Have I totally messed this up?

[Daffodilly]

I decided to try potty training my DD last week. She's only just turned 2 but showing some signs of being ready (I thought) and I have a baby due in 3 mths so felt a bit "now or never" (well not for another 6 mths anyway).

She did really well after first couple of days. Seemed to get the weeing. Would start a bit in her pants, but then stop herself and ask for/go to potty. However, she was very reluctant to poo on potty. Knew she needed to go - but refused to sit on potty and mostly ended up in pants which then upset her. Over last couple of days it has deteriorated - even getting upset at idea or suggestion of weeing on potty.

After another poo in pants this morning I was cleaning her up and she asked for a nappy (first time since we started training). I agreed to put her back in nappies. Now I'm wondering if that was a bad move. Is she just not ready yet (know she is quite young) or am I just being impatient and too lazy to keep it up (it is a big effort, esp in pregnancy!)??

Help - any advice?

bump

I think if they start getting upset about sitting on potty it's perhaps time to give it a rest for a while. Many people leave it until DCs are nearly three and it is much easier then.

However if you are keen to continue, a well timed chocolate button can work wonders.....see it as incentivisation.

Your DD is giving clear messages about what she wants, which is to wear nappies. I would listen to her cues and leave it for a while.

She's not ready. They need to be emotionally ready as well as physically ready - and she's not, by the sounds of it.

Give it a little while and try again. Doesn't matter if it's not for another six months; there is no rush. When she's ready it will be a doddle.

I'd second rookiemater, in that I'd follow her lead for the time being. But I also wouldn't take her word as law - the fact that she wants to be in nappies today doesn't mean she still will tomorrow! So I'd go on trying, but not in a pushy sort of a way, just in a 'this is the next stage of life' sort of way.
I've been leaving DS (littler than yours) out of trousers for the last few days, and he mostly takes himself to the potty when he needs it - and if he wees on the floor then we just wipe it up and try not to stress. Nappies still when we're out and about.

Put her back in nappies if she's asking for them - leave it till you're settled with the new baby and then try again. Winter is a crap time to do it anyway - and you will soon have LOTS more washing for the new baby let alone wet and dirty pants from your daughter.

Yes, put her back in nappies.

I had an attempt like this with my ds when he was just over two. It was awful and after 3 hours of him screaming hysterically and not managing to go near the potty, he almost soaked his nappy right through the minute I put it on him!

Fast forward 6 months, and he came to me asking for a new nappy every time he had done a pee, and did a poo on the potty unprompted. He then trained in 2 days, and was completely dry at night a fortnight later.

He has had a few accidents since, but mainly when he has been too busy to remember to go.

Before the first attempt, he had been getting lots of praise for sitting on the potty (normally with nappy on) or for saying stuff like "pee in potty" and i think I mistakenly interpreted that for readiness.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I feel so much better. I was worrying that she'd made some progress and I was just giving up too easily.

Makes sense about being "emotionally ready" too. She has been so much more relaxed all day since being back in a nappy - I think it was really stressing her. She even told me that she was going to do a poo in her nappy and then did it without any fuss, then asked nicely for a clean one!

I feel calmer too - when 6mths pg it isn't ideal to be on your hands and knees every few mins coaxing her onto potty, sitting next to her on it or cleaning up the mess!

I shall shelve this potty-guilt and go off to worry about something else ;-)

Seriously don't worry about it Daffodilly. Same thing happened to my friend. They thought they had potty training cracked with their DD who was about 2, then little sis came along and she was straight back in nappies.

I reckon you would be better leaving it until after the new arrival, unless of course she wants to do it herself.

DS aged 2.7 is currently "self" potty training and I have just had an interesting incident with not one but two potties filled with poo, not to mention the excrement smeared carpet and fitted sheet. Shudder, makes you wonder why we are in such a hurry to have them toilet trained, at least nappies contain the toddler poo.