would it be so terrible to stop and start again at a later date?

[daimbardiva]

so, day 3 of potty training and whilst ds will sit on the potty and we've had some pees by chance, he's showing no signs of understanding the concept of needing to tell us when he needs to go. We've had countless wet pants and two dirty, and we are all, esp ds getting stressed. I have several friends who've tried, stopped and then taken the lead from their child but this seems to go against all mn advice. Which way to go?!

I would wait and let him tell you, my just turned 2 year old strips off if he needs a wee then we get him to the toilet quick! He's still in nappies though until its a regular thing as it maybe happens once a day, as soon as you put pants on him he wees.

how old is he? DS2 is just 2 and although he can take his own nappy off (and poo all over his cot!) he really is far to young to be trained. DS1 was just over 3 and it was very easy and quick. Wait until he is ready, far less stressful

Nope. I did. I also bought one of those toilet-seat-with-ladder things so DD was more confident about going. She also did not like the potty. I stopped because she didn't know when she'd wet her pants.
The day she said "Mum I need the toilet!" and up we went to the loo.

Wait until later. Once they are properly ready it is incredibly easy. Until they are ready it is you that is being trained to spot when they need to "go"! I offered DS and DD the choice of pants/potty or nappies every couple of months. When they chose pants they only had one accident each.

If you are all getting stressed then STOP it is not worth it!

Give it a few months when the weather is better & he can run around naked & I bet he'll get his act together.

I ran a day care nursery & learned a lot through training loads of youngsters & the main thing is not to push it or get stressed. There is far too much pressure put on mums to get their LO's potty trained by x y or z. They will when they're ready & that won't be to your timetable that is a certainty!

The other thing to remember is there is about a 6 month gap between their ability to recognise they've done a wee & the ability to control it. The older they get the better it only takes about a week then often less.

Always worth a try so no harm in attempting it, but if it seems not to be working then leave it a while. Even waiting another few weeks makes all the difference.

You can still leave a potty nearby & get him to "try" before bath time or at every nappy change, if he's keen, otherwise totally forget it for a bit & just enjoy him!

ooh- thanks! I was fully expecting to be told to man up and get on with it! Ds is 2 and 8 mo. I think we'll go back into nappies and then let him decide

With my DSs I made the move on their third birthday - because everyone knows you don't wear nappies after you're 3 . You get presents and cakes, but the daytime nappies go - that's just how life is. They all bought it and bar the usual level of accidents it was quite stress-free - and making it stress-free is the route to success. So yes, if it's not working then he's not ready, either (or both) physically or psychologically, and you should stop for now.

Hassled you reminded me- DD2 said the week before her 3rd birthday ,

"Big girls now Mummy-no nappy!" My heart sank as I had a houseful of family coming for the w/e & a party with about 12 toddlers all coming over.

Felt a bit mean but couldn't face the thought of it just then.

I told her yes she could AFTER her 3rd birthday -which happily was the following Tuesday.

She woke up on the morning of her 3rd birthday and shouted

"I'M THREE! NAPPY OFF! " with action to suit the words & was (almost) dry from that day.

Good luck OP whenever you decide to go for it!