Early(ish) potty training - advice please!

[malloo]

Started potty traing DD (18 months) because she was telling me when she was doing a wee or poo and very enthusiastic about the potty! So for last few weeks, have been going nappyless in the house. She now tells me when she needs a poo and we've had 100% success with getting to the potty. Wees are a bit more tricky though - very occasionally she wil tell me in advance that she needs but mostly just tells me when it's actually happening so we don't have time to get to the potty. She does wee in the potty but only when I put her there because I know it's coming. I'm now wondering if she just needs to get a bit older so that theres a delay between when she recognises the need and when she goes. But it seems wrong to put her back in nappies because it would really mean ignoring her when she's telling me she's weeing (or changing nappy each time which would be a lot of nappies!!). What do others think, should I just keep putting her on the potty when I think she'll need and hope that eventually she'll get it?

[girlywhirly]

I think she's doing rather well! What does she wear when you go out?

I think you could put her on the potty at regular intervals as she seems so willing, which might reduce the number of accidents. I think she will get better in time at anticipating the need to wee before she does it. Have the potty within reach at all times. However, be aware that the novelty might wear off and you might not be able to get her to sit as she becomes engrossed in play etc.

[Sparklemez]

I'd keep going as well, just managed to do DD at 20 months but a couple of months ago I don't think she was quite there.

As long as it doesn't become a battle hopefully she will get it soon. If she understands to try when sitting on the potty then I agree try and plonk her there matter of factly at regular intervals. Oh and I'm sure you are heaping on the praise, stickers, whatever for any successes... Good luck, it's nice not needing nappies!

[cleanandclothed]

Yes - I would carry on. I used the pooty with DS at nappy changes from 5 months, and until 18 months he generally 'performed', then went on 'strike' for about 2 months, and then suddenly over the summer when he had no clothes on started going over to the potty himself and using it. So now we are potty training, and at home have v v few accidents, also v few when out and about with me, a few more at nursery but they are still v happy with him.

It does have its downsides - I can't leave him alone much because he cant manage to pull his clothes down, and he finds it difficult to poo on a adult toilet, which has led to a couple of accidents, but I am v laid back about it and like you I think it is silly when he is clearly so aware that he should still have a nappy on.

[malloo]

thanks for the advice, I will carry on. I think I've just been doubting my judgement because of the quite negative response I've had from people suggesting she's too young in a "who do you think you are, everyone else waits till they're two" kind of way!! I'm realising that at this point, it's as much about me anticipating when she needs to go and helping her, the rest will come. She is happy to sit for as long as I am prepared to read books to her!! I'm using trainer pants for short trips out and about and nappies for longer ones or where it would be awkward to do a change of clothes. Trainer pants in the house too which makes me much more relaxed as no wee on the floor!! Agree completely that when they have an awareness of what they're doing, it just feels wrong to ignore them and keep them in nappies. I think if we both stay relaxed about it it will come together soon!

[Sidge]

A child isn't properly ready for toilet training until they can tell you that they need a wee, rather than that they are doing or have done one. But telling you that they are weeing or have just weed is the first part of the process.

What you're doing is more toilet timing than toilet training, but if it works for you and your DD is happy then why not carry on.

[naturalbaby]

we have laminate floors so every now and then i'd leave ds1 with just a t-shirt on for a few hours at home. i tried on and off for a few weeks and it took a while for him to be able to hold it in instead of doing lots of little wees everywhere. we had a story book as well which helped him realise what i was trying to tell him to do. eventually he realised he could hold it in and wee in the potty - cause he had no pants on and the potty is always very close he can go by himself. now he's got the hang of it i can put him in pants but he still can't do trousers on his own. he's so proud of himself everytime he uses the potty, was worth the few weeks of constant moping up!
he's in cloth nappies so i have lots of cotton squares for mopping up which is handy. he's still in nappies when we go out and sometimes at home depending on what's going on.
he's also been in nappies pretty much full time on holiday and a weekend away and happily gone straight back to pants and potty at home.