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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.

Original poster

Potty training…help?

5 replies

justamum98 · 08/02/2025 22:21

Hi, my almost 3 year old is still in nappies. We have a new baby coming in April so would ideally like him to be potty trained by then. However… I started a few weeks ago and he was understanding the concept on going potty. He was even asking if he can go potty and his attitude towards the whole thing was brilliant. I was thinking wow this is easy. Until… he thinks the potty is cold. And won’t do anything when on it. He likes going potty and enjoys the process of running to the bathroom and sitting down but as soon as he’s down he wants to come off because it’s cold. We have small bathrooms so when I turn the heating on it’s not cold at all. But he’s not used to the whole pants off thing as nappies are comfortable.

we tried for about 2 weeks and then when I read advices online it says that maybe he’s just not ready. So we stopped for a bit but has anyone else come across this? Maybe share some golden advice?

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Jaguarana · 09/02/2025 02:40

He's three, you've left it late. The 'not ready' thing is modern nonsense. When mine were little in the 90s we trained between two and 2.5 by staying at home for a week and just getting on with it.

Yes, I know I'll get flamed, but honestly there's a window when toddlers are up for anything because they are eager to please, and that's between two and 2.5. I got three boys out of nappies in that window, it took between three days and a week, depending on their age.

So, forget the potty, he'll be too big for it and won't feel secure. Just use the toilet with a step stool in front and a child toilet seat, I forget what they're called. Bribe if you have to. Take time off work and just stay at home and do it. He'll be done and dry within a week.

Cloberlee · 09/02/2025 02:49

Change to cloth diapers that don't wick away the moisture. Their clunky and uncomfy- and that could be a good motivator!!

Poppy2421 · 09/02/2025 02:59

Can you turn your heating up so he can spend more time with pants off and not have a cold bathroom to go to?

Original poster
justamum98 · 09/02/2025 08:42

Jaguarana · 09/02/2025 02:40

He's three, you've left it late. The 'not ready' thing is modern nonsense. When mine were little in the 90s we trained between two and 2.5 by staying at home for a week and just getting on with it.

Yes, I know I'll get flamed, but honestly there's a window when toddlers are up for anything because they are eager to please, and that's between two and 2.5. I got three boys out of nappies in that window, it took between three days and a week, depending on their age.

So, forget the potty, he'll be too big for it and won't feel secure. Just use the toilet with a step stool in front and a child toilet seat, I forget what they're called. Bribe if you have to. Take time off work and just stay at home and do it. He'll be done and dry within a week.

hi, I actually disagree with the age limit you think there is on these things. Not all kids are the same. Even though mine is nearly 3 he’s only been verbal for 2 weeks. Even the health visitor advised me 6 months ago to leave potty training until he can talk otherwise is rather difficult to communicate if he can’t even ask to go potty.

that being said. We are using a training seat on the toilet. We didn’t bother with a kiddy toilet but still. Too cold

OP posts:
pb1234 · 09/02/2025 19:42

i recently had a similar issue with a wee boy I nannied for. We moved to a padded training seat on the toilet for poo's and one of the froggy urinals for wee's only took a couple of weeks and he was fine on the toilet for both.
Good luck hope he becomes more comfortable with it all soon

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