When to start potty training DS

[sprite25]

DS has just turned two, and I was just wondering when is the best time to start thinking about potty training. I can't remember when we did it with DD but she took to it quickly and easily and only had the odd accident.

[Yakadee]

Hard to say really as each child is different. I'm just training my son now and he's 3.5 (which I know seems to horify some people) but he has only started showing signs recently. We've had the potty around for ages and talked about it etc but he was never interested. He's doing great though, 3 weeks in and practically no wee accidents and the odd poo accident.

Anyway, if your lo is showing signs give it a go. X

[itwasalovelydreamwhileitlasted]

I didn't start until nearly 3 but I would have started earlier but was talked out of it by Nursery but then had a panic because my DC seemed so much older than the other kids who had got it done.....

My DC never gave any of the usual signs they were ready to do it but in the end I did it over a weekend and they were fine

I was putting DC in pre school from 3 1/2 though and so had a deadline that they needed to be nappy free by then

[Chamber587]

My son will be 3 in January (first child). For a while we’ve been asking him to sit on the potty and occasionally he will do a wee, nursery think he’s getting ready for training so since yesterday afternoon we’ve put him in pants and have regularly asked if he needs to go to the potty, most times he will sit and do a wee other times he will protest! He had one wee accident yesterday and two so far today, I don’t know if he’s too engrossed in what he’s doing to realise he needs a wee. We’ve told him to tell us but not sure he gets it! Mums with experience - do you not think he’s ready? Nursery also said the days his friend, who is potty trained, is in he’s great at using the potty, but if his friends not there he’s not bothered! TIA 😊

[greeneyedlulu]

Far too early. My midwife friend said age 3.5 to 4 is when you should start. All this start early is doing more damage than good in the long run

[starshade]

Did your midwife friend tell you that in a friendship way or as a professional?

I can't understand what damage can be done to a child just by them potty training at a certain age?

[Chamber587]

Day 5 and we are making progress 🙌🏻 He’s recognising when he needs a wee and going on the potty more times than not. He’s at nursery all week and we will review progress on Friday 😊

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

My midwife friend said age 3.5 to 4 seems very late to me unless additional needs. Considering many kids start school around 4 that's too late

[Yakadee]

@OnlyFoolsnMothers - I just wanted to say that that really isn't always the case. My son will be 4 in March and we started a month ago. He's totally cracked it which I'm thrilled about. He doesn't have any additional needs, just was not ready. My hv even told be not to try until he was ready as you're setting them up to fail. X

[horse4course]

@greeneyedlulu not sure potty training is covered in midwifery courses!

I think this whole 'when they're ready' stuff is mainly nonsense - it's just not convenient for parents to train until later.

Back in the days of using terry squares or nappies being expensive and leaky, there was much more of an incentive to train earlier.

[horse4course]

We trained dd just after turning two, she's had the odd regression but has taken to it fine.

If you leave it until 3 or 3.5 it's more likely they'll refuse just to be rebellious.

[greeneyedlulu]

Sorry silly me, a midwife would obviously have no experience of children whatsoever would they? they don't talk to mothers, have children themselves, talk to fellow doctors, urologists and the likes, discuss topics like this etc

[Chewysmum]

I agree starting at 3.5/4 is far too late. I started this week sitting my DS on the potty with his clothes on just to get used to it and am planning to take the clothes off maybe next month, and he just turned 18 months. He's quite good at speaking and knows what toilets are for and tells me when he needs a poo so I think he's ready. I had my health visitor in this morning and she's of the opinion I should wait 6 months. She also said even 2 can often be a bit young but I think each child is different and really only the parents or caregivers know them well enough to say when is old enough.

[Sotiredbutcannotsleep]

I agree 3.5/4 is quite late however the manager of a snooty highly rated nursery I visited once with my (just turned) 3 year old said that they start training kids at 2 and by 2.5 years old they are dry in the daytime so I guess most people start between 2 and 2.5 years old (I also think some kids start telling you around that age that their nappy is soiled/wet).

[Laura19945]

Hi my little one is 11 months next week and I'm just wondering if I should start potty training

[Mutedgrey]

@Laura19945

Hi. Is your child showing any signs of being ready? It’s very early to start but you know that

[jesslambo88]

My little boy will be 2 in July and we have ordered a potty for him now and we're just going to leave it in the lounge etc and see if he's interested because recently he's started to tell us he needs a poo before he does it and felt bad he has to do it in his nappy...he also tells us after he's done a poo aswel...we're not pressuring him just seeing what happens but he maybe picking it up easier as he goes to a childminder so we think he follows the others xx

[Mopmum35]

The sooner the better! Imo anyway, my younger dd ( out of 6) was all done and out of nappies before she turned 2, we didn't have a potty, mine went straight on the toilet with a childs toilet seat, but some are just not ready till later.

[BatleyTownswomensGuild]

DS was gone 3 before we really made inroads on it. We had a couple of false starts around 2 where we tried before he was really ready. I got weed on and pooped on for about a month but didn't achieve much else.

We then gave up and waited until he was more interested. Was the best move really, when we tried again we had him potty trained in a weekend with minimal drama.