Toilet training a little boy...

[2catsandadog]

My son is 2 and I want to start toilet training. I have purchased training pants when we go out, and at night and got underwear for when we are training.

How many pairs of underwear do I need? I don't have a tumbledryer, so I need two days between laundry loads to dry everything. I have 15 pairs at the moment... But I am happy to buy more if needed.

[Laquila]

There's no set number of pairs of pants required 😃 it very much depends on your child, your patience, and how often you do laundry, amongst other things. I think we probably have about 15-20 pairs of pants (my 3-yr old son got reliably dry during the daytime about a month ago, and wears pull-ups at night).

Is your son showing any signs of readiness? Does he tell you when he's wet/soiled his nappy?

[2catsandadog]

Yes, he does. He's still non verbal really, but he lets you know when he needs a nappy change. He took himself off to his potty this afternoon. He likes to sit when I go to the loo! 😀

[CarrotPuff]

I'd say 15 is a good number to start. You can always buy more if you need. Also make sure you've got enough trousers!

I wouldn't put in training pants during the night, just keep him in nappy. You can't potty train at night. It will follow once he's fully dry during the day.

[ODog]

My 2.3yo has just been sort of trained (he just started doing it himself). Prior to him being reliably dry I just let him be bare bottomed at home and pull ups when we were out so I wasn't washing endless pairs of pants. Took about 3 days of that before I put him in cotton pants all day. He's been in pants for almost 3 weeks and we have had 2/3 accidents and he is dry at night and for naps too. Every kid is different though but that's what worked for me.

[kiki22]

Sounds like a good number if we had a bad day I sometimes hand washed his pants if I wasn't doing a full wash. My son was dry during the day before he turned 2 but not dry at night until 4 years 2 months and still wets the bed so I would say leave the night time until he's dry by himself day and night dryness don't always come together.

[reallyanotherone]

Kiki, if he still wets the bed he's not dry at night?

2 is very young. You have 2 choices really, start now, have 6 months of accidents and wet clothes until he gets it. Or stick with nappies a while longer, but fewer accidents.

Remember early potty training is not a sign of child genius, and it's not a race.

I left both mine until they were over 2.5. First one got it straight away, second took 3 days. No washing, no accidents, no following round with a potty. Because they could hold on that valuable few minutes it get to a toilet.

Neither of them were dry at night until over 6. I left them in nappies, until one night they were dry.

Bear in mind with winter coming and no tumble dryer, it isn't going to be easy for you if he'a having frequent accidents.

[2catsandadog]

Wise words from everyone. Thank you.

[kiki22]

Sorry I meant to say he still wets the bed on occasion if something new or upsetting is happening he may have a couple of accidents he is dry 95% of the time

[Mner]

Plenty of socks and a spare pair of shoes could be handy. It can get everywhere!