I know there are numerous threads about potty training but I REALLY need help with potty training for my 3.1 year old - any tips or even the basics would be gratefully received.

[ceebeegeebies]

Ds2 is now 3.1 and I really feel that we should be tackling potty training - have been burying our heads in the sand as we don't really know how to go about it.

He is not really showing signs of being ready although he can hold his wee until he is somewhere that he shouldn't be - for example, we will sit him on the potty before bath and he won't wee but will as soon as he gets in the bath

Put him in underpants today and he wet them within 5 minutes of wearing them and then got really upset when I put them in the washing basket.

Have set up a reward chart where he will get 1 sticker for sitting on the potty and trying and 2 stickers if he actually does something in the potty - he is working towards a particular toy that he wants.

Not sure if this is the right way to go about it - DS1 was also 3.1 when he trained but picked it up immediately and I can count on one hand the number of accidents he has ever had so I never really looked into potty training and how to do it.

Any tips for a reluctant potty trainer will be gratefully receieved

Well i work in a nursery, and it easier for us to introduce to the toilet when they either get to big for the potty, or the parents want us to, and our toilets are teeny so they get quite comfortable with them.

Most children use the potty for a month or 2, then progress up the toilet, i guess you have to decide whats more important also if you keep offering up the toilet he may choose that eventually, but if he says no i would just sit on the potty and make no big deal of it.

I think the most common way of getting rid of using the potty, is to actually just get rid of the potty, i would do this after a couple months of being dry in the day, and also when your out and about taking him to public toilets, that way you'll know he can sit on a normal sized loo.

You could help build his confidence on the loo by holding him on, or showing him wear to put his hands to balance himself, and of course praising him when he does it solo.

Hth

That's really helpful, thanks cookielove.

your welcome

Hi there

I did what you are suggesting with stickers and chocolate buttons as rewards for my DC using the potty. It seemed to work well.

However, we also had a great wee book 9The Pop Up Potty book where the wee boy has a potty and isn't sure what to do with it and then uses it properly at the end. The pop ups were funny for my DC with toilet roll pulling out and the boys trousers dropping (tastefully done)! It was only short but helped my DS realise what it was all about.

Hope things go well with potty/ toilet.

Ah, hadn't considered the dressing element - dd did all that v early because i'm disabled so she had to do more of that type of thing younger than most