Teach them to actually wee?

[christmasmum]

Hi

Not sure if anyone else has this problem but my DD who is 33 months old is proving impossible to potty train! She's quite interested the few times we've tried (and then given up...) but has never managed to actually do anything on the potty. It's as though she literally has no idea HOW to wee, it seems to take her by complete surprise every time she has an accident. Whenever we sit her on the potty she's quite happy to be there, reading books or watching some TV for ages (sometimes over an hour) but NOTHING happens - she then stands up and 5 minutes later wees all over the floor.

Is she just not ready? Am I doing something wrong?!

[starkadder]

I have nothing helpful to add but am watching with interest...we started potty training 2 days ago and the same thing - nothing on the potty yet at all!! OUr DS is 29 mths.

[christmasmum]

Looks like it's just the two of us! Are you persevering still or going to try again later? I have kind of decided to leave it till after Christmas when she'll be 3 and we'll have a week at home with me and my DH to cheer each other up and share carpet cleaning duties!

[madeleinetheragdoll]

We tried to get DS1 out of nappies before he was 3 with little success. I tried again in August and he cracked it in a week. I would wait until they are ready and I think it will be quicker that way. Interestingly he is also dry at night (40 months) but my DD1 wasn't dry until she was 6.5 years!

[jamaisjedors]

Give her lots of juice, 1/2an hour later sit her on the potty while reading a book (you may have to sit for 30 minutes).

Run a tap or turn the shower on.

Also, just before a bath, again, with running water, is a good idea.

[christmasmum]

I tried the lots of juice idea a month ago, and she managed to drink about 4 cups in the afternoon but didn't wee from 11am until 7pm when I put her night time nappy on. She got quite distressed and clearly needed to go (lots of holding onto herself) but despite sitting on potties for aaaaages she just can't seem to find the on/off switch, so to speak. I decided to give up for a while after that as I thought it's not healthy to be in distress and not able to go.

Tried again a week ago and she still just can't seem to figure out how to actually wee when she wants to! I don't think she's doing it for the sake of being stubborn I think she just literally doesn't know how to wee. Has anyone else ever had this?

[jamaisjedors]

But have you tried the running water bit?

Crucial imo. I know I can't turn the shower on without going for a wee first

On the other hand, if she is deliberately holding out for her night nappy, you might want to give the potty training a break for a while until she gets past this.