DS seems to have bladder of steel

[Narrowdog]

I wonder if anyone could offer some advice. We started potty training our 30 month old DS this week. After a soft build up (just nappies off for an hour or so at a time after dinner etc) we thought we'd up the ante and go for it yesterday. He simply isn't going, I can tell he needs to go, getting fidgety, saying he needs a wee etc then just says 'it's gone' when I suggest he uses the potty.

He did happen to have a poo today, in the garden, which caused him some upset at being 'dirty' but we were really relaxed about it and continued on. He seems to be saving his wee for his nap-time nappies.

It seems there is a constant bombardment that if your child shows even the slightest resistance to using the potty, is to abandon and try in a few weeks, but I do feel he is ready and stopping and starting won't help his particular cause, he's not showing any distress (apart from fidgety-ness and poo-gate) but just a huge stubbornness and a good bladder. But he's our first and I need to know if we are wrong in 'keeping going'.

Thanks so much in advance!

lay a nappy open on the potty and see if he will pee on to it.

My ds was like this, he used to 'Mick Jagger' around the room until he literally burst.

I got stressed, grumpy, tried everything until it finally just clicked. I did 'give up' though, after 1-2 weeks he got it himself.

He's still got an iron bladder now

I think some of them just do have the ability to wee twice a day! Wait it out - dont put him back in nappies, it's too confusing for them xxx

Thanks for all your advice, really apreciated. We are still going on, he's still stubborn but we've had a few hits in the potty (he's not happy about it, but then really chuffed when he sees a result!)

Laughing at doing a 'mick jagger' as that is exactly how he is!'

We had exactly this situation with my dd, and did the whole "stopping for a few months" thing each time we tried because she just resisted going and held it in til she had a nappy on. We were also concerned because she gets very constipated so didn't want that to worsen while we were potty training.

About 6 weeks ago we just bit the bullet and decided enough was enough. She was 2y 8m. We were foul to her We didn't even put nappies on for nap time, we just laid a big old towel on the bed in case of accidents.

The first day she held it in for 7 hours before finally having a wee on the loo. I thought once she'd done it and seen it wasn't as scary as she thought she'd be ok, but tbh the first week was pretty tough and both she and I got upset about it. There were lots of little breakthroughs and then lots of set backs too. However, I felt like basically we were making progress and I wasn't willing to give in while I felt that was the case!

6 weeks on she is totally dry in the day, has only ever had 2 accidents and is waking up with a dry nappy in the mornings too some days. She knows to ask for a nappy when she wants a poo and we're happy with that for now as it means she isn't getting constipated.

I think what I'm trying to say is, give yourself a manageable time frame (ours was a week) and stick at it. If you're genuinely seeing no improvement at the end of that time, give it another break. If you think you've made progress then stick it out whilst remembering "this too shall pass"!!

Pasbeau, thank you, that is really where we are at and hoping for! In the middle of first week - and progress is slow - but my heart tells me there is some small progress so sticking with it. He knows what to do, just a matter of relaxing, I think, and doing it! Which will only come with time.

We feel absolutely rotten as it's so hard to see him jiggling around and getting uptight and sad. Interesting you abandoned nap-time nappies too, something to consider as yesterday as soon as nappy went on, he wanted it off to use the potty (but of course, didn't). Sigh… Onwards.

Narrowdog, you kindly posted on my similar thread about my DD so just thought you might like to hear a posative update! Evening of day 4 (actually soon after my venting post!) something seemed to just click and she took herself off for 2 wees that evening without prompting and now jigging/holding it in for hours. The first one she was trying to tell us she'd done a wee (she doesn't talk much yet so it's not always clear what she means) and we basically didn't believe her, were thinking she meant she needed a wee, sat her on potty and loo and eventually she dragged us upstairs to point out the wee in the second potty up there! I had no idea she'd even gone. We still get a certain amount of getting on the potty/toilet and not doing anything a couple of times before she actually does do her wee but we've only had 1 accident and today we were out all afternoon and she was fine, had a wee in the public loo, no probs. Hope it clicks for your DC soon too. It's been worth the perseverence. This morning I 'enjoyed' sharing the bathroom whilst I showered with DS1 on the toilet for a poo, DD on the potty for a wee and DH changing nappy of DS2, ahh the joys of parenthood.

Floweryboots, thanks so much, I thought about you and your DD! Yes, we stuck with it and cracked it on day 6. It just sort of happened, the panic is gone and he seems to even really enjoy going now (or the chocolate buttons...). Just a couple of accidents, more technique than anything. Here's to be being nappy free!

I read something that made sense to me once - that we train out kids to go when they feel covered (in a nappy), and then suddenly reverse that an expect them to go in the fresh air (potty).

Glad he's doing better

Glad you've had some success, narrow! My dd consumed sooo much chocolate during the first fortnight of potty training!!

My ds is the same. I started pt on Friday pm and have only done half days til today. He's so stubborn!
Nothing at all in Friday, nothing for about 4hrs on Saturday then 4 accidents in the space of an hour. Only one accident yesterday but thothing else in 5 or so hrs. I'm worried he'll get a uti.