He never asks for the potty and is happy to be wet...

[SarahKate]

My son (2.7)has been out of nappies for about 4 weeks. All is fine when I get him on the potty every couple of hours. But he never asks to use it. I've tried reminding him , rather than telling him to sit on it, and he will always say he doesn't need to go, often weeing a couple of minutes later in this pants. He is not concerned about being wet. He will tell me when he has done a wee.

As for poo.... we're just focusing on weeing for now!

Anyone recognise this? Any tips? Many thanks.
Sarah

I'm tempted to stop and start again later, but baby number 2 is due in 3 months, and I am hoping to get him dry before then...

I would say he's not ready.

IME and IMO until a child tells you they need to do a wee, not that they have already done one, it's going to be a long slog with lots of washing and accidents. And being on their back about it and remembering to sit them on the loo or potty every hour or two is one, bloody hard work and two, is really toilet timing not toilet training. They are going to the loo because you are telling them to, not because they are responding to a physical awareness that they need a wee or poo.

And if you have a baby coming make life easier for yourself

IMO it's unreasonable to expect a 2yo to take full responsibility for using the toilet. A 2yo should be focused on playing and learning and it is normal for a 2yo to get engrossed in something and not want to be distracted. Compared to a 1yo who can often not focus on something for more than 5 minutes, this is an important developmental step. It's normal and expected for most 2yos to need reminding to use the toilet.

However, a charming aspect of normal 2yo development is to assert independence and answer "no" to many things. Instead of saying "do you need to wee?" you eliminate the question and make it a statement. You can also use subversion by making weeing on the toilet something interesting to do, for instance offering a target (a few pieces of cereal to aim for) or an incentive.

agree with ches, instead of saying 'woud you like a wee wee' seize the inititative and say 'lets do a quick wee wee and then we can have lunch'

Apparently there are three stages of development they go through physically with regards this. The first stage is that they are aware they have weed/pooed and can tell you. The second stage is that they can tell you as it happens. The third is that they are aware they want to go and can tell you that.

I left it until the last stage and ds was toilet trained in two weeks, having left the potty around and visible for him to use as and when he realised he needed to go. Any earlier than that is counter-productive as they can't physically help soiling themselves and could well develop isshooos about it all.

Good Luck!

my ds has only just started asking for toilet his 4

i never expected my ds to ask i made it my responsibility to remind and ask him at all times even now we go in every toilet we come across and im always asking or reminding him

my ds even now will say no so i dont want to but if i say come on just try he'll always wee

when were out i dont ask i just take

at home my ds became aware and Independent at 3.6 and would take himself to the toilet or potty but would never say he needed to go he'd just go

so be patient he'll get there his still young and is still learning so just make a habit of every 30 mins or so of taking him to the toilet eventually he'll get the hang of it

we had potty in his room the living room and of course the toilet seat was always on for him and while at home we was always naked from waist down when he was able to recognise and go we added a layer and then when he mastered pulling the pants down we added loose trousers or shorts

as i say my ds is 4 and only just saying i need a wee wee other times its no i dont need wee wee and of course you take him and he does

I don't think there is anything wrong with asking them if they need a wee tbh
my mum still asks me and I'm 34 , we still remind ds and he's 5, lol

Thanks for your advice and time. I am encouraged to keep him going in pants. He asked for the potty this morning! I don't mind geting him on his potty every couple of hours (and not does he) and that seems to work. Think I'll start working on usingthe toilet with a target... then at least being out and about is easier.

Thanks SarahKate