Is this a sign of readiness?

[MunsteadWood]

DS is 19mo. He's generally doing fine on his developmental milestones, but I hadn't expected to start thinking about potty training for a while longer yet.

But for the last few weeks I've started noticing that he often wees just after I take off his nappy. I initially thought it was a coincidence but it's now happening so often I'm wondering whether it might be intentional!

This evening - in an effort to avoid yet another wee soaked bath mat - I tried holding the nappy just underneath him after I took it off and encouraged him to wee into the nappy, but he seemed to wait (?) and weed on the floor as soon as I'd taken it away. He was very interested in watching, pointing and showing me.

I've since read up on signs of readiness and think he's showing a few (can take his nappy off himself, definitely shows discomfort after poos and sometimes asks for his nappy to be changed, very keen on independence elsewhere eg with food and getting dressed, etc)

But it seems so soon to start!

Any suggestions?

[octonoughtcake3]

How are his communication skills? Can he pull his trousers up and down?

[Shiverrrrmetimbers]

He needs to be able to tell you he wants to go. 19 months is very early. Usually it’s nearer 3

[MunsteadWood]

He's trying hard with speaking but still very early days, only has a few words (and even they are just sounds really rather than proper words). But he understands a lot, and does a good job of communicating what he wants with pointing etc when necessary.

Yes he can take his trousers down himself, depending on the trousers.

[MunsteadWood]

Ok thanks, that's helpful.

I guess I wasn't really thinking of going the whole hog, but more wondering whether I should be doing something very gentle, like getting a potty for him to sit on just after I take his nappy off, or something... but maybe that doesn't make sense!

And yes - nearer 3 was more what I was expecting, which is why this had got me confused!

[Cantchooseaname]

My dd potty trained herself pretty much at 20 months, after I had been ignoring it for a bit. She had good language skills, so could ask to go, but took a bit longer to manage her trousers herself. She did not poo anywhere except home from about 4 months. If we were out and about she would hold it until we came home.
I would say if you think he is ready, have a go. If you do not get progress in 3 days, put nappy back on, have a go in 6 weeks time.

[Cantchooseaname]

14 months. Not 4. 🙄

[Cantchooseaname]

Maybe use a sign for ‘toilet’ if understanding is better than expression?

[freshbudsofspring]

It probably is a sign BUT at that age their bladders are still so small. I tried to train my son at 18 months and it was frustrating as in many ways he could do it, but it he just wasn't quite there. It was weird he of course could go 3-4 hours without a wet nappy in the morning ( as not drinking in the night but going on waking ) , but then wee every hour all afternoon. So I think you need to think about how long he can be dry on average before training.

I then left him until 2 yrs 7 months, and he trained really quickly. Also becoming dry at night within a week of daytime. I could of done it a lot sooner but I didn't want to try and fail again.

[MunsteadWood]

Thanks all so much, this is really helpful.

I'm not sure I want to go for full potty training, as I'm pretty certain he's not ready for that anyway.

But is there any value in getting a potty just to use just in morning and evening, after I change his nappy?

The floor wee incidents seem to happen mainly on first nappy change of the day and before bath, so I wonder about introducing a potty then, just to see if he could get used to sitting on it and weeing then. Then maybe when/if he gets the hang of that, we do something a bit more?

Or will that just confuse him?

[MunsteadWood]

I like the idea of a sign @Cantchooseaname , thanks

[teaandbiscuitsforme]

Read the Oh Crap book and see what you think. The author recommends training between 20'and 30 months so you're not far off. My DD trained at 22mo and we've just trained DS at 2yr3mo.

[ragfarm]

My little one started using the potty at around 18 months and was out of nappies by 20 months (night and day). Couldn't say many words at the time but would get grumpy if our in the buggy and needed a wee. Also couldn't quite pull trousers up or down properly to begin but I just helped with that once she was at the potty. It's straightforward when they are ready.

[SuperStingray]

I think your idea of introducing a potty for morning and evening is good. We did this with our DD about 6 months before we fully trained her, and gradually built it up until she was offered a wee on the potty at every nappy change. When the time came for fully potty training she got the basics of weeing in the potty so she just had to master doing it for every wee/telling us she needed it.

It's still early days for us (1 month in) and we have our challenges, but I think it was made easier by missing the stage of actually having to teach her the concept of using the potty, if that makes sense!

[MunsteadWood]

Thanks so much, all. I think I'm going to get him a potty and give it a go, nothing major, just first thing and before evening bath, and see how he gets on. If no joy I'll stick it in loft and bring it out again in 6-12 months!

[pitterpatterbaby]

My little one was similar at this age. So I just left a potty in the bathroom for him to use if he wanted. I'd take his nappy off and he'd sit for a while the bath ran. Often we'd get wee. Some weeks he'd not even bother with it. I trained him when he was just over 2, the weather was nicer and he could be free in the garden rather than the house. Very easy transition

[MunsteadWood]

Brilliant, thanks. Am ordering one now to give this a try!