How do you start?

[Stefka]

DS is 22 months and other people with LO's this age have started to potty train. I wondered if I should give it a go to see how we get on but have no clue how to get started.

DS has a potty and he sits on it and says pee/poo but has never done anything. What are the first steps to potty training?

[phdlife]

hiya stefka, can I lurk on your thread? I've seen references to a "potty training checklist" which indicates if your dc are ready, but I don't know what it is and I'm hoping some wise person will explain all. Ds is 28m and he has pooed and wee'd in the big toilet a few times now, wondering whether I should start but wouldn't know how either.

[jay11]

Hi, I think 22 months is still young (I would say 2.5 for a boy), but this is what I did:

Introduced the potty at 2, encouraging dd to sit on after lunch for at least 5 mins perhaps reading a book or watching telly. Make a game of it. If he starts making a fuss about sitting on the potty don't force him, put it away for a week or two.

Gradually build up to a few times a day - you might not get anything in the potty but if you do make a massive fuss.

WHen you think he is ready ie he might know when he needs a poo/wee or is happy to sit on the pot go for it - have a few days indoors in pants (or pantless) no nappies, sit him on the pot every 15 mins or so and take it from there.

Think there's some potty training boot camp info on here somewhere which should help.

I've done 3 lo's with this method and it's not been without its problems but we have got there in the end!

Good luck

[jay11]

here

[jay11]

phdlife, on the big toilet straight away! That's great - I'd say go for it!!

[Stefka]

Maybe I will just wait then, I am in no rush.

[phdlife]

was afraid someone'd say that, jay11 - have been leaving it as I've also got a lo and finding it all a wee bit overwhelming atm (pun intended )

[jay11]

I did dc2 when dc3 was 3 months old (dc1 was 4), so it is do-able. . .just had a few days indoors, no visitors etc. If he's ready it should be easy - dc2 took 3 weeks of hell to train lol but he hadn't even done a wee on the potty. But once trained, he hardly had any accidents. Just get your head round it, don't get stressed and it'll be fine .

Have just done dc3, she was already doing wees/poos on the potty and she only got through 1 pair of pants on the first day so in theory, if they're ready it should be a doddle. In theory. . .

[phdlife]

not sure he is ready actually - twice in the past two days I've seen that look on his face and asked, do you need to do a poo? yes. do you want to go on the toilet? NO! . And when I gave him some nappy-free time this arv he announced he was going to wee in the toilet, got himself all set up, and nothing happened.

[jay11]

I guess just carry on with what you're doing, perhaps increasing his nappy free time gradually - that way it's easier for you too. My dd often announces she needs a poo, but still finds it hard to 'let go' once on the toilet. Hoping she'll get over this soon tho as we seem to be getting lots of poos on the floor!

I'm just please that this is the last time i'll be potty training EVER!

[littleboyblue]

I started potty training today as ds1 has been telling me he needs a wee for just about a week.
I thought we'd go cold turkey on the nappies, so we went out in the week and he picked out a potty and some pants. He had been sitting on the potty a few times a day since wednesday (dressed and undressed) but today became very distressed, so now I am going to encourage him to sit on it after breakfast and before his bath in the evening. I'm also going to try to leave him naked waist down indoors or in pants but make sure we continue to talk about it all the time iyswim.