Potty training - withholding pee

[MotherPugh]

On day 3 of potty training just turned 2 year old. She did a big pee first thing this morning and sat on the potty a few times during the morning but didn't do any more. Put her in "sleep pants" for her nap thinking she'd pee once she was in them. She didn't. Still awake, gave up on the nap attempt and put her back on the potty. She did a pee.

She is clearly shattered and really needed the nap. What do we do about the withholding pee?! I mean, even putting her in a nappy didn’t work! We've floated the idea of trying for a nap again but she is currently bouncing around giggling, apparently high on her sense of power!

Skipping the nap isn't really the issue (not ideal, but ok) but wriggling around in her bed half asleep and clearly needing a pee, is an issue!

i’m not an expert at all but i’ve been through similar and honestly some kids just get stuck in that control phase with it 😩 like they realise they can hold it and then it turns into a weird power thing.

i’d probs just take the pressure off for a bit tbh, loads of fluids, don’t make it a big deal, no hovering over the potty constantly and just try again later. sometimes the more focused everyone is on it the more they resist it.

if she’s shattered i’d even just stick her in a nappy for the nap for now and not make it part of the battle, sleep > potty training on days like that 🙃 they’re tiny and they get so dysregulated when they’re tired.

it doesn’t sound abnormal though, just frustrating and exhausting for you 😩 kids love control when they realise they’ve got it.

I would still put her in a nappy for sleep too. You can stop the nappies for sleep once shes dry at other times

Is she withholding or did she just not need to go? I was surprised how long my toddler could go without peeing, just didn't need/want to for a few hours. I'm not sure from your post how long she went without peeing?

My DD used to withhold her pee. I’d get her to school and have to tell her reception teacher she hadn’t gone that morning at all! I asked the GP and he said it wasn’t uncommon in little kids. She stopped doing that eventually.
But as yours is toilet training… mine only needed to go once in the morning and then not for hours but if yours obviously needs to go, then I’d hold off the nap til she goes but you don’t want to her to think as soon as she pees she then has to go for a nap (especially if she’s fighting napping). And just chill - don’t stress out about constantly getting her on the pot. It was having an accident that got my son to go on his own as he hated being wet. I wouldn’t put her back in nappies though - I think that sends mixed messages.

At two definitely put nappy / pull up for naps or sleeping . Too much to expect to be dry while sleeping even until age 4 ! If they are it's a bonus .
Really hard to withhold pee . If she isn't going it's because she doesn't need to . Try in the morning and before or after meals and before you leave the house in order to make a habit . If you see signs also encourage. Don't fuss or insist . Bribery is OK for this ! I used half choc button.

She was in a nappy for her nap, we're just calling them sleep pants. Should have made that more clear! I got her up after about 15 minutes to try for a pee and she did a tiny dribble. I put her back in her nappy and into bed for another 30 mins or so. I lie with her until she's asleep and she was snuggling but clearly needing a pee!! She asked to go to the potty again so I set her on it, with a bit more encouragement she did a pee. In total, she went about 6 hours without peeing but I'm certain that she was deliberately withholding for some of that.

Glad to hear we're not the only ones. We're backing off but just feel like she's going to run wild and pee everywhere!