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Potty training

Is your child ready for potty training at nursery? Here's the place for all your toilet training questions.

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Original poster

Let's begin...

101 replies

Clumsybashful · 28/03/2023 20:10

Potty training!

Me and DH work full time and really want to potty train our 2.5 year old. We gave the Oh Crap method a go back in December but found the temperature and the general routine quite gruelling.

We don't have a lot of time all together but were thinking of trying again over the long Easter weekend. I'm so reluctant because I'd love to spend this time unwinding a bit and enjoying our time as a family.

I wondered if anyone had tips for more gradual methods?

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Teapleasemilknosugar · 07/04/2023 19:33

TheBirdintheCave · 07/04/2023 08:51

Going ok so far! He did his regular poo in the potty upstairs and then, when we went down for breakfast, sat on the downstairs potty without prompting and did a wee. I was shocked! I'm going to run out of stickers very soon 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

Good job to your little man! We opted for a celebratory 'potty dance' for any successful use of the potty instead of stickers for this reason! We never run out of potty dances, they are free, we don't have to remember something else to take with us when we're out and about, and toddler loves it when others join in too like grandparents etc 😍

TheBirdintheCave · 07/04/2023 20:20

@Teapleasemilknosugar That sounds like a lot of fun 😬 We've also been doing high fives!

He's asleep in bed now. Day one completed with no accidents! We even braved a walk to the park in trousers (but no pants) and all was well. He sat on the toilet for a wee before we left. Never imagined it would go this well!

Original poster
Clumsybashful · 07/04/2023 20:21

Well done everyone 👏

I'm really struggling to communicate what Id like him to do.

Today he did a big wee on the sofa and looked quite upset. Took him to the bathroom to get cleaned up and he sat on the potty. He didn't do anything but he got up from it and said 'all clean!'
I have no idea what he thinks we're trying to achieve!

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TheBirdintheCave · 07/04/2023 20:45

@Clumsybashful Oh bless him :( I've not been letting my son sit on the sofa today just in case. He's been on a towel on the carpet 😅 Even a few months ago he would have just done a wee where he was sitting but I don't know why today he's been able to take himself off when he needs to go 🤷🏻‍♀️

I did keep mentioning it to him though, so it was always fresh in his mind and kept the potty in whatever room we were in at the time.

mynameiscalypso · 07/04/2023 23:42

I have found my people! We're on Day 2 here. DS is a little older but we tried a bit before he was 3 and he was traumatised. He's a few months older now and, so far, it's going better than I thought. Given how much he has resisted it over the last few months - tears, shouting, the works - we've got to the stage where this evening he said 'Where'a my potty? I need a wee'. Of course, we've also had numerous wees in other places too but it's a big step forward. It's so bloody exhausting though isn't it? I feel like I've spent more time staring at him over the last 36 hours than I have ever before!

Setfiretotherain1 · 08/04/2023 12:48

I’ve resorted to chocolate button bribery today… so far it’s working a treat but we’ll see. I’ve never bribed her with anything before so I feel a bit guilty but if it works then I’ll go with it!

mynameiscalypso · 08/04/2023 13:41

Setfiretotherain1 · 08/04/2023 12:48

I’ve resorted to chocolate button bribery today… so far it’s working a treat but we’ll see. I’ve never bribed her with anything before so I feel a bit guilty but if it works then I’ll go with it!

We've gone bribery too. I bought a mixed selection of duplo and have wrapped up each block (or a small collection of blocks) for DS as he's not interested in chocolate.

Original poster
Clumsybashful · 08/04/2023 17:47

Day 3 and still nothing on the potty. Waited 6 hours this morning for a wee on the floor, not able to get him to the potty in time. A bit demotivated tbh.

OP posts:
TheBirdintheCave · 08/04/2023 19:29

We got a break of potty watch today as we went to Star Wars Celebration and my mum watched the boy :)

Day three tomorrow so we may try him in trousers but no pants. He's been bare bummed but for park trips for the last two days.

Setfiretotherain1 · 08/04/2023 19:30

That’s hard, would you consider going back to it in a couple of months? Means you can get a relaxed day in tomorrow and Monday?

thattravelphotographer · 08/04/2023 19:31

Clumsybashful · 08/04/2023 17:47

Day 3 and still nothing on the potty. Waited 6 hours this morning for a wee on the floor, not able to get him to the potty in time. A bit demotivated tbh.

You're not alone, I feel you on this one.

In reading all the success stories other people are having I've decided to stop and instantly both her and I are happier. I think she could sense my urgency/pressure in trying to do over Easter so I've aborted mission for the time being! (I'm sure someone will tell me I'm wrong for doing this, but hearing the successes others are having I'm holding out!)

TheBirdintheCave · 08/04/2023 19:45

@Clumsybashful I'm sorry :(

TheBirdintheCave · 08/04/2023 19:46

@thattravelphotographer Not at all! Sounds like you're doing what's right for you both :) I think if we'd tried any earlier we'd be in the same situation to be honest.

thattravelphotographer · 08/04/2023 20:17

@TheBirdintheCave can I ask how old your little one is? Though I appreciate all children are very different.

TheBirdintheCave · 08/04/2023 20:49

@thattravelphotographer He's 2 years 4 months. I will add though that we used reusable nappies so I think he had an easier time understanding the difference between what it feels like to be wet and dry as he's never experienced nappies that keep you dry.

Original poster
Clumsybashful · 08/04/2023 21:42

Thanks all. I'm not taking it to heart too badly. I'm going to chat to nursery next week a bit about it to see if I can get a more consistent plan going which they will support. I think this full on intensive route is just not right for him at this time.

I'm right there with you @thattravelphotographer I think it's easy to feel guilty or failing when you stop doing something you set out to do but sometimes you have to stop and think about what's best for you and your child as opposed to something people think you 'should' do. They'll get there 😊 enjoy a rest and some chocolate tomorrow!

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rattlinbog · 08/04/2023 22:48

No pants, a chocolate button for a wee and 2 for a poo worked for us.

Teapleasemilknosugar · 09/04/2023 00:04

@thattravelphotographer we tried for the first time last summer and toddler was so distressed we gave up on afternoon 2. It happens! If it's stressing you all out it'll only make the whole thing harder for everyone. We came back to it a couple of months ago and it's been such a different more positive experience this time around.

TheBirdintheCave · 09/04/2023 17:05

First accident on the way to the park. Poor baba. I think we got a bit cocky trying him with underwear 😂🤦🏻‍♀️ Oh well, live and learn.

Woody096 · 09/04/2023 19:43

Started today with ds (2yrs 3) he is my third & i forgot how much i hate potty training. Following the oh crap method. Dc1 cracked it in 3 days, Dc2 took 3 month but was much younger at 21 months.

not a great start, did a poo on the floor & the dog ate it 😩. Two wee’s on the potty, lots on the floor. Progress really is that he now says potty as he is going whereas this morning he had zero idea what was happening! Preparing for a loooooonnnnng week(s)

TheBirdintheCave · 09/04/2023 19:58

@Woody096 Oh god the dog ate it?? 😂

Setfiretotherain1 · 09/04/2023 20:54

@Woody096 sorry but that made me laugh!

We’ve done ok again today, no accidents. But she’s peeing really often. Does anyone know if that’s normal with potty training?

mynameiscalypso · 09/04/2023 21:06

@Setfiretotherain1 DS was seeing really often at first - on the first day he did four or five weeks in the space of about 2 hours. I think he is so used to weeing in dribs and drabs in his nappy that he needs to get used to the feeling of holding it for a bit IYSWIM.

After four days of watching DS like a hawk, I can now spot when he's about to do a wee. We've had no accidents today but DS is still not proactively asking for the potty (and almost did a poo in the middle of tea, luckily he's always had a very distinctive poo face).

Setfiretotherain1 · 09/04/2023 21:21

@mynameiscalypso that makes sense, and is reassuring - thank you!

mynameiscalypso · 09/04/2023 21:24

@Setfiretotherain1 apologies for all the typos - my phone really does not like me talking about potty training!