DS's potty training success is so variable - do we stop or carry on?

[NoseyNooNoo]

DS is 2.9yrs. Whilst I was away last Saturday my mum started potty training him - great success apparently but my mum would never say her ruse had failed.
Monday was my first day with him. He did really well.
Tuesday he was with his childminder and had something like 7 accidents.
Wednesday was good. We even went out for a few hours and he held it in! He ended the day with a poo in his pants but no problem.
Thursday he was with childminder. A little bit better than on Thursday.
Friday he had quite a few accidents but he managed to go on a public toilet.
Yesterday we were out all day and we put him in pull-ups. He went on a public toilet a few more times.
Today he has had quite a few accidents in quick succession - hence this message.

It doesn't feel like he's trying or taking it seriously. I've tried letting him keep the wet pants on so that he feels uncomfortable but he forgets it's not so nice. He rarely tells us without prompting that he want to go and now DH has put a pull-up on him anyway which is sending him mixed signals.

So, am I banging my head against a wall on this? Should we stop, and if so how long for?

I need some advice - or someone to take over the laundry!

Either stop completely, put him back in nappies and try again in 3 months' time.

Or persevere - and that means no nappies EVER, except when he goes to bed. This may mean he has accidents when you're out and about, so stuff your car & handbag with spare pants and trousers. You're right about the mixed messages.

Have you read Gina Ford's "Potty Training in One Week?" It is really, really good. I trained DS in 6 days - completely clean and dry - using this method. DD took much longer! But we still managed to go for days out without accidents, as long as I took a porta-potty with me and badgered her frequently to sit on it.

Really, it's up to you. You may well be in for several more weeks of wet/dirty pants. It depends how much you enjoy clearing it all up! There's no shame in stopping for 3 months and trying again. All children are different, and how quickly they pick up potty training is NOT an indicator of intelligence. Good luck!

Grr, I'm going to lose my cool today. DS is on his seventh and last pair of pants. He is definitely not trying and I am sick of constantly having my hands in wee and poo. It's disgusting and I think I have had enough.

I started a reward chart today. He couldn't be less interested.

I can't bare to give up once we've started. He's shown he can go on the potty or loo and is really chuffed with himself. However, today I feel like he's weeing in his pants on purpose and I'm finding it hard to be calm.

I need someone to tell me why I should stop or continue - please!

I read the Gina Ford book years ago but it wasn't for me.

Hey - I feel your pain...I really think you should maybe have a break with it. I tried my DS at similar age and he had no clue. we gave up for about 4 months and tried again but to no avail, then in Feb we started again - still working on it but he is dry for a few hours at a time. HOWEVER we still have to prompt him and take him to the toilet. If its really annoying you and you are totally fed up then just stop. He is still little and boys are slower at learning than girls. my DS is 4 in July and it still hasn't clicked! Good luck and try not to be too hard on yourself. x