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Original poster

3 today - pants tomorrow! We're going cold turkey on nappies.....

196 replies

Washersaurus · 19/07/2008 21:18

Is this a really bad idea?

We have tried potty training before a few months ago but DS1 treated the potty like an optional extra.

We have been building up to him not wearing nappies after his birthday and he seems to understand.

Does anyone have any advice/wisdom/experiences to share?

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Original poster
Washersaurus · 19/07/2008 22:20

Sadly FP he outgrew all the Cars pants we got for him when we started last time (it was only a couple of months ago too), he complained of chafing the last time he wore them .

I haven't been able to find any in a bigger size to use this time, so my mum has bought him some Thomas the Tank engine ones and some lovely Elmo ones (he likes Elmo) from america.

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funnypeculiar · 19/07/2008 22:21

There's a fab portable potty which I had for ds who was big-toilet-nervous - really worth it, as you can pop it in a bag & whip it out quickly anywhere - will find a link...

funnypeculiar · 19/07/2008 22:22

www.amazon.co.uk/Tommee-Tippee-Portable-Potty-Blue/dp/B000HSZTRO Comfier than it looks, according to ds

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funnypeculiar · 19/07/2008 22:22

Your mum sounds extremely useful

Original poster
Washersaurus · 19/07/2008 22:23

Hmm my friend has offered us one of those to use actually. We did try carrying a small potty last time but the front bit wasn't high enough and wee always goes on the floor when he uses it, which upsets him.

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moodlumthehoodlum · 19/07/2008 22:23

I don't carry a potty, and I'm not doing potties at home either. Partly because ds would be unable to resist examining in great detail the contents, and also, it took dd a good while to use a loo whilst out (because she had been used to the potty) and I wanted to skip that hurdle.

DS is happy using the loo, although we have got over being scared when he nearly falls down. I think in some respects though, I am lucky because he just wants to be like his sister, who is only 15mo older than him.

But at this stage, she was fine and dry. I think girls are a lot more fastidious and tidy than boys, and ds is a bit lazy and loves the hilarity of weeing on the floor.

Original poster
Washersaurus · 19/07/2008 22:30

We don't have a downstairs toilet and I'm not convinced he would make it upstairs in time to use the toilet.

DS2 keeps opening the potty and messing around with it so skipping straight to using the toilet would be much better

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moodlumthehoodlum · 19/07/2008 22:40

I have to say that that portable potty did not work for us. DD looked at me as if I was insane when I suggested she use it. DS has different, lower standards though, so I'm sure he might be more amenable!

simpson · 20/07/2008 01:14

Hi

Am reading this with interest am going to toilet train DS (2.10) from wed. Have been telling him when playgroup is on holiday there are no more nappies (in the day). Playgroup finished on fri but want to take him to the zoo on tues so waiting till after that.

Going straight to toilet and bypassing potty as he has to be ready for pre school in sept. Having said that I do think he is ready but am dreading it!!!

We tried a couple of months ago and gave up after 3 days and nothing in potty and a DD who was sick at the time (3 mths) but am determined to go cold turkey this time.

Have already told DS he can have a Bob the Builder scooter which he has been hankering after if he does wees and poos in toilet. He is DESPERATE for scooter. I hope it works Well worth £25 if it does...

funnypeculiar · 20/07/2008 21:23

how was today, washersaurus??

Original poster
Washersaurus · 20/07/2008 21:26

I was just signing in to moan about how terrible it has been actually

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funnypeculiar · 20/07/2008 21:55

Oh, bugger. Details?

simpson · 20/07/2008 22:03

washersaurus - sorry today been so pants no pun intended

What happened?

Original poster
Washersaurus · 20/07/2008 22:14

5 mins after he got dressed this morning he wet himself....5 mins after that he wet himself again. The whole morning was interspersed with light potty usage and around 5 changes of clothes.

This afternoon he has been holding in a poo which has resulted in around another 5 pairs of pants having bits of poo in them. He also wet himself twice whilst we were out at my friends house.

All of his accidents happened within 1m of the potty!

I feel so drained, and he looked so sad when he went to bed tonight. No stickers went on the 'the king' reward chart that we made today.

How do I motivate tomorrow after such a disasterous first day?

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Original poster
Washersaurus · 20/07/2008 22:15

Actually I should be asking, how do I motivate myself to continue with this tomorrow

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funnypeculiar · 20/07/2008 22:27

It is bloody knackering isn't it?

Answer for you is ... large glass of wine now, and tell yourself firmly that tomorrow is another day and things WILL get better. And think about it from his point of view. How would you feel if tomorrow someone put you in nappies and told you to do whatever you liked where ever you were. Would you seriously feel comfy having a big old poo in the middle of Sainsburys? Suspect it'd take a while. We are asking for a pretty huge mental shift here.

So ... did he produce anything (even a mini-wee) in the potty? Reward ANYTHING good, imo. Eg. Dd did half a wee on the floor but managed to produce a final dribble on the toilet and got a sticker for that. For some reason I also got a sticker for it which also went on her chart We also reacted positively to her telling us she'd done a wee (even when it was on the floor) - with the idea that she was actively thinking about weeing. Even if rather retrosepctively.

Early morning is tough - esp if (like mine) he still has morning milk? Can you find some good books & settle him on the toilet for a reasonable while? Oh, I put the taps on too.

Original poster
Washersaurus · 20/07/2008 22:34

I know why I have been putting this off for so long now - the last time we tried was a nightmare.

He did manage some wees on the potty but then weed on himself 5 mins later. Eventually he did sit on the potty before his bath tonight to try to poo but got upset that he couldn't do it. We gave him a pile of books and offered to sit with him for a while but he just couldn't let go.

I think I will have to give a sticker for every wee on the potty tomorrow and see how we get on. He does love stickers.

I have to go out shopping tomorrow too

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funnypeculiar · 20/07/2008 22:42

Can you put off shopping? Seriously, might do you both not to have the extra pressure (we went to a street party with bouncy castle today. I gave up and put a swim nappy over her pants, telling her they were to 'protect upsidaisy from getting bounced' ) Couldn't face clearing poo out of a bouncy castle....

Deffo do a sticker per wee - sounds like some positive reinforcment would help him, if he's very conscious of having not quite made it today....

Exhausting as it is, I think terminal upbeatness is the way to go. "You did a wee on the floor? - fantastic, next time, maybe it'll be on the potty - rah, rah!" Does require hocky-stick type jollity though.

Original poster
Washersaurus · 20/07/2008 22:48

I will try and force the upbeat jolly mummy approach tomorrow I promise . We have all been so tired today after the birthday party and then DS2 didn't sleep last night at all and DH was up all night with norovirus again.

I absolutely HAVE to go to Lidl tomorrow, otherwise we will all starve...

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funnypeculiar · 20/07/2008 22:53

Ah, well if it's Lidl, I'll let you go Basics only and no messing about though. And perhaps a mini-reward for no wees whilst shopping??

Sounds like today may have been a difficult day to start, in retrospect (always easy to say...)- tomorrow WILL be better

Original poster
Washersaurus · 20/07/2008 22:58

Oh fp, if only you could follow me around with your upbeat postive vibe (and pompoms) . I am truely very tired and grumpy at the moment (I think DS2 is trying to kill us with sleep deprivation).

I might treat DS1 to some new stickers to put on his chart tomorrow. He desperately needs new shoes, but we may put that shopping trip off for a while!

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funnypeculiar · 20/07/2008 23:03

We're going to a mates house tomorrow am, and she has just had new, expensive flooring put in throughout her ground floor. Her daughter has already weed on it, thank god, but I am NOT looking forwards to dd doing the same...

Right, I am waving my pompoms bed-wards now, young lady - come on, sleep now will make you all the cheerier in the morning ... Let us know how you get on....

Original poster
Washersaurus · 20/07/2008 23:05

Thank you for your encouragement, am feeling a bit more positive now. Gawd, is that the time....I'm off to my bed!

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Original poster
Washersaurus · 20/07/2008 23:07

BTW, if it is expensive flooring that your friend has fp it should cope with a bit of wee - it is cheap laminate you have to be careful with!

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funnypeculiar · 20/07/2008 23:16

If it curls, I'll tell her that.
I honestly am off to bed too, now.

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