When to throw in the towel

[Applegate2020]

My DD has been showing signs of readiness for potty training for the last 4 months, but due to moving house I have been putting it off until we had moved. Needless to say, we didn't move when we should have done and are now moving in 3 weeks. She starts nursery beginning of September so I would like her to be trained before then.

I started training her this week on Monday when she asked to wear big girl pants like her friend. We have been having no end of accidents since. She will start in her pants and then finish off in the potty each time, but she is starting to get very cross with me if I even mention to her that she might need the toilet (despite her showing all the signs that she needs to go - jigging around and playing with her pants etc).

When would you throw in the towel and start at a later date, or having got to day 4, would you just persevere and push through until it clicks?

I am also a bit scared that with two quite major events happening in her life in quick succession, she might regress. Any tips to prevent that happening?

I would put a timer on and take her every time it goes to start off with. That way it's not you suggesting she goes, it's a timer telling her to go. I'd then move on from there.

Tricky one. I agree planning to toilet train right around big life changes isn't ideal. However sometimes needs must, I suppose. It's positive that she asked herself to stop wearing nappies - and as you agreed, you've got to consider her self-esteem if you go back on this now. How old is she? If she's catching some of it on the potty it sounds like the issue is just recognising when she needs to go? This can be harder for some children wearing trousers and even harder wearing underwear than without. Have you considered trying without either to start with? I'm not expert at all but toilet trained two children that way with relative ease and both were pretty reliable after a week (in total I mean - they were only without bottoms for a few days).

Would it be worth skipping the pants altogether and putting nothing at all on the bottom half? I think it’s supposed to help them
somehow recognise when they need to
go. As in pants give false reassurance as they feel too similar to a nappy.

I was told it they don’t crack it in a week, wait a month. And leggings are your friend!

She is just 3. At the moment she is just wearing pants and a t-shirt, so there shouldn't be too much to hinder her. She can't cope with the idea of going around naked!