Parenting✓ Follow-up at 6 weeks2,340 views
Potty training is a nightmare and I'm ready to give up
A stress-free potty training guide covering readiness signs, child-led approaches, and troubleshooting common setbacks.
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Follow-Up Result
6 weeks laterChild fully potty trained after taking a break and trying a readiness-based approach
The Problem
We've been trying to potty train our 2.5-year-old for 3 months and it's going nowhere. They sit on the potty for 20 minutes, nothing happens, then they pee on the floor 5 minutes later. We've tried sticker charts, candy rewards, special underwear, and the "3-day method." I'm cleaning up accidents constantly and my child is starting to resist the potty entirely. I'm frustrated, they're frustrated, and I'm starting to think they'll go to college in diapers.
The Plan
Week 1-2: Reset and Assess Readiness
Take a 2-week break — if potty training has become a power struggle, stepping back resets the dynamic
Check for readiness signs: staying dry for 2+ hours, showing interest in the toilet, telling you when they're wet/dirty, wanting to be independent
If they're not showing readiness signs, wait. Pushing before they're ready makes it take LONGER, not shorter
During the break, let them see you use the bathroom (normalize it), read potty books, and let them sit on the potty with no pressure
Every child potty trains on their own timeline — comparing to other kids creates unnecessary stress
Week 3-4: Try Again Gently
Let them lead: "Do you want to try sitting on the potty?" not "You NEED to use the potty"
Celebrate successes enthusiastically but don't punish accidents — "Oops! Pee goes in the potty. Let's try next time"
Use a small potty on the floor (less intimidating than the big toilet) or a seat reducer with a step stool
Set gentle reminders every 1-2 hours: "Let's try the potty before we go outside"
Expect setbacks — regression is normal, especially during changes (new sibling, starting school, illness)
Resources
"Oh Crap! Potty Training" by Jamie Glowacki — the most popular potty training guide
Your pediatrician — rule out medical issues if training is significantly delayed
r/toddlers — community support for potty training struggles
"Potty" by Leslie Patricelli — simple board book for toddlers
Follow-Up Result
6 weeks in: we took a 2-week break and it was the best decision. When we restarted, our son was more interested and less resistant. We used a small floor potty and let him choose when to sit on it. No pressure, no sticker charts, just casual encouragement. He had his first successful pee in the potty on day 3 of the restart and was SO proud. Accidents decreased from 5/day to 1/day within 2 weeks. He's now fully daytime trained (nighttime is still in progress, which is normal). The key was backing off the pressure and waiting until he was truly ready. The 3-day method doesn't work for every kid — ours needed a gentler, child-led approach.Know someone with this problem?
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