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Original poster

Anyone else starting potty training? Moral support needed!

105 replies

feedthegoat · 17/10/2008 21:50

Started potty training with serious intent today with DS who's 3 at end of month. I've been using potty with him for a while and find that he uses it fine if leave him naked but feels no need to bother otherwise. Have decided the only option is to go straight to pants and have started today. I sense a long road ahead and just wondered if anyone else out there who fancies sharing there experiences with me.

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Original poster
feedthegoat · 21/10/2008 20:01

Glad it's going well for you. We had 2 accidents at playschool this morning so obviously not ready to tell them he needs potty yet. Still, they're really nice and have said they agree its best to send them in pants so we'll persevere! Apart from that he's managed 10 wee's in potty and 1 accident tonight so all in all I think that's good. Even went out with his grandad for an hour who said he had his first successful go at standing up to wee - apparently according to DS they were "chasing spiders down plughole"!

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Original poster
feedthegoat · 22/10/2008 20:58

Yay! We've finally had a day with no accidents - we even went on a nature walk with playschool with no problems. Not going to count my chickens yet mind but would never have believed it on saturday! Hows things going for everyone else?

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firststeps · 22/10/2008 21:29

hi feedthegoat - well done (you and) DS! So that only took 5 days - you have goven me hope. DS1 will sit on the potty quite willingly but doesn't realise when he has had a wee. Don't know whether to give it another go or leave it another few weeks or is that just wimping out

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Original poster
feedthegoat · 23/10/2008 18:54

Hi firststeps - my DS was like that when I tried first in july and I (wimped out!) thought it best to leave it a while Had one accident today but I don't think that was bad as we had mums and tots followed by a playdate at a friends. Might be best to wait if he's honestly not ready,you'll drive yourself loopy! Good luck whatever you decide

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firststeps · 23/10/2008 19:36

hi feedthegoat - when you first started training him last week could he tell you that he needed a wee or a poo from day 1 or has this just happened once you put him in pants and he had a few accidents? Just curious whether DS should be aware of this feeling or if it is learned once he feels wet etc...

Original poster
feedthegoat · 24/10/2008 18:50

Hi firststeps - no he couldn't. Still doesn't always but they are getting less frequent. Tbh after first day I thought we'd have no chance but its coming slowly. Been out shopping today for nearly 6 hours (maybe would have been 3 without all the toilet stops!) and he only had one accident. At the time we were in car park and he told me he needed a wee but by time I'd got folding potty out he'd done the business but nevermind. Last week he was still happy in nappies and showing no inclination to be dry. However it's his birthday next week and I decided its got to be worth a try at 3. I'm pleased with how it's going but I have to say I hope I've got time to get a washer this weekend as well as sorting out his birthday party for sunday!

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workingmom1 · 25/10/2008 14:30

Hi everyone. Been reading the thread and feeling a bit better.

Started potty training this morning and almost pulling my hair out!

DD is 2.3 and been having a wee in the potty at night most nights before bed for the last 2 weeks (bottom half naked), and the occasional poo. Started with big girl pants this morning and so far 3 wet pairs! Ive been checking to see if she wants to go about every 45m and each time 'no mummy', and about 1 min later a puddle on the floor. Then wants another pair of pants to try on!

Dont think she undertands that the pants are not a nappy.... any ideas?

Original poster
feedthegoat · 25/10/2008 19:26

Hi workingmom1. That honestly sounds exactly like my DS this time last week. Tbh I still don't think he remembers all the time but it's starting to come. Been out most of day today and he has been dry all day although had a poo accident this morning. I think maybe some DC's just need to wet pants a good few times before it clicks whats happening. I know its awful but I feel like we've come a long way in a week so worth sticking it out abit. Last saturday I couldn't imagine he'd be doing this well. Good luck!

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fruitstick · 26/10/2008 20:25

Have tried potty training but am a complete novice. I have three basic questions

  1. do you take them to the toilet at regular intervals or just keep asking them. If I ask he says no regardless but i find timing the regular intervals tricky to say the least!!
  2. do you have to go cold turkey or is pants in the house, nappies outside the way to go? My sister says I'm not being fair on him by putting him in nappies to go out and instead should not leave the house for a week until he gets it! I don't see a time when that will be possible until he's at least 17.
  3. would I be being mean and unfair if I told them at nursery to carry on with the potty training tomorrow even though this weekend's efforts have been half hearted (on my part) and not entirely successful!
Original poster
feedthegoat · 26/10/2008 23:03

Hi fruitstick. I'm by no means a potty training expert but for what its worth I can tell you what I'm doing. I do take DS at regular intervals regardless of what he says. I just tell him it doesn't matter if can go or not but important to try. I personally found my early half hearted attempts using a mix of pants and nappies no use at all and think cold turkey is best. I found 1st couple of days awful but improved so much very quickly. Like you I can't stay in all time so I just bought a folding potty and take plenty of trousers, pants and socks! Seems to have less accidents out anyway. If we need to change clothes then so be it (honestly think if you can get your head round that it's much less daunting going out!) As for your third point only you know if you are ready to go for it or not! Good luck if you are.

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santapaws · 27/10/2008 09:52

Can i join too? My ds is 2.3 and he seems ready but cant talk yet, so im confused about how we're gonna go on with that, but how do you cope taking them out for a walk or to the park? Do you have to take the potty with you (toilet scares him i think!)

Im a bit confused
x

Original poster
feedthegoat · 27/10/2008 23:04

Hi Santapaws. I take a potty with me although as I mentioned above it's one of those folding potette ones. It doubles up as a trainer seat which is mainly how I use it. Otherwise I'd take normal potty. Not sure I'd trust my ds to give me long enough to track a toilet down every time! How's everyone else doing?

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Bubbaloo · 27/10/2008 23:18

Hi all,
Can I join too please?
Ds1 is 3.4 and I'm starting potty training tomorrow afternoon.
We tried a couple of months back and after 3 days I ran out of patience and stuck him back in nappies.This time around I'm really going to try and stick to it.He also needs an operation which they won't do til he's out of nappies,so even more pressure to get him clean.

ohdearwhatamess · 28/10/2008 16:15

Can I join in?

I am starting potty training ds1 (2.5) in earnest tomorrow. We had a disastrous and half-hearted attempt a few months ago, but I found baby ds2 too distracting to concentrate my attention on ds1.

We're going to have 3 days where we go nowhere (except out to walk the dog). If that goes ok we'll attempt to go out at the weekend. Don't have anywhere we have to be until Monday, so it seemed as good a time as any to try.

I'm dreading it, to be honest. Ds1's poo is horrible at the best of times. The thought of having to deal with poo-stained clothes fills me with horror!

Original poster
feedthegoat · 28/10/2008 22:18

Hi everyone. Well if it's any comfort to those of you just joining we had our 2nd accident free day today It was Ds's birthday so was out for day at aquarium too so plenty of chance to get too distracted. Suspect accidents will be off and on for a while but my new washer comes tommorrow so I can stop worring so much about how many clean pants/trousers he's got left Good luck for tommorrow!

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Bubbaloo · 28/10/2008 22:30

Feedthegoat-that's great and I hope your ds had a fab birthday.
We started potty training about 11am today and it went surprisingly well for a first day.We had lots of wee's on the toilet,then wet trousers at 2.30 and again at 3.30.Just before bedtime he went to the toilet again and did his first poo on there.He was so excited,that he phoned nanny to tell her.We were also elated and made sure we made a big fuss,jumping up and down etc....
Although today went well,I'm finding that he doesn't seem to know when he wants to go to the toilet and the wee's(and poo)that he did today were due to me taking him every 45 mins or so.I'm hoping that after a few days it may click and he'll start telling me when he needs to go.How's everyone else getting on?

ohdearwhatamess · 29/10/2008 14:21

Potty Training Day 1 not proving to be a great success so far. 2 accidents and no potty action. He's not too happy at sitting on the potty at all.

Original poster
feedthegoat · 29/10/2008 15:20

Must be something in air today cos we're having a miserable day of it too. So far I've had one huge wee and trodden in poo all over my cream carpet Also, my much anticipated washer has arrived and I can't get temp to change so got a horrible feeling thats gonna have to go back. Playing girly 1st though and hoping I might have got it wrong and Dh can sort

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DontlookatmeImscaaarrryyy · 29/10/2008 15:40

Can I join too?
We started on Monday as it's half-term and it gives us nearly 2 weeks before ds1 is back at pre-school.

We tried a few weeks ago but it didn't go too well. Seems to be going better this time. He seems to have got the hang of doing a poo in the potty but wees are still abit hit and miss - literally

He will take himself to the potty but hasn't quite grasped that he needs to take his pants off first. So now he has none left and is running around with a bare-bum.

Oh well only 3 hours till bed-time.

Original poster
feedthegoat · 29/10/2008 15:42

I know how you feel, I've bottled pants for rest of day cos I know he can do that!

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Bubbaloo · 29/10/2008 17:19

Well it's very nearly the end of day 2 here and it's going much better than I ever expected.
Ds has done lots of wee's on the toilet and hasn't had ant accidents at all.There has even been one occasion when he told me he wanted the toilet.
Tomorrow should be interesting-we have a friend coming over for the day and ds has a dentist appointment which dh is taking him to.Don't think I'm brave enough to leave the house with him just yet.

yankybrit · 29/10/2008 19:17

Started trying to potty train on Monday - it's day three and I'm tearing my hair out! Should I give up? My son is 2.3 but has been saying for months when he's pooing and weeing in his nappy. Has done wees on potty before baths etc for a few weeks. Now just in pants he refuses to sit on potty unless wee is trickling down his leg, and even then it's with persuasion. I've tried gentle reminders but he gets annoyed with me. He clearly needs the potty when he's jigging around holding his pants but won't go on his own accord. Loves splashing in the wee puddles on the floor. Hasn't done a poo yet in 3 days - not even in nappy at night. I'm trying not to get frustrated with him but it's driving me up the wall and I feel trapped at home, scared to go out as he won't acknoweldge when he needs to go! Help and advice please!!

ohdearwhatamess · 29/10/2008 19:43

Afternoon of day 1 wasn't much better. I put ds1 in a nappy for his nap, then removed it afterwards, cue for hysterics from him ('want my nappy back') repeated over and over again until he was red in the face and tears were pouring down his face. I resorted to bribery (let him play with the phone) and he calmed down, then did a poo in his potty.

Followed by another accident later, and more hysterics late afternoon.

So he still hasn't actually weed in the potty at all.

Early days....

yankybrit · 29/10/2008 21:08

Well done ohdearwhata mess - you had a poo in the potty! I think that's a result. Can I just say it's good to know we're all not alone!! I think I'm wanting it all done and dusted in my control-freak sort of way. Maybe we all just need to take what comes.. wherever and whenever it comes!

DontlookatmeImscaaarrryyy · 29/10/2008 21:24

ohdear- i had the opposite problem with ds1 and his nappy. On the first night at bedtime when it was time to put it on he wouldn't!. Took quite a bit of explaining and cajouling to get him to put it on.

So at the end of day 3 we haveb had success in the poo department but wees are still a bit of a problem.

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