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Should I lay off trying to potty train DD?

4 replies

MissM · 15/12/2008 21:25

DD is 2.7. About 6 months ago she seemed really ready to potty train, used a little loo seat (didn't like the potty itself), would tell me when she wanted to go and started to get quite consistent especially just before her bath. She chose some knickers, I taught her to wash hands, wipe etc. BUT, I was also really cautious and didn't do what I probably should have which was to just take her nappy off and go for it. My reasons were:

  • imminent house move that was really stressing me out
  • serious illness in the family that was ditto
  • selling our house, packing, trying to find somewhere else to live
  • struggling with 5 month old baby who was the most terrible sleeper so was exhausted all the time I just didn't have the energy to go for it.

Anyway, now I'm trying again. Sometimes she will go like a dream, asks to sit on the loo, does a wee, does everything beautifully and gets a sticker for her pains. So I've tried asking her if she wants to wear knickers today. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" is her answer. I ask her if she wants to take her nappy off. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO". Even when I try to change a nappy that is practically falling off it's so full she screams at me "MY NAPPY IS OK" and I have to pretend that I'm just checking it and will put the same one back on to stop her screaming.

So the question is, am I stressing her out unnecessarily and should I just lay off for a week or so? It's so frustrating - I know she can do it, but really feel that I missed the boat when she was keen and excited about it. Now it's just a pitched battle. Advice please!

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whomovedmychocolate · 16/12/2008 07:32

Yes, stop for a bit. DD was doing incredibly well (she's only 2 but she instigated things) but then got a UTI and then threadworms and so got a sore bum and went off the idea. She then stopped because she decided that she 'didn't want to be a big girl'

We just abandoned things for a month and the other day she started asking for the potty again so we are going to start again. Sometimes it's worth just leaving things for a month before trying again.

Good luck

MissM · 16/12/2008 08:59

I think I might do that. It's become a battle which I know is the biggest no-no with potty training. It's just hard when you see everyone else of her age in knickers and you get that inadequate 'oh my god I'm doing it wrong' feeling!

Did you abandon it and just not mention it at all until she did? Or did you keep asking her?

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whomovedmychocolate · 16/12/2008 10:01

I just pretended not to notice and gave her the choice of 'big girl pants' or 'nappy' and then didn't comment on whatever she chose.

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whomovedmychocolate · 16/12/2008 10:01

BTW sod everyone else, when it's right for your child, that's the time, not according to some prescribed timetable!

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