Potty training.. When is right

[RockinMumma]

I'm thinking of potty training my daughter who turns 2 in September. Does anyone have any tips that would help the process?

[psformula]

For the first 2 to 3 days be disciplined and put them on the potty every 15min whether they need it or not. We then made a great big fuss whenever they did something and gave them a small reward.

Importantly, we removed all nappies and just had those little training pads in regular underwear. If you don't commit, they wont.

It took us a day and a half and our little man was totally potty trained.

[kiki0202]

make sure she is ready and showing an interest or it could turn into a battle I went with DS pull ups from 18mo then into pants when he was telling me every time he needed to go it took 8 months but was stress free.

[perfectview]

I think the term potty 'training' is misleading. It shouldn't be about how old they are per se but by if they are ready. Trying to do it before then is just a waste of time and presumably very frustrating. DD1 announced at 2.5 she wanted to wear pants. I told her she had to tell me if she needed a wee/ poo and she promised she would, that was pretty much it. DD2 took a bit longer was 2.10 before she got it but a week later I am confident that we will have no accidents if she doesn't get too wrapped up in a game etc and just can't be bothered.

2 years old seems a little young to me based on my experiences but you know your own child best. It only really starts to become a worry if they are about to start school and are still not dry during the day.

[NellyTheElephant]

If you are planning to start in September then I would suggest you start 'pre' potty training as soon as possible - by which I mean have a potty around, sit her on it at convenient times (when she gets up, after naps, before bath) just briefly and without expecting anything, talk about what it is for, if ever there is a little tiny bit of success then applaud and make a big fuss and excitement. At every nappy change talk about what will happen soon - i.e. soon you will do all your sees and poos on the potty etc (not pressure, just matter of fact). Buy a load of those potty books for little ones about using the potty and read them to her regularly. You might find pull ups useful at this stage. Then when you go for potty training proper - i.e. nappy free she will have an idea of what is expected of her. I didn't do this with DD1 (just launched straight into full on training when she turned 2) and had to give up as she didn't get it. But with DD2 and DS I spent 6 weeks or so like this and potty training just then happened with little or no input - DD2 at about 22 months and DS just before his 2nd birthday

[tobysmum77]

there is no right age, they are all different. dd1 trained easily at 2.4, dd2 2.6 is ready in some ways but not others. I would wait till she gives real clear signs.

[QTPie]

Why are you thinking of doing it? Is she showing an interest?

I would say "don't rush" otherwise you will make a lot of work and stress got yourself. I tried at 2.5 years and DS wasn't having any of it. Tried again at 2 years 9 months and was done in a week - maybe 10 accidents in the 2 years since. I know other parents who potty train early and are washing 3/4 sets of clothes each day for months... Sometimes early training works, other times not - really depends on the child.

[Deelish75]

When DS was that age, he got into the routine of me taking his nappy off ready for bath, and he would wee on the floor. We bought a potty, and got him used to having a wee before his bath. Does you DD have a little routine like my DS had?
We just took it really slowly from there and I don't remember having a tear my hair out moment with him. Highly recommend a 'potette' for when you are out and about.