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Potty training

Is your child ready for potty training at nursery? Here's the place for all your toilet training questions.

Ds not interested

6 replies

smudgedred · 05/01/2012 02:47

my DS1 is not interested in the potty or toilet. All the other children at nursery are toilet trained, but him. We have 2 different potties and steps attached to a seat that goes over the toilet, but refuses to use any. Ive physically got to hold him down with him kicking and screaming at me and he still doesn't do anything. I've read to him, sung to him, put his fave DVD on given him sweets etc but he just doesn't seem to care.
I'm not even sure he knows when he needs to go. He never seems to stop and concentrate on having a poo like DS2 does, and when I notice sometimes I can tell he's been sitting in it for a while (usually he is playing in bedroom and I don't smell it till he comes out). Yet when I go to change him he fights me and tries wriggling away and if I say to him 'you need your bum changed coz you've pooh-poohed' he'll just deny it.
DS2, who is 19 months is mire interested. He'll go and sit on the potty and when he gets up, usually he has done a pooh (he only sits on it if he is wearing a nappy though, won't go bear it else).
All my and DH families are always saying how DS1 should be potty trained by now coz 'all their kids were potty trained by 3', we tell them DS1 is not interested but they dont agree and say we should make him have no choice. I've told them every kid is different, but they go on and on and it makes me feel like I've failed my son. They go on about it to sn extent I dread going to see them coz I'm worried they will say more and I'll lose it with them.
We have tried leaving it for a few weeks, even hiding the potty, and then restarting but get the same reaction. I'm starting to worry if maybe he has a problem if just not knowing he needs to go. Or should I leave him and try with DS2 in the hope that DS1 will copy? Even if his friends come round and use the potty or toilet he isn't bothered, if he follows me to the toilet I say 'mummy's having a wee wee (or pooh pooh), do you Want to show me what a big boy you are and try to go wee we', he either just sits there and ignores me, says 'no' or runs off.
If I put him in pants he screams at me (always have to put pair over DS2 nappy as well to stop the tantrum), and usually I can distract him long enough to take his mind off screaming, but 5minutes later I find he's done something and is just happily playing as if he's not gone, when it's all dripping down his leg. He won't let me leave a nappy or pants off him completly.
Sorry it's so long, I'm at wits end have tried everything I can think of and he's no better than the day I started trying. Any help would be great.
Thank you

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
mama01 · 05/01/2012 03:07

Sounds like he's got sone real issues snot going to the loo. Have you spoken to your health visitor? Don't know what the answer is but I'd definitely not hold him on the potty or loo, he'll just get more stressed. Talk about what big boys do and what toys he can have when he's a big boy. Sticker charts also work well even if just at first they are for letting you know he needs his nappy changing.

ben5 · 05/01/2012 03:11

how old is he? don't even start to worry till he's 4

smudgedred · 05/01/2012 03:23

He is 3 and a half. Would really like him dry for when he starts school so he doesn't get picked on.
We have told him if he even has a small wee we will go toys r us and he can chose a new toy. We have talked about what big boys do. Have told HV but she is more worried about his speech (not quite where it should be), and said potty will come in time. Really tempted to take him doctors though just incase there is a problem.

OP posts:
BlackSwan · 05/01/2012 07:53

"Ive physically got to hold him down with him kicking and screaming at me and he still doesn't do anything."

OP, restraining a child on the toilet is actually a sure-fire way to real problems now and in the future. I would really urge you to stop doing it. This is quite helpful reading: www.rogerknapp.com/medical/pottytrainingrefusals.htm
Interestingly it says that most kids who are resistant to toilet training have been held there against their will.

Harmims · 05/01/2012 08:09

Hi, I have a very similar 3.5YO little boy.

He is dry and clean now (day and night) but was well over 3 when that happened and only occured (IMHO) because his sister wanted to use the potty (13MO younger than him)

He also has a speech delay - nothing massive, but reasonably noticeable now.

Can I ask how tall / well developed your son is? When I took my son to the doctors, I was told that children develop differently and that children who develop physically get all their hormones in one burst and therefore the other things (toileting / speech) come a bit later.

My son will be 4 in May and, so far, that does appear to be what's happening.

StickAForkInMeImDone · 05/01/2012 08:16

Honestly? I think this has been made into far too much of a big deal for him. You cannot potty train a child who is not ready. It is not them being naughty or defiant. Anyone who says that their DC was potty trained at 6m/12m/18m etc then more often thatn not it was purely because they put their child on the potty at the right time.
If I were you I would back off completely. Leave the potty lying around but don't make him sit on it. He will eventually by himself. The best thing my HV ever said to me was "how many children go to school in nappies?" Very few.
If he is only 3 1/2 then you must have at least 8/9 months till he starts school? That is plenty of time. If he is still showing no interest in say August then maybe pursue it but otherwise I really wouldn't worry.

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