Potty-training questions

[flyingcloud]

Hi,
DD is 21 months and I had no intention of starting potty training until next summer when the weather was better and as I am coming to the end of my mat leave (dc2 due in Feb).

However her cm puts her on the potty before and after each meal and DD now (only in the last 3 weeks) understands the potty. I put her on the potty before her bath, when she asks and when I pee too. She always does a pee (and once a poo).

I don't think she's capable of holding it in, and she certainly doesn't always ask to go (but will go if put on the potty iyswim).

Can I carry on like this? I don't want her to start 'holding' or to get complacant because she's wearing a nappy (so that when we start properly she won't be bothered), but equally I feel she's too young to get it totally and the arrival of DC2 in approx 14 weeks time might be a stressful event for her that could cause regression.

Thanks.

[NellyTheElephant]

I would suggest that you continue in this way for a while. Regular potty trips (maybe change to using pull ups which makes potty trips much easier). You could also try having her nappy free most of the time you are at home or you might also want to buy some training pants (bright bots or similar) which she can wear when she is at home and pull ups when out. There is no particular reason why she shouldn't be able to be potty trained at this age, lots of children are perfectly capable (my DD2 trained easily at 22 months), however I would be a little bit wary about the not so far off arrival of DC2. For that reason I would suggest taking it slowly without too much pressure and maybe making the full push towards being totally nappy free once the new baby is a couple of months old. My oh so easily trained DD2 had a massive relapse after I had her baby brother a few months later (not a big deal in the long run so don't let the fear of relapses put you off going for full on training if she seems to be ready - my DD2 was nappy free for about 6 months then relapsed for a couple of weeks then back on track).

[flyingcloud]

Thanks Nelly - carry on I shall then. I may even start taking the nappy off although this could be quite messy! I have started putting her in pull-ups too which makes things a whole lot easier.

I did have a row with my mother the other day who after DD said 'pee-pee' insisted on undressing her in the living room whereupon DD screamed and wailed and jumped off the potty. I don't like the idea of it being too stressful...