Advice needed about potty training

[Willow4987]

So I’ll try to keep this as brief as possible but I need some advice

DS is 26 months and we’re on day 5 of the oh crap method. We’re on day 1 of block 2 and it’s been horrific

Block one was a mixed bag but by day 4 he was getting it with only a couple of accidents so we moved onto block 2. He knows he’s weeing, maybe a couple secs warning with his tell so I could get him to the potty and he was so proud of himself on block one

Today, he’s been so grumpy all day and has wet through 4 pairs of trousers within 1.5 hours. He’s been refusing to go on the potty, will sit on it and then as soon as he’s up will wee in his trousers. I’m trying to stay calm and do what I did in block one which has been a very casual reminder where the potty is every half an hour or so. Any more pressure and he is resisting.

I don’t know what to do. Do I go back to block one and stay there for another few days? But how long is realistic in this block?

We’ve been inside for 5 days now and he’s getting moody but it’s too cold and wet to go out in the garden without trousers.

Also just to add we’ve only had half a poo on the potty (on day 2) as he’s been going as soon as he wakes up in his nappy before he’s woken me up - this isn’t necessarily an unusual pattern for him so I don’t think he’s holding it

We trained my DS at 26 months and I remember having a few issues around the day 4/5 mark. I think it was him getting bored with the potty as the novelty had worn off but we got around it by powering on. It's so hard to be patient but I persevered through a difficult few days and then we came out the other side.

I'd suggest sticking with block 1 for now to see if you notice a difference. I started reading the Oh Crap book and started with block 1, but then kind of made the rest up myself based on what was working for DS. Do whatever works for you! I preferred to take tips and ideas from the book and then work it into our own thing, however I also know that people swear by that book. I only had 8 days off work before he went back to the childminder, so unfortunately block 1 wasn't going to be an option for long!

I put trousers on for the odd bit of time outdoors at this point. You could time it for just after he's been on the potty or otherwise. This was the low point for me too, I agree, the novelty wears off.

How long do you think is reasonable to stay in block one for? I’m also a bit confused as to when he’s ready for the next block. The book just says when they’re progressing, which he was.

Luckily he doesn’t go back to nursery for another 5 days but I’m really concerned we’ll still be in block one then

I loved the Oh Crap method but it worked straight away for us. I'd be tempted to go back to bare bum for a day or two and make sure he's got it - you could always make sure he's been then put trousers on and go straight out into the garden for a bit of fresh air and play. If he's still struggling after a couple more days I'd be tempted just to put nappies back on and give it a couple of weeks.

Go back to block 1. That's the beauty of the blocks. And as PP says you can put trousers on to go outside just after he's been.

Don't stress about him going back to nursery. The nursery staff have been through this a million times and you might find he's better when he's there than at home.

I think I did 3 weeks of block 1 with my youngest but it was Summer. It was also the second time I'd tried, I gave up the first time when block 2 just didn't happen.

Also 26 months is still young. If he's refusing the potty and getting upset it's best just to go back to nappies and try again in a month. They all get there in the end...

So we’ve gone back to block one which was SO much better! A few wees that started outside of the potty but mainly successful

Would you recommend staying in block for another day or so?

We did a mix by this point. Kept up Block one at home, but after a wee in the potty, shoving on some trousers (commando) and dashing to the park for a run. To be honest, I think we stayed mostly Block one at home for about two weeks in the end, but obviously wearing clothes to go out and at nursery too. Not strictly by the book, but it worked for us and didn’t seem to confuse him.

He's not ready.

Stop and go back to nappies. We tried potty training with my son at 2.5 and he wasn't ready. Lots of accidents.

Tried again just before 3 and it worked almost straight away. Was much much easier and hardly any accidents.

Honestly - with boys I think the closer to 3 you leave it the easier it is. 3 days start to finish for both of mine and next to no accidents. So if he is not getting it just quit and try again in a few months. There's no rush.