Potty training itself going really well, but seems to have caused emotional upset - any tips?

[dotty2]

Have been potty training DD1 who is 2y7mth for a week and it is going really well - she has taken to it v.easily, takes herself off to potty unprompted, with about one accident a day. Am obviously v.grateful for this. But since we started she has been unusually clingy, unsettled, with no other obvious cause - not wanting me to leave the room, not wanting to go to nursery, reluctant to self-settle at night. Also waking early and in night, but think that is because she needs a wee and doesn't want to go in nappy. But she is perfectly cheery about the potty itself. Have had no time to research the subject (sleepless DD2) so don't know if this is normal. Any thoughts?

Bumping it for you....

I would think the best way to go is just keep re-assuring her...but that is not much help, is it!

Dotty.
I am having the same problem at the moment.
DD is almost 2.5 months and seems like a very sensitive child. From the age of 2 I have tried to make going to the toilet fun and have taken her in with me and showed her what to do etc. She used to like doing this but now won't go in the toilet with me for some reason.? The other day we were in the Big Tescos looking clothes etc and I was bursting to go and she screamed at me and wouldn't go in the toilet with me. I had to shop quickly whilst bursting for a wee!

I bought her a royal potty that plays music when you wee on it and she loves it. However I think she thinks it is a toy. I found she was hesitant of sitting on the basic little potty I bought as I think she felt it was so low down she would fall over. The new potty is more like a chair and has sides to hold on to.

She is also very clingy to me and holds a wee in for hours! especially when out and sometimes doesn't poo for days then only wants Daddy to change a pooy nappy.
She says sit on potty then when I take her to it she won't sit on it. I had one success when I left her just wearing a Tshirt only the other afternoon, she went for a wee on the potty by herself when I left the room.

I have tried not to push her at all and have just talked to her about going to toilet on the potty very carefully. But I think she has taken this completely to heart straight away and now seems to get all worried about going to the toilet. I have tried reassurance etc and cuddles.
I tried the asking every half an hour and taking her to the potty but that made her very grumpy. She is red haired and very independant and wants to do everything herself.

I decided to forget about it for a while but
Now she says sit on potty, then when she gets to the potty won't sit on it! I can't put pants on her as she doesn't pull them up and runs around with them around her ankles and trips over.
The only success we have had was been she was bum free to the air which is okay at home but what do I do when she is at nursery 2 days a week? Put her in pull ups or training pants?
I am rapidly getting frustrated with all this.

Hi Carrie - oh dear, that does sound like a nightmare. Maybe the best thing to do would be to give up for a while - but as you say if she's still talking about it all the time, then that's hard. My problem is actually somewhat different in that DD1 has taken easily to the potty (for wees at least - poos somewhat trickier) but seems really unsettled and clingy in other respects - almost as if she's transferring her anxiety. So not much advice to offer for your situation - FWIW, we went cold turkey , straight to pants and actually started on a day at nursery. They offered - I think they had as done as feckless parents who were never going to do it on our own...

Incidentally re. the tesco experience, is she frightened of hand driers? DD1 is, and several other children I know. She will only go in public toilets if I solemnly promise not to use the drier. Good luck.