27 month old says potty is scary on first day

[Bumblebeex]

Hi Mumsnet,

First day of potty training 27 month old DD and she weed on the floor and wouldn't sit on the potty at all. When I first suggested taking her nappy off and sitting on the potty she said "it's scary".

Do you think she isn't ready or should we persevere?

Show her yourself sitting on it and wee if needed
the book oh crap potty training has answers for all of this

If she's scared and crying just revisit it later. Leave the potty out so she gets used to it being around

Give 1 x chocolate button if she sits on it. Do it every time

It will magically become totally unscary before lunchtime

My dd prefered a "real toilet" and moved away from potty after 2 weeks or so of no nappies.

The easiest potty training with my dd was no potty. We just got a toilet seat for toddlers, and she wanted to copy me/us. If she doesn't like the potty try just using the toilet? She can go with you to the toilet and follow you and do the flushing which is fun.
Try the pirate pete/princess something potty books, they have a fun cheer button too.

We just did my eldest at the same age in January. Everything I read said it’s a good age and I saw a lot about “signs of readiness” being over-exaggerated and you basically just need to go for it. I did prep with stories about potty training.

It took about a month, the first two weeks were hell 😅 in the end reward chart with neon glow sticks proved effective.

Ours was fine with the potty, but the toilet was scary. The little seat insert helped a lot. We did lots of cuddles and comfort while sitting.

I do think two days is too soon to give up though. I’d definitely give it a solid go for at least a couple of weeks before giving up and trying again later.

I agree a lot of the readiness stuff is over exaggerated, neither of mine showed much readiness both were trained in a long weekend, when it suited me.

Thanks for your post.

What happened in the first two weeks that were hell?

I didn't want to give her a fear if I kept pushing her to sit on the potty and she didn't want to.

I think she's cutting her back molars too as she's been extra clingy and irritable recently. I will probably try again on the next bank holiday weekend.

Thanks

You can buy a seat at most big supermarkets, go today.

You sound like you're not really ready if you haven't got all the equipment.

I'd carry on otherwise she will see it as optional.

Readiness is pampers BS. She's the perfect she, stick to it.

Honestly I’ve already blocked half of it out! And a major factor was I had a two month old newborn as well 🫠

But really it was just dealing with lots of wees and the occasional poo on the floor. I actually found it easier once we put pants on as at least then the poo was contained. The bit I found hard was she would do much better for a few days, then have a day of total regression. It’s the hope that kills you! But equally, every time I was ready to jack it in, she had a great day!

The moment I really lost it with her is we had covered the sofa with puppy pads, she was bouncing around and had dislodged them and then weed directly on the sofa cushions. I’d fairly calmly stripped it all off, then while I was juggling dealing with that and newborn, she weed again on the cover less sofa. I shouted, she cried, I cried, baby cried. It was so awful 😅 but I think after that day it really got much better very quickly.

We’re about five months in now and she hasn’t had a wet accident in weeks. No poo accidents in even longer. She’s also out of nappies for naps and usually dry overnight (we still do a pull up though). And it is a great feeling to have got past this hurdle.

Pro tip - when you’re out in shops and cafes, saying “my 2yo is potty training and needs a wee” will ensure you get immediate access to non-public loos! I did carry the loo insert around with me until a month ago though.