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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.

3 year old showing no interest

5 replies

Loulou560 · 16/03/2026 20:33

Hi there
My DD, who has just turned 3 is supposed to be starting nursery attached to the school she’s going to after Easter. She currently goes to private nursery. I know the new nursery won’t take her if she’s not potty trained. My other DD (4) was between 2 and 2 1/2 when she learned. She did it quickly, and moved more or less to a toilet straight away. Our 3 yo shows no interest in trying. I’m now worried she can’t start nursery school. I thought I’d let her go at her own pace. She gets angry when I take her to the toilet/ sit her on the potty. I’ve tried having pull up free days on the weekend. I feel that she holds wee in until I have to out a pull up on (if we go out anywhere). She also seems unbothered if she wees herself at home and stands in a pool of it.
She doesn’t have any special educational needs that I know of. She is slower talking than her sister, but she clearly understands everything.
Has anyone else come across this please?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MissyB1 · 16/03/2026 20:42

Well it’s not really optional is it? She has to be toilet trained. Im not really on board with this trend of waiting for kids to decide when they would like to do it, some will happily leave it until they are at school!

If you are working book a weeks leave and go cold turkey. No nappies, big girl pants, no potty, a seat and step for the toilet, set a timer and take her every 20-30 minutes the first day, extend it slightly each day. Use bribes, and a treat when she performs!

Mumtobabyhavoc · 19/03/2026 02:30

My oldest wasn't daytime diaper free until 4. 🤷‍♀️ Every kid is different.

BreakingBroken · 19/03/2026 02:34

spring and nicer weather is here time to get on with this.

RoyalPenguin · 19/03/2026 03:16

I agree with setting aside a few days and going cold turkey. She may have lots of accidents for the first few days but she'll get the hang of it eventually. I think pull ups on and off is confusing for them.

elsaesmeralda · 19/03/2026 04:10

We had this issue with dd, just turned 3 and we’d been trying for months to get her on the potty/toilet, she was point blank refuse and run away crying 🙄😆 one day I just went cold turkey with her, said from now on in the daytime we wear big girls knickers, got her lots of bright coloured ones and made it fun, she took to it really well! Took her very 30 mins and there was a couple of accidents obviously but she soon learnt to hold it in, took herself to the potty etc. I say just go for it!!

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