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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.

Potty Training 2.5 year old

12 replies

Bumblebeex · 12/08/2026 16:28

Hi Mumsnetters,

My DD is 2.5 years old and is doing well with potty training but we're a bit stuck when we introduce loose trousers.

She will go to the potty independently for wees and poos when bare bottomed but as soon as we put loose bottoms on she wees in them. Can anyone help with how to transition her from bare bottom to trousers? Just a bit stuck with how to get her to understand this new step 😊 thank you x

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WibbleWob · 12/08/2026 17:01

Maybe try pants, not such a big change?

Bumblebeex · 12/08/2026 18:34

I tried putting underwear on her today and she just weed through them all x

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Oliwiaa · 12/08/2026 18:40

She just needs practice. Whenever she starts weeing get her on the potty anyway and remind her we don't wee in clothes, only on the potty.

Bumblebeex · 12/08/2026 19:59

Thank you, you're probably right that she just needs more practice. Hopefully it will "click" for her soon! Will keep trying anyway 😊

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ParentJourneyPK · 19/08/2026 08:41

We had a similar transition where underwear seemed to confuse things at first. You could try introducing trousers gradually and reminding her that the potty is still where wees/poos go. Potty training underwear can also be a useful middle step, as they provide a little protection while helping the child get used to wearing underwear. SuperBottoms has padded underwear designed for potty training that you could look at.

Mulledjuice · 19/08/2026 08:46

We did shorts (rather than trousers) and no pants for several weeks after bare-bottomed stage. Then added pants.

Might shorts help? More air flow to remind her?!

Bumblebeex · 19/08/2026 16:16

Mulledjuice · 19/08/2026 08:46

We did shorts (rather than trousers) and no pants for several weeks after bare-bottomed stage. Then added pants.

Might shorts help? More air flow to remind her?!

We've done both shorts and trousers but she's still having frequent accidents.

Although she seems to be having less accidents when she does it at my mum's house. I don't know if it's cause she's more relaxed at home so she just let's it out.

I'm just getting super frustrated with it now 😞

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PeanutCat1 · 19/08/2026 18:10

It took about 2 months for DS to get used to wearing shorts/ pants and stop having accidents in them. As it was summer we just had loads of time where he didn’t have anything on his bottom half and then I just kept trying the shorts every so often and eventually he got the idea but it did take a good 8 weeks or so

Mulledjuice · 19/08/2026 19:25

That does sound annoying!

Have you been doing the OH Crap! Method? I think they suggest going back a stage? Even an hour or so morning and evening?

Bumblebeex · 19/08/2026 21:16

Thanks for your replies. I did read the oh crap book before I started.

We did go back a stage to bare bum and she self initiates wees 100% of the time but she just seems to get stuck when she has anything on her bottom.

She does somtimes tell us she needs a wee when she's wearing bottoms or I catch her signals and get her to the potty or even when she has a nappy on in bed (because she wants to get out of bed lol) so I'm sure she knows what to do 🤦‍♀️ just feel at a loss but to carry on and just keep reminding her that wees go in the potty and not on the floor 😫

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Oliwiaa · 19/08/2026 22:10

Is she alright in skirts/dresses? Maybe you could move on to pegging the bottom together and then very loose harem pants?

Bumblebeex · 20/08/2026 10:34

Oliwiaa · 19/08/2026 22:10

Is she alright in skirts/dresses? Maybe you could move on to pegging the bottom together and then very loose harem pants?

Yes she's fine it's skirts & dresses so that could be an idea. Thank you 😊

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