last long as he is snug at the moment in 2-3 sized clothing. May have to go out and buy 3-4 I think!

Think chocolate would work, that is a good idea, will have to go get some buttons tomorrow.

baffled - I am worried about outings as I have had to buy him a chair style potty as he is so big, wasn't at all confortable on a regular potty, so don't what I would do there, can't take a chair out with me as I don't drive. Could take his toilet seat out I suppose. ponders..

You could take him to choose his own pants, so he feels important and in control of the process. My DSs liked pants with pictures on.

Your idea about nappies upstairs, pants downstairs sounds good.

It's probably better for him not to wear much as it means you can get to the toilet quicker without him wetting himself.

Good luck!!

Thanks to you both, I am off to bed now, think we will go pants shopping tomorrow.

May call back in for more advice

Hi Kay. I did the cold turkey method with dd for potty training and she is now pretty much clean and dry during the day. We had loads of accidents in the first week with wet carpets and clothes. It's been 3 weeks and we now have the odd accident but she learnt quickly what it was like to wee in her knickers and she didn't like it.

I was going to put her in a nappy when we went in the car as she generally falls asleep but she refused. I always take her toilet seat out when we go shopping etc. I tell her nappies are for sleep times and she accepts that.

I would definitely recommend just having him in pants and a t-shirt at first. Dd took a while to realise that she had to pull her trousers and knickers down (or dress up) when sitting on the potty.

Sticker charts are also great for motivation. Dd only started doing poos in the potty or toilet when we got her some big gold star stickers.

Hi Kay, You could either go for the standing up wee in a bush straight away (novelty was great for my DS1), or go for the sitting on a toilet seat and holding him to make sure he doesn't fall, or trust that he will get used to the feel of a potty. I bought a tommee tippee disposable for the car which was great, but you may find it a bit small from the sound of things. My ds1 is also big but we found a normal potty which he liked. HTH

I did consider letting him stand in front of a bush!!

He has only made puddles on the floor today, despite sitting frequently on his potty, and holding himself when he needed to go.

Oh well try again tomorrow!!