to ask when it's time to potty train?

[cjt110]

How do you know when it's time? My son is almost 2,. Still in nappies. Changes are becoming horrendous with crying, kicking, fidgetting etc. I am covered in bruises and sometimes it takes both me and my DH to get his nappy on.

We were talking last night about potty training and we don't think DS is ready yet. Whilst yesterday he was tugging at his shorts when he had opened his bowels, he often will happily wader around in a dirty or wet nappy without indication he is aware. He has a potty but doesnt do anything other than stand on/in it or throw it around.

He's also relatively non verbal. I am going to try him with pull ups to see if this helps.

But just how do you know when it's time to start potty training? I am tempted to wait til he tells me himself he doesnt want to wear a nappy.

[Leggytadpole]

I'd wait until he can at least tell you when he needs a wee/poo. Mine was almost 3, it only took about 3 days because he was ready and old enough to feel excited to be a 'big boy' on his potty. I also got a book called 'pirate Pete's potty' which seemed to help prepare him.

Why is he so distressed at nappy changes? Is he in pain or discomfort? Does he have sensory issues? Can you distract him with a toy or something whilst you change him?

[cjt110]

Have tried distraction, have tried singing, have tried pinning him. He just gets very het up. He just wants to be a nudist! Will happily run round with nothing on. I've even let him run around for say 10 mins then said ok, we need to get a nappy on now. Have to chase him and lay him down on the floor and the whole tantrum starts again. Not sure an issue with a wee nappy but a poo one, god you'd think I was torturing him!

[Iwasjustabouttosaythat]

I think mine is almost ready, at almost 3. I think they need to show an interest in using the loo, be able to pull their pants down, and as PP said it's most important they can tell you when they need to go. Re the difficult changes though, smartphones are the best thing in the world for this. Just put on a 2 minute song or video of animals or something he likes. This has absolutely been the best parenting decision I ever made.

[cjt110]

Iwasjustabouttosaythat We are trying to keep him away from pour phones as he's become obsessed and will have a meltdown if he sees but we don't let him have it. We have bought him a leapfrog tablet for his birthday so that might help. Am going to go and get some pull ups. Ok, it wont help with the dirty nappies but at least with wet ones, he can easily be changed.

[minipie]

Definitely not before 2. I'd say closer to 3 works better for most children. Especially if he's not very verbal.

Of course a load of MNers will now come on and say their DC potty trained by 18 months but that is pretty unusual in RL.

I started at 2.5 and wish I'd waited till 2.8.

[ElspethFlashman]

Its definately time for pull ups. Dirty nappies are fine, you just have to be careful to remove it a bit gingerly. And you 100% need to have the plastic bag open before you start.

[puglife15]

Mine trained himself at 3.5. just wasn't ready or willing before then.

As for the bruises, can you really not hold a 2 year olds legs down?

[Pauperback]

He doesn't sound at all ready yet. We left it till DS was just under two and half, and was able to understand the situation, then just put him in underpants. I think he had two poo accidents and a wee one but within two or three days was fully daytime toilet trained, and although we left him in nappies at night for another ten days or so, after the first night, he never wet them, so we just stopped putting them on. It was completely trouble-free for us and stress-free for him, I think because we left it quite late, and he was ready.

Just how non-verbal is he?

[MrsBobDylan]

All my three sons went through horrendous stages of not wanting their nappy changed exactly as you describe.

I find putting nappies on while they stand up works the best, and as one of my children is still in nappies at 6 due to a disability, I'm bloody good at it.

Re when to do it-I did it at 2.8 and 2.5. My 2.8yr old didn't request no nappy or show an interest in the potty but it was the summer and I just felt it was the right time to try. He got it within a week, lots of accidents in pants then it clicked.

My 2.5 yr old saw a potty in tescos, decided he wanted it and would begin potty training that day. He got the hang of it in a couple of weeks.

Just do it when is a good time for you.

[cjt110]

puglife When trying to hold his legs together triangle style to clean him with one hand and hold him with another and he kicks and thrashes - it's not easy. And trying to pin him down he rolls away. Or you pin him and he has a meltdown.

Pauper Almost non verbal. A few words. (ta, w'see (where is he) w'sat (whats that), oh no, no, Daddy, Moma" Certainly no sentences. Fully comprehends what we say through

[Haggisfish]

Ds 3.5 yrs and just thinking about it. Dd trained herself at 2.5-am in no rush to push ds.

[MrsBobDylan]

Cross post, just seen you'd like stand up nappy change tips.

I sit on a child's chair when I do them, use the nappy to pull away the bulk of it, get a bag and wipes out beforehand. Also, if you can get your DS to bend forward that helps loads.I let mine look at the iPad during a change too.

[puglife15]

www.janetlansbury.com/2011/08/dealing-with-diaper-changing-disasters/

Some tips here which might help.

[cjt110]

Called Asda and they are letting me exchange my unused still packaged nappies from their 3 for £10 for the peppa pig pull ups! YAY!

Thanks for the link puglife I change him from his feet end - couldnt ever fathom changing him from the side. Thats how/why I get booted so often. He knows he's kicking aswell and often slaps his legs down in anger like a whale slapping it's tail down.