Please help me manage my potty training expectations!

[lisbapalea]

I started potty training my DD (2.4) last Thursday after she had been showing all the 'right' signs in terms of awareness of what she's doing and when, and wanting to be changed immediately she's done something, taking her own nappy off, getting in and out of her trousers etc. She'd also had quite a few ad hoc successes with the potty before bathtime, or when we let her run around naked in the brief summer spells! So the signs were definitely all there, I thought.

So Thursday was interesting - we started in the afternoon and I think we got one big wee in the potty and a few dribbles on the floor. Friday was pretty much the same, probably 3 big wees in the potty in total and quite a few other accidents (little dribbles as well as bigger wees), no poos.

Saturday morning was great - 2 poos in the potty and 3 wees, and just a couple of accidents. BUT, on Saturday morning we had pretty much abandoned pants and let her run around in the nude.

Since Saturday lunchtime we have had ZERO potty action, just accidents in pants, in the nude, everywhere.

Any success has been hugely praised with stickers and even choc buttons, as well as lots of kisses, applause and calling friends and family to update them on potty contents!

But despite this she seems to be entirely bored of the whole thing and is almost deliberately ignoring any mention of the potty, often getting really cross if we do raise the subject.

This morning she did agree to sit on the potty every morning and before bathtime, I sort of linked it into toothbrushing, and that seemed to go down OK, so at least she sat on it again, but did nothing.

I dropped her off at nursery this morning and am so worried that she'll just be pooing and weeing everywhere (I gave them 5 changes of clothing for her). But I'm hoping the influence of her peers (many of which are trained or training), will help her along, and seeing as she is usually a complete angel at nursery and a PITA for me, I hoped they might have better luck?

Sorry this has got so long - just wanted to get it all down! So my question is, am I way off the mark with entertaining potty training now, bearing in mind she seemed to get it so well on Saturday? Or should I just forget about it?

I know I am getting anxious about this which she is no doubt picking up on, so I just need some advice to help me manage my expectations of potty training!

Any advice welcome.

Thanks.

I think your DD might do quite well at nursery, because they will be more relaxed than you! Also there will be the peer group who are training to spur her on, which could be just what she needs as she was getting a bit fed up with the potty.

I hope you're right about nursery.

I am very aware that I am stressed about this and am doing my best to sound breezy when I am talking to her about anything, and definitely not telling off or anything when she has accidents. But she's some kind of psychic and totally knows how to work me out so no doubt is picking up on my feeling.

An update - she had 6 accidents at nursery but apparently did 3 wees in the potty/loo. They said the record for accidents is 12 in a day so they didn't seem too fussed. It's good to hear she was asking for the potty/loo but was just not quite making it on time.

And she also sat on the loo and the potty willingly at home this evening (no results for either but I think the fact she showed willing is an improvement).

We've spent the evening washing manky clothes so we have enough spares tomorrow - when I picked her up she was dressed in a pirate outfit from the dressing up box as she'd weed and pooed all over her own stuff! The sight of her dressed like that helped mee to feel a bit more light-hearted about it all!

I think shes doing great hang in there. I am ripping out my hair im on day 4 with my 32 month boy who is set against even sitting on the potty despite all bribes etc. I was reading gina fords potty training in 1 week which has given me completely unrealistic expectations and ive found myself getting really mad (to myself) about it. I even cried today!!! Ive ditched the book and now going to just take it day by day.

I think its easy to listen to others whose children breezed it, or get unrealistic expectations from help books. All kids are different and theyy all manage it in the end.

Im writing this as a therapy for myself hahah. Good luck x