Start before or after new baby?

[newbian]

DD will be 25 months when new baby arrives (18 months now). She tells us when she needs to pee and poo and is very interested in the toilet when I go. Before I got pregnant I was planning to start around 20 months and see how she got on. But with new baby coming I'm not sure what's best. I don't want to delay just because I'm afraid of regression is she's keen. But I also don't want to deal with accidents at the same time as a newborn! Thoughts?

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

Having recently trained DD at 22/23 months with a 6 week old, I'd say go for it before the baby arrives if you can.

Two in nappies - hard work
First week of potty training with an EBF 6 week old - hard work
One potty trained DD and one baby in nappies - so much easier!

Good luck!

[EsmesBees]

I actually posted a similar thread a while back (I'm going to have a similar gap, and my eldest also meets all the checklists for being 'ready'). Mixed advice. Some posters said it's much easier to do it now, others
said they wish they'd waited as their toddlers regressed when the newborn came. I gave it a go but it became clear she was getting confused messages at home and nursery. So I decided to wait until I'm on maternity leave and can be around to do it full time.

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

You being home is a good point. I imagine it would be really tough to try to do it if you're working up until mat leave.

Having any childcare on board is also a good idea. I chose a week when DD was off nursery (she goes 2 days a week) so started on the Saturday and she was back at nursery the next Monday (day 10 of potty training).

[Fitzsimmons]

If you do train before your baby is born do be prepared for regression. My son was trained for three months before his sister arrived and a month or so after her birth he started having a lot of accidents. We basically ignored it and he stopped after a month or so. Good luck

[Luckystar1]

I have an 8 month old and an almost 2.5 month old (DS). DS is still in nappies and I have a son I idea how people even begin to deal with potty training with a newborn.

The thought of being out with 2 in those early days, feeding the baby and then suddenly having to find a loo for the older one gives me cold sweats.

I have found having 2 children easy, but I don't think I'd have found it quite so easy with potty training as well.

Two in nappies is actually really easy. Personally I'd wait until the baby is born and a few months old!

[newbian]

I'll be home on mat leave but if anything like DD that's not the best time to do anything. I had a c section and breastfed so I was out of commission for awhile. Luckily I'll have a lot of help post #2 with family so we can manage accidents. But I'm thinking is it a huge set back as in basically starting from scratch?

Or my other thought is, if we decide to wait how soon after is best? Because if it's 1-2 months might seem like new baby is the reason for DD having to toilet train and might make her upset. DD is large for her age and changing her diaper is already a nightmare, I feel like keeping this up until 2.5 yrs old is going to be a challenge.

[WhispersOfWickedness]

I'd start now, tbh. Just pop her on the toilet when she seems interested, it's great that she can tell you when she needs it My DD was around the same age as yours when she started getting interested and trained at around 20 months (definitely reliable by 22 months as we went on a plane on holiday!), which would leave you lots of time before the new baby arrives.

[HRMumness]

My eldest DD was 2y4m when her baby sister arrived. She was showing quite a few signs of potty training readiness at around 20 months and would wee on the toilet/potty but when I was about 8 months pregnant, she went through a complete regression and refused to go on the potty or toilet at all. We didn't try again until about 3-4 months later (so around 2y8m) and that was still a bit of a battle (We were doing washables and have no family to help so really needed to crack on with it just to make life a bit easier) so we started letting her wear big girl pants or no pants at home. I remember a lot of wee on the floor at first and tears the toddler, the baby and then me! but she got #1s within a few days or so and she rarely had accidents outside the house either. #2s took a bit longer though, turns out she needed to sit on the potty rather than dangling legs over the toilet as it made it harder to get the poo out. We are potty training the youngest now who is 2y5m and even though she has been doing poos and wees on the toilet since about 17-18 months there have been lots of accidents. From seeing friends who have trained earlier, they tend to have a lot more accidents when out and about. If you have support to help than it can't hurt to give it a try, if she is not ready, you can always try again in a few months time once baby arrives. In my experience, it is easier when they are just that bit older.