Throwing in the towel?

[laraeo]

I just started attempting to potty train DS who just turned 3. I am already frustrated and am trying hard not to show it to him.

I've been setting the timer for every 20 minutes and so far have missed all 4 wee's by what seems like minutes. He shows no indication of needing to wee and doesn't seem to mind sitting in wet pants.

He's got a rewards chart that he loves and doesn't mind sitting on the big potty with a toddler seat on it. We sit and sit and sit but nothing. Sometimes he says he's gone because he wants a sticker reward.

I'm loathe to give it up now that I've started but am wondering how many accidents are "normal". And at what point do I give up and try again next month.

He's obviously not ready.

Be led by him - a child isn't ready to toilet train until they either know they are doing a wee or poo (and so you can get them on the loo quickly) or that they need a wee or poo.

Sitting on the toilet or potty every 20 minutes isn't going to help him learn to use the loo as it's toilet timing, not toilet training. He needs to learn what it feels like to have a full bladder and be developmentally ready to respond to that but heading for the loo, taking trousers down etc.

Make life easier for both of you and wait until he's ready

meany by, not but

How long have you been trying for? We had several aborted attempts with DS, just non-stop peeing and he really wasn't at all bothered by it. I was bothered as his baby sister kept crawling in it, so we kept jacking it in.

My ds never really cracked it until he was 3.3 (and even then he had daily accidents until 3.5).

oh god I can't type tonight!

Meant by, not but

Today is Day 1. He definitely knows when he has to poop. There's absolutely no doubt about that whatsoever. He doesn't want to poop in the potty because somehow he's got it stuck in his head that if he poops in the potty, the garbage truck won't come since there won't be any dirty nappies. I'm honestly not sure where he stands on going wee. I keep asking him if he can tell when he has to go but all he wants to talk about is construction equipment. Otherwise, if you ask him, he'll tell you you pee and poop in the potty. He'll pretend to use toilet paper while he's sitting there and is happy to flush when he's done.

We've got a bunch of stuff coming up in the next couple of months including - moving and a long haul flight to see my father and I really, really don't want to worry about nappies.

DS just turned 3.

After his 5th mistake I put him back in a nappy. We got him undressed for his bath and he took off for the bathroom (not unheard of). By the time I got there he'd stripped off the nappy was sitting on the toilet and going wee! Surprise!

After his bath, he said he had to go again. I figured I'd humor him and he climbed up on the potty. After a couple minutes, I was ready to get him into a nappy but he said no and voila! Another wee.

So now I'm completely flumoxed (sp) as to what to do next. He was very pleased with himself.

Perhaps it's one of those, you have to do something at least 7 times to master it things.

I do think to a certain extent he gets so involved in what he's doing he just doesn't think about going. Even with my constant pestering him.