2.5 year old potty refusal and wee holding up to 9 hours

[going_potty]

new to this. hoping post makes it to ERIC site. have emailled for help but 4 week expected wait for response!

myself and husband have been potty training in the hot weather 6 days now. Initially son did really well. naked waist down day. sat on potty, played, books, fun. did wee on potty then sat with prompting and had 2 more wees on potty telling me he needed to go. no accidents.

next day sat if prompted. all successful wees prompted by him on potty and poo too. stickers onto potty with success, he helps empty and praise if sits but nothing.

day 3 shorts on no pants and accidents. said 'wee coming' and tried to get to potty but too late. in paddling pool so naked again and had wees on potty prompted by him.

naked day again day 4with some partial accidents but finishing on potty. lots of praise for knowing, stopping, holding and completion and helped to clean up. started to refuse to sit when prompted as long periods 4hrs + between wees with loads of fluid in.

day 5 naked again. refusals to sit on potty. same for mum and dad. held wee for 6 hrs and 4 hours. went when aware wee coming with small amount first then sat. wanting to get off 'try again later' as soon as bum touches seat of potty. had poo on potty with prompting after self prompt 'poo coming' but no success.

day 6 shorts on. refused to sit if prompted. but silly hats on potty. agreed potty isnt scary but silly and funny. still refused to sit on it. refused alternative potty. refused to try toilet. held urine 9 hours including during 3 hour nap. large accident when went and unable to stop when started. aware of going. helped clean up. didn't want shorts on.

I realise its still early days and he has done well to know when wee is coming and 2 poos on potty is great. after day 2 he's been dry during naps. putting nappy on for naps and night. had a poo 1 night in nappy. he isn't constipated. he is in a tantrum and defiant stage and I feel the refusal is behavioural and a power struggle. Have tried reducing prompts/asking and backing off if declines but beyond 4 hours I feel he should be peeing or will be in discomfort (has been saying tummy hurts and we have a cuddle and talk about how that might be a tummy full of wee waiting to come out and we can cuddle on the potty etc but still refusal then pain subsides and happily playing). 9 hours was worrying. had plenty of fluids so not dehydrated and not constipated. I don't mind accidents. we've pretty much been in garden anyway in hot weather til today when inside with fans on I can stop prompting but worry about holding for this long. I am a gp so don't feel need to see one but get advice from experienced parents who have been through this/similar please.

FYI he goes to nursery 1 day per week and will be there tomorrow.

Thanks in advance.

[Dimples2]

I would put it aaway for a while till he is more engaging. Hes still little so plenty of time, if you push when not ready it had the possiblity of taking longer and being a harder process.

[Mummyof379]

No advice but wanted to say my daughter has been exactly the same. It's so frustrating! I spoke to hv and she said go back to basics and if she's refusing to wee after plenty of fluids put a nappy back on her and let her go in that, they gradually get her to wee in a nappy in the bathroom, then while sitting on the potty but with a nappy on, then taking the nappy off but sitting it in the potty! Going to be a lengthy process but i will try anything.