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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.

Nearly there with potty training, but toddler will not get there in time

3 replies

BastetBaby · 18/07/2026 16:37

I feel like my 2.5 year old is nearly getting it... But not quite!

She can't seem to master the critical "Oh I need to wee/poo! Better get to the potty/toilet before it starts!"

When we try just taking the nappy off (aka oh crap method), she wees on the carpet a bit, then holds it in if we ask her to, then lets the rest out on the potty (not sure how healthy this is for her...but her pelvic floor control is pretty impressive.) She never manages to get to the potty before starting to wee. Ditto with poos. E.g. just a moment ago she was naked and started to poo where she was standing - luckily the potty was literally 1 cm away from her so managed to whip it underneath her and catch her falling stool as it plopped towards the ground like some sort of feaces ninja!

BUT if we put her on the potty at regular intervals and say "time for a tactical wee" then she does all her wees (and poos for that matter) in the potty no problem.

She seems to need us to monitor her bladder for her.

She also HATES to interrupt playing to use the potty which might be part of the problem.

How should we move forward?

Keep going with naked-time + reminders?
Keep going with regular enforced potty breaks?
Give up and try again in a few months?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Rhymetyme · 18/07/2026 16:47

Keep going! This is how they learn!

Danikm151 · 18/07/2026 17:03

Reminders, set times to go all the way.
little ones have fomo so will not want to stop playing. If you say time for a wee they will go. If you ask- do you need a wee? They will say no

Notsurenotsurenotsure · 18/07/2026 17:35

Definitely keep going!! It's a new skill and takes practice. If you're learning a language you know you need a certain word but it doesn't come to you instantly straight away. Have a potty in each room if you need to, and do a combination of wees before transitions (e.g. leaving the house) and reminding her that "her potty is by the sofa when she needs a wee". Not if, but when.

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