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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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midnightexpress · 23/07/2008 08:55

Yeay Washersuarus, that sounds like a massive improvement! .

Have you got any of those bottom wipes? No doubt horrendously un-eco, but ds1 loves having the special box and pressing the litle button to open it. He doesn't seem keen on pooing on the toilet yet either, so this morning I've told him to use ordinary loo roll for pees and the 'special' ones only for poos, in the hope that this might encourage him. Will let you know how we get on with that.

Original poster
Washersaurus · 23/07/2008 10:48

I have packed him off to nursery this morning - no accidents along the way!

We do have some of the toddler wipes but they don't seem to impress DS1 that much tbh - I think it is because he has an eczema patch on his bum at the moment and they probably sting a bit.

I am glad that I can have a break from potty training today - I can't believe how tiring it is. I can't imagine how he must be feeling.

He told me he was feeling a bit grumpy on the way to nursery, but I think that is because I told him to get a move on! He has a new scooter and it took him 45 mins to do a 15min journey this morning

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simpson · 23/07/2008 14:29

Washeraurus - bet you are glad he is at nursery today Where do you get these wipes from? are they for bum, i am assuming so

First day not too bad so far. One accident which was possibly DH's fault. He put DS on loo before taking him quickly to corner shop with a towel under him in buggy. And he weed himself. Every 5 mins DS says he needs the toilet so we have to take him upstairs. But he has managed one wee in loo

He is playing in garden now in pants and t-shirt. He has just pooed in his pants and been cleaned up. Guess its a question of 3 steps forward and two back [hmmm]

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Original poster
Washersaurus · 23/07/2008 16:12

I can remember from the last time we tried potty training, that just as he seemed to be getting it, he reverted to pooing and weeing everywhere (which is why we gave up). I am impressed that he uses the toilet though simspon.

We also have been putting a towel on the buggy just in case!

The wipes are toddler wipes from Boots, same as the Kandoo ones. I found I could buy the Kandoo refill packs in Poundland so have stocked up

I've been meaning to ask about the frequency/number of wee's in a day. Is DS1 abnormal? Yesterday he achieved 19 stickers for wees in the potty, and probably missed around 5 - that is an awful lot of wee IMO!

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simpson · 23/07/2008 18:16

Ds seems to be able to hold his wee for quite some time now. He had one accident this morning in buggy, then poo in pants, then wee in toilet and one more wee in pants. Thats it for today. He has been drinking LOADS too.

Got the bum wipe thingies from boots good tip re £shop will try when I am out.

DS seems v happy to sit on toilet but I think he thinks sitting on loo means he has done wee as several times he has said he has done one and he hasn't, he might just be desperate for his promised scooter Have poured a glass of water down loo and said wee makes the same noise. Will have to see if he gets that [hmmm] Also him saying he needs a wee 5 times in 15 mins is quite tiring as our only toilet is upstairs. But overall the day has gone much better than I thought and DH has just pointed out every accident he had today he was out in the garden so it might be that he didn't want to come in iyswim

BobsWendy · 23/07/2008 19:07

well we had an ok day again, its day 5 for us and he's weed in the toilet 8 times and pooed in it once, and he's weed in his pants twice and pooed in him once. Same as you simpson, his accidents are in the garden, he definitely doesn't want the fun interrupted by something as mundane as using the toilet.

Should I be seeing progress quicker? Is that ok for day 5 or should it be better? Everyone I know seems to have cracked it in a "day" or a "weekend", we definitely haven't cracked it on day 5, for instance I am constantly asking him and breathing down his neck. No fun for either of us.

I did whip out to tesco straight after a wee in the toilet and made it home again in 45 mins with no accidents.

I'm not sure washersaurus, I guess my ds1 wees about 12 times a day? Maybe your ds is just enjoying the thrill of it all? How did nursery go? I would love a day off from it!!

My sister and her husband and two dd's are coming to stay tomorrow. Their dd1 is the same age as our ds1 and is potty trained. I hope this will encourage him, but the excitement of the visitors might set him back??

simpson · 23/07/2008 19:35

BobsWendy - Think it sounds like you are doing fine I would be pleased to have most of it done in the loo by day 5. Sounds like your DS is hitting the mark more often than not. It is exhausting though constantly asking them if they need the loo. Our loo is upstairs and at one point DS said he needed to go 5 times in 10 mins of course managed nothing!! But I should be pleased he is sitting on it and telling me he needs to go even nothing happens. Also glad the weather is nice, there would be nothing worse than stuck indoors cleaning the carpet/furniture all day

MrsDougRoss · 23/07/2008 20:46

Sory just got back, it actually only took a week, for him to get it. It was a struggle and this was on the second attmept at potty training. He can hold wee in for 4 hours so my struggle was catching one wee. Bobswendy it sounds really good, just look at what you have written 8 times ... that is 8 success's. and only day 5 sounds like he has got the understanding. Do not be afraid to sit him on the toilet if you believe he needs a wee. after 30 mins outside or a similar time, stop him playing look him in the eye and ask him if he needs to go. My DS always just says Ok which made it hard to know if it was a i need to go ok, or no i do not need to go.

Obviously do all the usual wee before you got and if you are worried when you get there take him straight to the toliet.

midnightexpress · 23/07/2008 21:23

Hi everyone - one step forwards and two steps back indeed. DS1 seems to have the hang of the wees but the poos, not so much. He did none all day (I think he's a bit unsure and holds it in, as he is usually a bit more regular than this), and had a perfect score from nursery, and a faultless trip out to the shops this afternoon, but managed to do 2 poos in about 10 mins in his pants after dinner. Partly our fault - we knew there would be one and dp took him off to perch on the loo for a bit but I think he gave up after ds did a wee and then about a minute later there was a wail from the sitting room. He sounded so disappointed in himself , poor wee thing.

So BobsWendy (we're on about day 5 too I think), it sounds like you're doing pretty well - as someone said earlier on, it's a pretty big mental shift for them I think.

Meanwhile ds2 (18 months) has today started announcing 'Poo!' when he's done a poo and 'Wee!' when he's peed - caught up in all the excitement, clearly!

funnypeculiar · 23/07/2008 21:42

One step back here as well Think dd is loosing her excitement (& I may just be getting a little less pom-pom-tastic too She's been doing really well (couple of accidents a day), but we were back up to three accidents (& she is an infrequent wee-er - every 1-2 hours max)

So have introduced One Large Choc Button per product. She was so overawed at the excitment of this she spent pretty much 4.30 -5.30 on the loo (finally managed a wee at 6!)

Washersaurus - ds was like that when he started - I remember counting up stickers & failures on about day 2 & getting to 23! He did calm down and rationalise his production reasonably fast (ie within a week or so)

BobsWendy · 23/07/2008 21:45

pmsl midnightexpress, my ds2 has started doing the exact same thing, he's 16 months, and he's patting his nappy all day shouting poo poo! Think he feels v neglected though, feel awful, but cannot take my eyes off ds1

Onwards and upwards tomorrow girls.

midnightexpress · 23/07/2008 22:26

BobsWendy, perhaps we should just 'tandem train' them and get it all over with in one go? Now that would be impressive .

BobsWendy · 24/07/2008 07:58

o midnightexpress, in my darkest hours of this experience I think "and I'll be doing it all again this time next year" !!!!!!!!

Still waiting for wee no. 1 today, he's jigging around a bit, but sat on loo and it didn't come, so will try and persuade him to try again in a few minutes.

Will I ever relax again?

Original poster
Washersaurus · 24/07/2008 11:08

Well we have had 2 accidents before nursery today, one was when he was playing outside so he was obviously too busy for the potty!

I am shattered though, DS2 was awake screaming for hours last night - DH and I are at each others throats and DS1 is a bit grumpy too, so probably not in the mood for potty training either.

Thankfully, DS1 is at nursery again today & he always has an hour nap there which he won't do at home. He had around 5 accidents yesterday, but a couple of those were pooey rather than wet. The quantity of wees was also slightly reduced yesterday too.

I am also wondering if it is possible to tandem train - is 12 months too early?

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Washersaurus · 24/07/2008 11:09
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simpson · 24/07/2008 12:01

We have had a tiny wee in loo this morning But that is it. A large wee must be iminent surely? Am tiring of asking him if he needs loo every 5 mins

funnypeculiar · 24/07/2008 12:52

Thanks washersaurus - what's wrong with ds2

Well, I must say, chocolate buttons is a FANTASTIC motivator - my, dd & ds all get one each if anything appears on the toilet, and no accidents so far. Amazing how much lower my stress levels are today

Although, dd WILL sit on the toilet with her legs on the seat so she can have a good luck at her own cleverness ... which means about 50% of each wee so far has hit the floor... hadn't anticipated that one.

I am coming out all goosebumpy just thinking about tandem training. Hurray for NOT having to do potty training again (another reason AGAINST having a third!) - it felt weird to walk past the nappy aisle today and not buy anything (both still in nighttime nappies, but I'm ignoring that fact!)

BobsWendy · 24/07/2008 13:41

agree with the chocolate buttons FP, we use maltesers here and it was a great motivator too.

My stress levels are lower today too. I'm not asking as much, I'm trying to "trust" him a litte more... you're right Simpson, its sooooooo tiring asking all the time. In a day or two, maybe you can ease up on it too. Today is the first day I literally haven't been breathing down his neck at every waking second. We've had no wee accidents today, so far, 3 wees in the toilet and a poo in the pants... I'm praying he's mastering the wees.

The visitors arrive tonight... please God they bring wee and poo motivation with them and not distraction LOL

Keep waving the pom poms girls! Had the HV this morning and she said it should be all done by two weeks, I'm holding her to that!

simpson · 24/07/2008 15:23

Help!!?!!

All we have had today is one wee in toilet this morning. Think he is holding it in. He has drank loads but only one wee at 9am this morning. What do I do???

funnypeculiar · 24/07/2008 20:43

Has it been hot with you, Simpson? Dd has done less wees (although I will admit, more than your ds!) today (lovely hot sunny day here I don't suppose there's an awful lot you can do, really - I guess hopefully you'll have a really wet nappy in the morning!

Not a bad day here - a couple of accidents but both outside so could be easily hosed down - and the chocolate buttons are defn making dd much more enthusiastic. I do sometimes wonder what that child wouldn't do for chocolate....

midnightexpress · 24/07/2008 21:04

Good day here too. Wees a go-go and a poo in the correct place and only one poo in pants. We are developing an after-dinner pattern, whereby we pester him, in the full knowledge that he's going to do one, he claims he isn't and five minutes later there's a cry of 'I've done a poooooooooooooooooooooooooooo by accident!'. Not sure how to break this one, as he's so fidgety that he can't perch for too long on the loo, even though he always does one. perhaps choc buttons is the way forward, provided I can keep ds2 away from them.

Even though it's going pretty well, it is so tiring, isn't it? The constant vigilance is doing my nut.

Tomorrow we have added thrill of a b/day party with a bouncy castle - wish me luck .

Hope everyone's day was good - the sunshine makes such a difference after all the gloom.

simpson · 24/07/2008 21:49

Funnypeculiar- It has been V V hot here. Since posting earlier he did an enormous cascade of wee down leg, clothes,shoes etc. 15 mins later another one So today we had one wee on toilet at 9am, 2 wees in pants since. No poo today. Is only day 2 though.

Does this seem about normal?

funnypeculiar · 25/07/2008 11:52

Well within the range of normal, I'd say Simpson. I'm of the 'aim low' school of potty thinking, in which ANY success on day 2 = success. I have to say, I also think it's much easier to train dd (infrequent wee-er) than it was ds (wee-ed every 5 mins) - the lower frequency of cleaning is defn easier - even if the quantity can be a bit shocking

Dd did 2 poos in her pans & one wee on the floor before going to the childminder this morning, so not so great. Let's see how she gets on at a bouncy castle party this arvo (& yes, she will have pull up on over the top of her pants to protect Dora from the bouncing ...

Dd is going into full on 'I a BIG girl' mode with all of this - insisted on china plate like her brother yesterday ... & climbed out of her cot at bed time (only second time ever) ... looks like we'll be doing big bed + potty training rather more simultaneously than I'd planned

midnightexpress · 25/07/2008 20:55

funnypeculiar how did you get on with the bouncy castle? We had one weeing accident at ours (not on the castle itself, thank goodness) but both boys fell over in the paddling pool so ds 2 came home in his nappy and ds1 came back with a slightly soggy bum. Fortunately it was scorching hot too.

Hope everyone's had a productive day with all offerings on target.

We stoopidly promised ds1 a trip to the swimming pool for his reward this week and are now faced with the prospect of a trip to a heaving pool as the weather is so warm - I can think of nothing worse. He'll hate it too - he can't stand noisy groups of people. Darn it.

simpson · 25/07/2008 21:47

Hope everyone has had a good day.

DS now proud owner of yellow lazy town scooter. It is even propped up at the end of his bed while he sleeps His reward for no more nappies.

Not been too bad today. One wee& poo in pants this morning, then 2 wees in toilet, then one wee on floor in garden. Although to be fair the last wee he came up to me and said he needed to go and weed 1 second later.

3 steps forward and 2 back...