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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.

Need advice, desperately

4 replies

MrsG33 · 15/12/2025 15:43

Mum to a 3.5yo Boy. We tried potty training last Christmas after he had a year of serious health problems which are now under control.

12 months later we are still in pull ups and using the toilet once in a blue moon when he suddenly decides to say "mummy, toilet"

We almost cracked it over summer school holidays and he was asking to use the toilet regularly and very few accidents at home or out and about but only with us (parents) nursery said he isn't interested and actually deterred him away from the toilet by locking him out of it. We pulled him out of said nursery and moved him to a proper preschool where is development is definitely improving and he seems much happier.

Potty training has completely fell off the wagon. He says once in a blue moon that he needs the toilet. We've had books, videos, various toilet seats and pottys, urinals, sticker charts, stickers you wee on. We have the absorbable underpants. I put timers on every 30 minutes for toilet time. We reward him when he does sit on the toilet and does a wee or a poo. He will pretend that his toy needs a wee or poo and sit them on the potty so he knows what it is for and how to use it etc.

The rest of the time he is weeing in his underpants or on the floor. I have ongoing health issues myself and I don't have the energy to clean up after him every five minutes. Hv says he is fine and his history with health and nursery uas probably caused some sort of confidence issue and he needs more time. She advised us to completely stop and let him guide us which we did but he. Isn't guiding at all. He isn't interested in toilet training. I've read article after article and I'm genuinely devestated that we haven't cracked it yet. I just don't know what to do.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Cat1504 · 15/12/2025 15:44

Look at the ERIC website…some good advice there

MrsG33 · 15/12/2025 15:51

We used that method over summer and it worked to an extent. The extent being that nursery wasn't willing to work with us during our potty training journey. Now we have to start from scratch again and he just isn't interested

OP posts:
Btowngirl · 15/12/2025 16:53

Just here for some solidarity OP. DD turned 4 in October and we are finally mostly dry after completely ditching daytime nappies at Easter. And by no means is she completely reliable, it’s a slog and no one really seems that bothered (HV/GP & the like) despite the fact there is a lot of bad press around not being potty trained.

Sophinabobina · 14/01/2026 15:52

Have things improved OP?
In the same situation, 2 yrs of v poor health. Had 3 weeks of being brilliant no accidents and now does all his wees in his pants.

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