Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

First day potty training

26 replies

Whathefisgoingon · 31/03/2023 13:31

DS turned 3 last month and we have just today started to potty train. We did attempt it when he was 2.5 but he was horrified by the idea and showed no signs of being ready.

It started off well this morning, changed in to pants first thing and started putting him on the potty every 30 mins, reading books, singing etc, but he doesn’t wee.

About an hour in, he runs to the potty and does a poo. Great! Big fuss, treat, praise etc. he’s very happy with himself too.

But, he still hasn’t wee’d in the potty today. All 3 times he’s wet himself and then said “oh no, I did a wee wee.” Seemingly he finds it easier to know when he needs a poo, makes sense I guess.

Is this to be expected? We are on the third change of clothes already. Do I keep going? Is he not ready?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

lpaisn · 31/03/2023 13:42

Keep going, a few accidents is to be expected, doing a poo is usually the stumbling block so I'd say he's showing some good signs of being ready.

Topjoe19 · 31/03/2023 15:06

Definitely keep going that sounds like he's doing well, doing a poo is usually the tricky one! Could you try no pants just trousers on? As he may be thinking pants are like a nappy & just automatically going for a wee in his pants? I did nothing on bottom for the first day with DD2 but then just trousers once she'd got the hang of it.

Original poster

Whathefisgoingon · 31/03/2023 15:24

Thanks for the replies. We are now on 4 wee’s in the pants and none in the potty. Last one was in Tesco 😭

He does try, he is happy to get on the potty and wait but after about 5-10 mins he says he would like to try again later.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting Potty training

Alitlebitsleepy · 31/03/2023 15:41

All sounds really good so far! The fact that he’s happy to sit on the potty and even says he’s happy to try again later is really good. A few accidents are inevitable and are good in their own way as they show your toddler what happens when they miss the potty.

babynoname22 · 31/03/2023 15:54

I see outfit stay home bare bum for a few days. Sounds like he's done good so far especially the poop

Original poster

Whathefisgoingon · 31/03/2023 18:29

We’ve given up for the day. Put a nappy on as he’s going to have a bath and go to bed.

He did SEVEN wee’s in his pants, on the sofa or carpet, none in the potty albeit he tried.

Will need to change the plan tomorrow, maybe like you say try no pants and just trousers. I’ve a feeling he’ll now want pants though, as they are part of the excitement for him. He wouldn’t be up for no pants or bottoms either, he’d want something on

OP posts:

lpaisn · 31/03/2023 22:23

Mine both did better with a couple of days at home with minimal clothes on to start with. If he wouldn't be happy with nothing on try just a pair of pants with no trousers.

Hatscats · 31/03/2023 22:28

Ditch the pants for a few days at least - he’s got to unlearn what he’s learnt for the last 3 years, pants are like having a nappy on in feel, so he will just pee when he needs to.
When you see him weeing then straight to the potty to finish.
Stick with it!

Original poster

Whathefisgoingon · 01/04/2023 07:52

Thanks all. He’s in bottoms with no pants, but refusing to even sit on the potty this morning.

let’s see how the rest of the day goes 😂

OP posts:

Original poster

Whathefisgoingon · 01/04/2023 10:05

Giving up. I don’t think he’s ready! He did another poo in the potty this morning, but wet himself each time he needed to wee and did a poo all down his legs too.

He also wakes up with a soaking happy every morning, and I’ve read a sign of readiness is dry through the night.

OP posts:

Topjoe19 · 01/04/2023 10:09

I dont know, neither of mine was dry overnight when I trained them. It can take a few days to get the hang, my DH tried to get me to put DD1 back into nappies as she had a fair few accidents but I stuck with it... can you try a toilet seat instead? You can get ones with an integral step so they can get on & off themselves. Also reward for going? I am guilty of the chocolate buttons bribe! Good luck whatever you choose, it'll happen at some point! 😊

lpaisn · 01/04/2023 22:45

Whathefisgoingon · 01/04/2023 10:05

Giving up. I don’t think he’s ready! He did another poo in the potty this morning, but wet himself each time he needed to wee and did a poo all down his legs too.

He also wakes up with a soaking happy every morning, and I’ve read a sign of readiness is dry through the night.

Mine weren't dry through the night when they potty trained. In fact one was still wet overnight 2 years later. But I think it's probably best to stop, I don't think you're in the right mindset by the sounds of it and they will definitely pick up on how you feel about the situation.

Original poster

Whathefisgoingon · 02/04/2023 13:45

@lpaisn he can’t pick up on anything as I’m extremely enthusiastic with him about it all 😊

OP posts:

Whinge · 02/04/2023 13:53

Have you tried again today?

It often takes a while for them to get the hang of it. He's been used to going in a nappy for years, so this a big change and expecting him to master using a toilet in 2 days is unrealistic. Like others have said waking up wet doesn't mean he's not ready, night dryness usually comes a lot later than being dry during the day.

Pullthecurtains · 02/04/2023 14:00

He’s been freely doing the toilet in his nappy wherever and whenever for his entire life so it’s going to take a more than a few days to get the hang of it.

I would have him naked from the waist down and stay at home for the next few days/ week if possible. If he has an accident just be very neutral and say something like “pee goes in the potty” and get him to sit on it anyway for a few seconds. Then try with just trousers for a bit and eventually move onto pants. That’s great he’s been so successful with poos.

Ive never heard of overnight dryness being a sign. Many children are still wet overnight well into primary school but are potty trained during the day years before.

00100001 · 02/04/2023 14:03

Why did you take him out to Tesco on DAY ONE?

Day one should be at home all days, naked bottom half and potty goes to every room with you!

00100001 · 02/04/2023 14:04

Whathefisgoingon · 01/04/2023 10:05

Giving up. I don’t think he’s ready! He did another poo in the potty this morning, but wet himself each time he needed to wee and did a poo all down his legs too.

He also wakes up with a soaking happy every morning, and I’ve read a sign of readiness is dry through the night.

Did he know he was doing a wee? Or just merrily oblivious?

00100001 · 02/04/2023 14:06

Dry through the night comes when a hormone clicks in place.

Day time readiness is more things like;
Can pull trousers up and down independently
Knows when they're wet / weeing and tells you.
Hiding to do a poo
Showing interest in potty/toilet etc.

lemonsugarsnap · 02/04/2023 14:11

I think you're expectations are a bit too high. Lots of accidents is to be expected, especially on the first day. Staying dry through a nap is a sign of readiness, not overnight.

FlounderingFruitcake · 02/04/2023 14:14

Dry at night is hormonal, the average age is 4 and about half of reception age kids aren’t there yet. Has naff all to do with readiness for daytime training, and school would be carnage if all parents waited for this.

You are going to get accidents, the fact that you’ve had poo successes is fantastic and he’s noticing if he has a wee accident (in nappies often they’re barely aware they’re going). So great progress! I really wouldn’t give up. Go completely bare bottomed so you can see if he starts to have an accident and have the potty close by so you can tell him to hold and hopefully get the end of it on the potty. Don’t go to Tescos. Stay home and naked for a week. Reserve judgment on whether or not he’s ready until the week is up but over 3, good speech, aware of when he’s been, can pull bottoms up/down and no additional needs then there’s absolutely no reason to think he wouldn’t be. Good luck!

Original poster

Whathefisgoingon · 02/04/2023 15:03

@00100001 he would wee and then notice it because he could feel it.

OP posts:

Original poster

Whathefisgoingon · 02/04/2023 15:05

thanks all.

We will try again in a couple days. I think he’s got a tummy bug at the moment as his poo us explosive! There’s no way he will be willing to have no pants or bottoms on, he’ll insist on at least trousers.

I didn’t think he was ready because he did all of his weeing in his pants. Not one time did he tell me he needed a wee, or wee when I put him on the potty.

OP posts:

FlounderingFruitcake · 02/04/2023 16:27

Good idea to pause if he’s unwell but in general you are expecting far too much for day 1/2. In nappies they barely know when they pee as modern disposables are so absorbent. Even just realising he’s wet and why is part of the learning process. If you don’t go naked of course it’s still possible but expect it to take longer as a) he can’t make that visual connection and b) you can’t spot an accident in progress and swoosh him onto the potty. When he’s better clear the diary for a full week, pump him full of fluids on the first few days- juice is great especially if they don’t normally have it, and keep doing regular potty tries. Never shame an accident obviously but I find it helps to make it more inconvenient than making it to the potty. So they have to help clean up and put their wet clothes in the machine. He will get there!

YukoandHiro · 02/04/2023 16:43

So this isn't the advice you want to hear but some kids just take AGES and there's a lot of washing til they get the hang of it.
My eldest took 9 months to be clean and dry in the day. You just have to go through it. Make it easier on yourself by putting nappies on for trips out in the day for a month or so if it's really bad.

YukoandHiro · 02/04/2023 16:47

Ps: my eldest is almost 6 and STILL not dry overnight. We are going to go to the doctor if she doesn't get it tacked this summer

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread