Can you potty train a child who isn’t interested?

[Summermeadowflowers]

DS is 2 years and eight months old. Rewards and coercion have little input on behaviour, and he isn’t showing one bit of interest in potty training.

I think he can hold his wee certainly but if he chooses not to go on the potty I am guessing I am limited in what I can do?

They didn't wet and get punished, that's shit parenting.

But there was a lot more proactive potty sitting from day one. I had my children on potties from when they could sit up. Anything they did on them was rewarded. Further back, people had more time to devote to potty training. Lots had a SAHP and older siblings around to support. Mothers were more in tune with their kids toileting habits because they were always around. Life isn't the same now but potty training can still be done. As PPS said, the ease of dealing with number twos cannot be underestimated!

Like another PP said, I also sat mine on a potty, for five seconds if need be, after every meal and at other intervals. Reading books on the potty was a favourite so we did a lot of that.

You need to like the potty with wee in his head. Even if this is two seconds on the potty afeer every wee for a few days. It will sink in.

Oh, I’m pretty sure he knows what it is for - I am confident he could potty train. He just won’t! Now probably isn’t the time to push it though.

If they're not ready there is no point. Tried my DS at 2.5 and it just led to a week of tears (from him and me) endless laundry and ruined carpets. I had another baby and it wasn't the right time. He showed interest at 3.5 and had a couple of accidents only.
DD asked for big girl pants at just gone 2 and was dry day and night almost instantly.

Knowing what it's for, and linking the sensation to need a wee with it, are two different things.

You're right that with a newborn isn't the right time. Give yourself a break and come back to it when everything is more settled.