Hi
I have a son who has just turned 3. I've started trying to potty train him this week but he doesn't seem to get the idea at all.
I've read up quite a lot on what to do, signs of readiness etc. he does show some of the signs of readiness e.g. can partly dress himself, knows diff between wet and dry (in context of washing his hands). But he has never really told me when he wants a wee or poo but sometimes he will say if he has done a poo but he is consistent here and will sometimes say e has when he hasn't.
Have tried introducing the potty this week and explained it was for wee and poo. he never asked for it but I have sat him on it every 30 mins or so - he hasn't performed and asks to get up almost immediately. He won't sit on it for any length of time (i.e less than a minute) and the only way I've got him to sit on it was letting him watch Thomas the Tank Engine DVD! He did do a wee on it then but inadvertently I think and I tried to show him and congratulate him but he wasn't interested in it at all. Most of the time he will puddle on the floor and quite frequently - sometimes 2/3 times an hour depending on how much he'd has to drink. He has always drunk a lot and it is the norm for his nappies to be quite wet.
I am really at my wits end with him (but I'm trying not to let him see it) as he doesn't seem at all interested in the potty and I don't think he even makes the connection between the fact that you have to wee and poo in the potty. I have him in pants as he hates being dirty with his food and will wipe even the tiniest mark off the table before he will finish eating and I hoped that this would mean he would also hate being wet (and hence use potty) but he hardly seems to notice. I've also tried a toilet seat but he just says don't like! Its not just a case of he has accidents it that he won't use the potty at all!
I have another 4 days off work to try and get this sorted and I really don't know what to do. His nursery will take him with nappies and will help with potty training but know the way he is. They don't mind a few accidents but the child has to be at least partly potty trained.
I feel that at 3 he is already a bit late to start potty training but he has never really shown all signs of readiness in terms of saying/knowing when he needs a wee or poo but I thought that by 3 I wouldn't leave it anymore.
One other factor is that his Dad and I split up earlier this year and he does play me up more than his Dad. But he hasn't responded to potty training with his Dad either. I think with him it is more a case of he likes me to baby him than anything else as until recently he would try and insist on me carrying him and even now I have to take a buggy everywhere as he often won't walk or won't walk in the right direction/runs off!
I'm considering trying the Pampers feel n learn nappies when he goes back to nursery.I know people say you shoudl keep them out of nappies once you start training and I do agree with it but I think it is a different case when like my son they have no idea what to do with the potty.
Any help/advice would be really appreciated
Thanks
Rebecca