Help!

[Charliejr16]

DS is 2.5, he's showing signs that he is ready to start potty training, he tells me every time he's done a wee or a poo and insists on having it changed straight away. I've since been and bought a potty and a toilet seat. Every time he catches a glimpse of either he screams and won't go near it. I've tried leaving it out all the time but he absolutely hates it.

Should I persevere or just scrap it and try again in a few months?

Nursery are pressuring me to have him toilet or potty trained by the time he moves into the 'rising three's' room. Although he's showing the signs I just don't see a way around it!

Hi @Charliejr16 My daughter will be 3 in July she has been potty trained since February (still occasionally night time accidents) she was point blank refusing honestly I tried for about 6 months straight. Then one day she just out of the blue did a wee on the potty!! Before this she would scream at the sight of it! No amount of bribeing would do! I hope your little one gets the hang of soon I know how frustrating it can be x

Thank you for replying @Turnerjamy! It's good to know someone's been in the same situation and there's light at the end of this very loud tunnel! Hopefully he picks it up soon, I'll just keep trying! X

I feel very very strongly about this - I think children are physically ready LONG before they are mentally ready and that there is no value in forcing it. if just seeing the potty freaks him out, definitely take it away. But it's worth asking regularly if he wants to give it a try (or go straight to the toilet - DD used the potty about 20 times in total, if that). We had the potty casually lying around for MONTHS before either of the DC would use it. But.... once they were ready, both trained very quickly and easily with almost no accidents.

I know a woman who spent a YEAR dealing with accidents and tantrums because she believed strongly that once started, she shouldn't give up. I can't think of anything worse.

Also, with all due respect, your nursery should get lost. In my experience, professional child care settings are the ones most likely to insist on waiting until the child is ready. I am not sure why they are expecting this much pressure. If they don't want to change his nappies, they should be reviewing the terms of their employment. Even at DS' school, the nursery PREFERS children to be fully trained, but they don't have a problem if they're not.

We tried a couple of times with DD but she refused the potty and toilet. Tried again a week before she turned 3 and she was trained within 3 days.

I would wait a while. Nursery should be supportive and not applying pressure. If he is not ready he is not ready.