taken by surprise - just a novely or ready?

[gingerwench]

Over the last few weeks my 23 month old has been even more interested in our bathroom activities (particularly my DH's wee - cue much pointing and giggling). DS started getting into the bath or shower by himself and then weeing- I thought it was co-incidence at first but then thought it was intentional. He's also managed to remove his (cloth) nappies and strip his clothes off more and more. He's gestured that he wants to sit on the toilet (with my help) for a couple of minutes and we've made wee and poo noises and giggled. Also he tries to wipe himself after nappy changes.

So yesterday I thought I'd buy a potty and trainer seat just to make him familiar with the potty and encourage occasional sitting down with a plan to reward happy accidents with lots of praise. I thought we might try proper training in a few months. The thing is, from the time I showed him the potty, he refused to wear a nappy and ran around naked most of the afternoon until I managed to get a t-shirt and finally some pull-on trousers on him.

He started just playing with the potty and using it like a ride-on. THen he looked like he need a poo so I encouraged him to sit on the potty. He looked quite scared but stood over the potty and let me catch the monster turd. Then he was SO pleased with himself, helped me flush it and clear up.

He did about 3 wees on the floor which he showed me then shook his finger and said no no, he then poured his milk into the potty and brought it to me to show and try to empty in the toilet. I just said, wee or poo in your potty or a nappy but not the floor. I moved the potty to whichever room we were in and told him where it was but I didn't ask him to sit on it or ask him if he needed to go. The rest of the afternoon he put frequent teaspoonful amounts in the potty, insisted on taking it to the toilet and flushing with me each time. He wanted to drink lots more than normal too. Is this just a novelty?

He spends 4 days a week at nursery. DH is going to ask them at drop-off today what they normally do. My concern is that DS is not terribly articulate and barely speaks at all at nursery. I understand his little cues and language when he wants something but not sure how he will fare in the noise and bustle of hte other children. Also I had the potty in his sight whichever room we were in. If I could I'd take a few days off work and capitalise on the moment. I don't want to put him off. He's clearly not happy about wearing nappies and keeps signing and saying baby (which I think means he knows he is growing up). He's just moved from baby to tweenie room at nursery in the last month.

Help!
So what do I do?
Sorry for mammoth post. I am irrationally proud of my little one - he's taken me by surprise - but I'm nervous about what we've started and I'd thought he wouldn't be ready for a few more months at least. off

[girlywhirly]

Switch to pull-up type nappies, as he is such a little tot, present them as special pants. Perhaps start regular potty times after meals, drink/snack times, on getting up and going to bed etc. Let him use the potty as he wishes. It would be a real shame not to let him try. If he loses interest, you haven't lost anything; all the signs are good.

Nursery may decide to have a potty in the room, with him in pull-ups, and see if he can pull them down and sit on the potty. If he does something, they may discuss with you how to proceed. I don't think lack of language should be an issue, if someone sees him go to the potty and attempt to pull his pants down, surely they will rush to help him?

[gingerwench]

good idea I think I will get some. Another unprompted poo and several wees on the potty this morning (although he wants to poo standing over the potty not sitting down for some reason).

Nursery say they will ask him if he wants to use the potty or toilet at each nappy change.