To anyone struggling with potty training ...

[Conundrumish]

Six months ago I was struggling with potty training. I hate potty training with a vengance and my son was having accidents (both sorts) everywhere.

For once I managed to trust my instinct and ignored the fact that his friends have been trained for nearly a year and that he is a couple of months over three and finally started again this half term.

In the course of just 4 days he is taking him self off to the loo (not potty), having a wee, getting new pants if he needs them etc etc.

In hindsight I put myself through hell with my first child by training too early - so for anyone out there wondering whether to plough on - don't bother! Chill, put a nappy on and try again in a few months!

what a coooooooooooooool post

I totally agree;

Ds1 - tried at just over 2, disaster. Major stress for all concerned. Tried again at about 2.9, some success, but still loads of accidents till he was about 4.

Dd - left it till 2.10 - she took 1 morning to learn wees (one accident in pants, the rest in potty). Took 2 or 3 months to crack poos though.

Ds2 - did it this half term - he is 3.5. I explained to him what to do on Sunday. One wee in pants, then rest in potty, also one poo. He's had 1 accident each day, but is basically there. Most impressively he is taking responsibility for it himself - he does the whole trousers/pants/potty thing himself, and just tells me when it's done.

Great thread - was just getting anxious about dd1 who is only 2.4mo - I will now relax - thank you!

Well done Lily . Had you tried before too, or is this first attempt?

we hadn't tried before with ds2, so it was a pleasant surprise that it was so easy!

I am so grateful for these messages. I have been losing sleep over potty training! My daughter is 2 and a half, and I followed the Gina Ford method a month ago and was unsuccessful. I have since become so stressed out with it that I've managed to stress my daughter out and she refuses point blank to sit on the potty or toilet, and gets really upset if I push the issue.
So, I need to listen to you all and get a grip myself and chill! I cant believe how stressed I have become over it all.
Thank you!

Aaaargh we just started today, it was one of the most stressful, miserable days I've had as a parent.

DD has been asking to use the toilet from time to time, so I really do think she was ready.

I started putting her on the potty before her bath just to practise and she did a wee every night for 5 nights.

Today she sat on the potty for most of the day, refused to get off it a lot of the time, but STILL managed to do both her poos and all but one of her wees on the floor.

Towards the end of the day I realised that she thought the idea was to get through as many pairs of pants as possible, so she could put them into the bucket (she loves buckets).

Maybe I should just put her in a nappy tomorrow and mention no more about knickies until she's a bit older.

Thanks for your post. It's difficult to not to feel pressurised, but they will all get the hang of it in their own time!

Just mentioned something similar on another thread- sometimes they are just not ready and its better for everyone involved if its delayed for a few weeks. It worked for DD1 who was nearly 3

Yay! Another convert to the Seeker Potty Training in 10 Minutes Method!

1. Wait until child says "Mummy, I don't want to wear nappies any more"

1. Say "OK, darling, here are some pants and there is the loo. I'll just sit here on the edge of the bath and chat for the first few times in case you need some help"

I'm a definite convert too. DS is 3.3 and has been clean and dry day and night (apart from one accident that was OH's fault) for the past three weeks, purely because he was ready and wanted to do it (and a little bit because I ran out of buttons and had to start rewarding him with Aero Bubbles ). We'd had one horrible stressful attempt a few months back, but if there's ever a DS2 I wouldn't even think about doing it any other way.

Forgot I had posted this - just bumping in case there is anyone else going through it ...

My son (2) has been wanting to go to the toilet (not potty) for weeks now - so I thought we would give it a go. Did the whole stage 1 thing successfully and then nappies off and pants on :
Day one : 3 successes - 10 accidents
Day two : 8 accidents (note he is holding it longer inbetween pees) 2 successes
Day 3 : 6 !!! sucessess and only 2 accidents - gosh was I proud !!
But that was yesterday.. today (day 4) we have had 5 accidents again and only one wee in the toilet and its only lunchtime.

WHAT SHOULD I DO ???

Do I give it another day to see if we get back on track or do the nappies come back on.

I really dont mind either way - but dont want to confuse my little man

Advice pleeeeeease !