Is it too early?

[fizzpops]

My DD is only 16 months and obviously not physically ready for potty training but she has started saying 'wee wee' and 'dirty' and grabbing her nappy. So I reply, 'Have you done a wee wee?', 'Do you need a clean nappy?' etc and usually she goes and gets the changing bag out.

I bought a potty to put in the bathroom and when she points at it I explain that it is for her to use when she is a big girl etc etc.

Anyway I have started wondering if by the time she is ready to be potty trained she will be so familiar with the potty that there will be no novelty value to make it exciting and that maybe I should hide it until she is a bit older and then bring it out with a great fanfare about what a big girl she is etc.

Any thoughts?

[crokky]

My DD is also 16 months and does similar stuff - walks past toilet saying "wee wee", says "poooooo" when she's done one. I think that it is too early, personally. My DS (who is now 3.5) - I didn't train him until he was 2.6. His speech was way behind my DD's speech at the same age, but I do think there is some physical maturity that a 16mo does not yet have. Just my thoughts, I might start my DD at around 20 months depending on how she is then.

[haventsleptforayear]

I would disagree with your idea about the "novelty" factor of the potty being a good thing.

I think the earlier a child learns what a potty is for, the better.

If your DD is interested why not let her try it?

Both our DS were using a potty from a few months old (ie we put them on when they needed to go).

When we actually "potty trained" them at 24 mths, they trained night and day very quickly and are very reliable now compared to their friends.

Just because she's doing a few wees on the potty (say before her bath when the water's running), doesn't mean you have to whip her out of nappies!
hth

[fizzpops]

That is interesting haventslept. She does sometimes sit on it if I ask if she wants to when I am going to the loo.

Thanks crokky too! I am keeping an eye on her as she isn't ready in terms of being able to control her bladder/ bowels but want to give her the right cues for when she is ready.

[EyeballsintheSky]

DD is 19 months and often asks to go on the potty. We've had a potty since she was about a year old as I also think it's good for them to get to know it rather than have it sprung on them. No intention of training her yet even if she is ready

[ches]

Why isn't she physically ready to learn fizzpops? My DS was only pooing in the toilet at 15 months and clean & dry at 18 months. It is absolutely possible to PT early, it just takes longer. (So you leave 'em in nappies and just take regular toilet breaks.) I think it's rather lovely that my DS will have no memory of weeing/pooing on himself.