Potty Training Day 1

[Jjenkins]

So today was the first day of our potty training adventure. 5 accidents and no pee or poop in the potty. He loves the potty, he always follows mom and dad when we go and he loves to flush for us when we are done. We started going every 15 min since he woke up this morning and I have no problem getting him to the bathroom and on the potty, and doing okay keeping him entertained for a few minutes on the potty.

The problem: he doesn't want to put his underwear back on and when he has an accident, pee or poop, he freaks our and starts crying and pulling on his underwear.

Any tips? And is it normal for him to freak out about accidents? I don't scold him for accidents and I've stayed calm and made sure he knows that it's okay if accidents happen but we need to go in the potty.

I’d get rid of underwear altogether for the first few days - just naked from the waist down. I think it confuses the issue in the early days, or certainly did for my daughter. You are perhaps taking him to the potty too regularly - wait until he’s starting to wee then scoot the potty under him, big praise, clapping, a sticker etc. He’ll begin to grasp the feeling of “I’m weeing” and you’ll begin to get a sense of how long he can hold wee for. He will then make the link of “I need to wee”. By taking him too regularly it can become a matter of catching a wee by chance rather than purposefully using the potty for a wee.
It sounds like he’s got great understanding and willingness. Keep going and I’m sure it will click. The first couple of days are rough in my experience.

We are on day 1 too. Naked from at least from the waist down is the way to go. Expect most wee on the floor at this stage. You are looking for him to just learning what the sense of weeing is today. I would stop the 15 mins trips and just do a trip before and after eating and when he starts weeing pick him up mid wee and put him the potty.

This our second child and I had forgotten how disheartening the first day is.

First day today too. Nothing on potty so far. Then DC was obviously tired but wouldn't nap but is now sparko so I can breath a few minutes of relief. No pants and keep going you all say?

@Keiki

First day today too. Nothing on potty so far. Then DC was obviously tired but wouldn't nap but is now sparko so I can breath a few minutes of relief. No pants and keep going you all say?

Has there been any change in the child’s awareness of the wee as the day has gone on? Have they said things like “I’m weeing / I’ve done a wee” or anything? The awareness is what you’re looking for. Even if the wee isn’t going in the potty at first, if they are learning what wee feels / looks like it’s forward progress.

Snowpaw. Yes, they've noticed that everywhere is wet and when weeing but still nothing in potty and they are getting less keen on sitting on the potty. Ran and hid to do a poo in older DCs room when I was cleaning up a wee last night. Older DC was really pleased with stars on star chart etc but this one doesn't seem bothered and wees less often.

@Keiki

Snowpaw. Yes, they've noticed that everywhere is wet and when weeing but still nothing in potty and they are getting less keen on sitting on the potty. Ran and hid to do a poo in older DCs room when I was cleaning up a wee last night. Older DC was really pleased with stars on star chart etc but this one doesn't seem bothered and wees less often.

I’d keep going then - each day focus on what has changed by the end of the day compared to the start, and as long as there is progress you may just have to persevere through the difficult part with lots of accidents. I found by the start of day three things clicked for me, after two days of wee clear-ups. Get the wees sorted then tackle poos next. We’re two weeks in and wees are all in the potty now but she only seems able to poo in potty when at home. Lots of poos in pants outside, ohhh man.

Instead of star charts, you could do a funny dance and clap? My child loves it when I do a big boisterous dance whilst singing and clapping after each wee. Exhausting for me but motivating for her!

Hi Snowpaw. After a morning of clearing up more wee DC has taken themselves off to the potty for all wees and a poo this afternoon with only one accident right next to the potty DC loving the enthusiastic cheering when done. Need to tackle adding pants tomorrow. Well done for persevering and making it out of the house, I am not looking forward to that bit!

Amazing Keiki well done!!

Sorry, seem to have taken over the thread! Today less good, as in no motivation to sit on the potty so lots of either full or half accidents (and telling me). I wasn't even allowed to cheer. Hmm. Not sure whether to give up if DC not motivated. I'd like to leave the house at some point.

Definitely get rid of the underwear and possibly also just the bottom half for the first few days we followed the oh crap method and we found this worked best.

Thanks, this is 3 days of no underwear so far. Going to need to get DC used to it at some point as they'll be back at childcare next week.