Should I back off potty training?

[Anonymous]

DS is just shy of 2.5. We started training four weeks ago using Oh Crap. He will pee on the potty if we bring him every hour but won't self initiate and still has accidents almost daily. Will poop in the potty 50% of the time if we watch him like a hawk but also having lots of poop accidents.

I would push through if it wasn't for the fact that we have a two week old. Baby was born 4 weeks early, so the two months we thought we'd have to train turned into two weeks.

I know lots of people say it's bad to start and then stop but this has become really stressful, I'm trying to take care of a preemie and potty train a sweet but very "2" year old toddler.

Should I put him in pull-ups and keep taking him to the potty and hope he starts to get it? Back off till 3? Just keep going? He starts preschool in November but I think I can send him in pull-ups.

[Anonymous]

I'd do a reset. Sounds like the stress of the new baby (for all of you!) is making it hard on him and more stress than you need right now. Do what's easiest for your family and revisit the potty training when you're out of newborn mode.

- A huge proponent of early potty training who usually tells you to keep going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd do a reset. Sounds like the stress of the new baby (for all of you!) is making it hard on him and more stress than you need right now. Do what's easiest for your family and revisit the potty training when you're out of newborn mode.

- A huge proponent of early potty training who usually tells you to keep going.

+1 I’d go back in diapers or pull-ups (whichever is least stressful for all of you) and revisit potty training when you’re feeling like you’ve got a routine with the new baby. Congrats on your little one, by the way. Hope you’re all doing well.

[Anonymous]

We did PT back in May, she kept having accidents so we would put her in pull ups. We kept at it on weekends, either naked or in underwear. One weekend it clicked. It took a few months. It's OK to wait a few weeks or months. Congrats on the baby.

[Anonymous]

We had the same with DD1. We did it for two weeks and it was a mess and not consistent and I it was all us initiated. We took a pause and came back three months later, and she day and night trained in a weekend.

[Anonymous]

Normally I’d say to keep pressing on, but I think you should pause. It’s too hard on him with a baby and he’s probably under stress.

[Anonymous]

I wanted to potty train my first (girl) before my second was born, at 2 y 2 mo. She was making progress but had a psychological block.

We ended up doing it after the baby was born, when I had a lot of help around. The understanding was there and we overcame the mental block with bribes (gummy bears). So I lost a few months but it was less stress and fighting.

I would say give it a month or two until baby settles in, and ideally with another set of hands around if you can afford it, and start fresh.

[Anonymous]

Does your kid seemed stressed about potty training? If so, then I'd back off. If not, I'd probably just keep going.

I mean, a newborn is generally easier than like, a 4 month old. I don't see this getting any easier a few months from now.

[Anonymous]

I had a lactation consultant tell me at one point to concentrate on one thing at a time. Right now, that's everyone adjusting to your two year old!

Tell your older kid that you're going back to diapers while everyone adjusts to the new baby. Tell him you'll try again with the underpants when things are calmer and everyone is ready. He can tell you if he wants to try again. It may be that he wants some attention, so give him some "special time" just for him while the baby naps (ha!) or nurses. I'm a big hater of pullups because kids just treat them like diapers. If you use them, put them on OVER the underpants to avert total disaster but still let the kid feel wetness/poop.

[Anonymous]

No, but those methods don't work for everyone. We had do do the every 45-60 minute like clock work on the toilet, and at wake up and before bed for months.

[Anonymous]

Do not go back. Push through. Get extra help if you need it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd do a reset. Sounds like the stress of the new baby (for all of you!) is making it hard on him and more stress than you need right now. Do what's easiest for your family and revisit the potty training when you're out of newborn mode.

- A huge proponent of early potty training who usually tells you to keep going.

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had a lactation consultant tell me at one point to concentrate on one thing at a time. Right now, that's everyone adjusting to your two year old!

Tell your older kid that you're going back to diapers while everyone adjusts to the new baby. Tell him you'll try again with the underpants when things are calmer and everyone is ready. He can tell you if he wants to try again. It may be that he wants some attention, so give him some "special time" just for him while the baby naps (ha!) or nurses. I'm a big hater of pullups because kids just treat them like diapers. If you use them, put them on OVER the underpants to avert total disaster but still let the kid feel wetness/poop.

\\

Adjusting to your two WEEK old! sorry!

[Anonymous]

I think that with a preemie, your focus needs to be there, and on your older kid's adjustment to having a sibling.

You can come back to this in a few months, when you're going longer between feedings, and getting more sleep. There is no prize for potty training early.

[Anonymous]

2.5 is still quite early to be PTing a boy. Girls generally potty train a bit earlier, but at 2.5, it's completely fine to pause for a bit while you all have a newborn.

Go back to diapers for a while, and don't stress. He's still so, so little. He'll get there in time!