Potty training HELP!

I need some Help!  I have been potty training my dd who will be 2 in September for a week now and things seem to be getting worse not better.  Does anyone have any pearls of wisdom for me please?

The story so far....according to all the stuff I have read she seems to be 'ready' she tells me when she wees/poos in her nappy, hates being changed and wants to wear pants instead (she was taking mine out my drawer and putting them on, lol!) etc etc.  On the advice of other mums and childminder (and gina ford, lol!) I went straight into pants as I am sure that swiching between pull ups/ pants etc is confusing.  I knew that I did not have to go out for a few days and have got the summer hols before any toddler groups etc start again so off we went last sunday.

Sunday was ok, lots of accidents but by the end of the day she was weeing on the way to the potty and finishing her wee on it.  She will not just 'sit' on it like a lot of people have reccomended, bribery, toys, books, tv make no difference, if she is not weeing she wants nothing to do with it! 

Monday was a complete disaster, no wees in the potty at all and over 10 pairs of pants on the line in the evening! 

 Tueday I leave her naked from the waist down and result, wees and poos in the potty all day, 2 accidents and I can tell she needs so go as she holds herself and squeezes her knees together!

Weds am, doing ok, weds pm, disaster, will sit on it then get up and wee on the floor after.

Thurs mu mum had her while I was at work and she did not wee in the potty all day and my poor mum spent all day clearing up puddles.

Fri, succesfull wee and poo first thing then went to a friends whose little one is potty trained.  She had a few accidents but was on her way to the potty each time, just left it too late cos she was playing.  Back home she just wees on the floor, has stopped telling me she is weeing if I am not watching her continually and she has stopped 'holding ' herself so that clue has gone.

Today puddles on the floor all day (with hubby as I am working today and tomorrow) just a sucessful poo in the potty.  she seems to recognise the need to poo but if i ask her if she needs a wee she always says no, even if she wees a seconf later.  If I keep reminding her she gets really stroppy.

I don't want to stop now I've started but am begining to despair.  Any help or advice is very welcome, and I'm sorry about the essay!!!

Hi Gem,

I feel your pain!!  I have just been through the same thing with my son who is slightly older.  It took a good week and a half to stop the weeing on the floor, very frustrating and messy.  It was a really hot day and we were playing in the garden, no pants on (him not me!!) and he just kept going to the potty himself.  He wasn't able to pull his pants down at first and i found that if i wasn't there he would just wet himself.   Ialso found that by asking him/encouraging him had the opposite effect and he would just get mad.

Potty training for them is all about growing up, independence and being a 'big girl/boy' - let them guide you as to when they need to go, she may have a few accidents but she'll learn eventually.

Try pants free for a few days. Although Gina Ford doesn't recommend it - it gives them the control and responsibility of going to the toilet and saves on the washing!

I had a magic stars chart and every time he did a pee or poo in the potty he got a magic star (chocolate) - i cut this down to 1 every time he had 3 wees or poos.  He then started to go every 2 mins knowing he would get some choccie!!

I also found that by getting him to help me clean the wee/poo off the floor stopped him.  I also bought him pants with thomas tank engine on them - telling him that thomas doesn't want to be wet so tell mummy when you need a wee wee.

It's been 3 weeks and he is now dry during the day, tells me when he needs to go and pulls his own pants down. 

Just when i was about to throw in the towel - he got it!!  Not much advice but just keep going and she will eventually get it.

Good luck!

Hi Gem,

Our potty training is halted atm whilst i get to grips with 2 under 2 but just wanted to say there is a big thread on the Made For Mum's site, with loads of helpful ladues. Might be worth a try if your still having problems

Sorry i'm not much help

Thanks guys,

I looked at the made for mums stuff before but thanks paula.

I think the penny may be dropping now, just need to persevere!  She prefers the toilet to the potty and took her self off there on her own today to have a wee, I was so proud!  It is still about 50/50 with accident/sucess but a def improvement. 

Thanks Gem K too, it is good to know I am not the only one!