Potty training help please!

Does anyone else’s little one have a major aversion to sitting on a potty or toilet? My son will be 3 in December so obviously very keen to get him trained by then but at the moment he won’t even sit on a potty or a toilet, flats out refuses and has a major meltdown at the idea. I’ve done all the usual, got a few books about it he loves to read, got a sticker reward chart, bought him some training pants, he even sits his teddies on the toilet, wipes them, puts his pants on them and has fun doing that but moment I mention him to try he screams. I think physically he’s ready as when we go out we come back home and his nappy is completely dry, he then goes off into a corner and wees usually within about 5mins of getting home and then tells me he needs a nappy change. He’s also had a few nights of waking up with a dry nappy (although that’s not happened very recently). What’s strange is he used to go on the potty from like the age of about 14/15 months I got him on the potty and he would do wees and poos when I knew he needed to go but it was very casual and we went on holiday and it all went out the window and I guess I just felt quite confident that when I potty train him properly he will be fine. So now I feel guilty I might have “missed” his potty training window or I should of just carried it on as he would have been trained ages ago had I stuck to it! Anyone experienced the same? Any help or advice welcome please as I’m lost about what to do now other than wait a couple of weeks and try again (just feels like I’ve been doing that pattern since the start of this year)!

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If I ask my son to sit on it or put him on it he doesn't like it at all but if I leave it in the corner of the room and don't make a big deal, he'll just go ahead and use it. I tried training him a few months ago but because he didn't like me prompting him or reminding him, it just didn't work and as soon as he was distracted he'd wet himself. I didn't want to force it and make him resent it so I'm yet to try again. Recently he tells us when he's doing a wee and will ask to use it so I think I might try again soon

Ok thanks for that Kirsty, will give that approach a try. That’s great your little one is asking to use it now…all the best for when you try again

You could try just ditching the nappies. Explain to him that the nappies will be going away in [insert time frame you think will work best for your child] and then when that day comes, explain that he is now going to start using the potty/toilet like a big boy. Be prepared to spend a few days at home naked (him, not you 😂) and watch him like a hawk so that when he wees, you get him on the potty. It helps to have one to hand at all times so when he pees you’re not running around like a headless chicken. My little one was very reluctant too at the start but once we’d got the first wee on the potty and made a huge deal about it (lots of praise, dancing and singing!) and I think he realised it wasn’t so bad, we got into the swing of it. I built it into our routine as well, I would say “right we are going to have a wee, then wash our hands, then have a snack” - I think the idea that he will get a snack after doing those things first helped.

My son uses the potty and has steps for the big boy toilet but will only go to sit on it like is a nice new chair 🤣 put pants on him he has too much security and won’t go to his potty when he needs a wee and just has an accident wherever he is. We are nappy-less 90% of the time and pull ups for car journeys and shopping. We are planning on getting him in to nursery when I get back to working and want him to get used to pants by then… I have an interview next Tuesday 😬

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