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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU To potty train before 2yo?

14 replies

Raggeo · 16/08/2023 23:08

DD has just turned 22mo and I'm thinking to try potty training next week. Is this too early? Is it going to be a disaster? Or did it work for your toddlers?
For context she has an older sibling and wants to do everything he does. She loves sitting on the toilet/potty and will ask to go whenever I'm changing her nappy. Once or twice she has done a pee in toilet while sitting there but mostly she just likes to sit and pretend. She will sometimes tell me when she is doing a pee in her nappy and almost always tell me after she has done a poo. She can pull her trousers up and down with minimum help. She can a follow instructions and understands well for her age.
I didn't start toilet training my eldest until he was 2.5yo. Took a year for him to be fully consistent and would like to avoid that again if possible. I don't know if starting early will help with that or just make the learning period longer.
Please share your wisdom and opinions.

OP posts:

harrietm87 · 16/08/2023 23:10

Trained my kids at 17 months and 22 months using the oh crap method. No issues whatsoever. Took 3-5 days and they were dry with no accidents.

My entire NCT group had trained their kids by the time they were 26 months so it’s not like mine are special. When we were kids 2 or younger was the norm.

Violet1988 · 16/08/2023 23:11

Hi Im starting my 20 month old son soon. His older siblings trained later at about 2.5 but like your daughter my son is very interested at the moment and wants to copy his siblings. He's had a good few wees on the toilet now and one poo. He tells me he wants a wee wee and sometimes he does and sometimes he doesnt. I'm not sure how it will go but we will try and see what happens.

ManicMum2023 · 16/08/2023 23:14

Depends on your child if you think they are ready go for it.

I tried at 2 and the boys weren't ready so I tried again at 2 1/2 because I read somewhere that if you try too early then a child can be more prone to water infection or constipation so I did not want to push it..so to speak haha

Boys take longer than girls. My daughter turns 2 end of August so I will try with her or maybe wait until things calm down and boys are back at school as less to deal with hahaha

PollyPeep · 16/08/2023 23:14

My friend had success with the Oh Crap method when her child was around 20 months if I recall. We had success with the same method around 26 months. I don't think it's too early if she's showing signs of being ready!

Peakypolly · 16/08/2023 23:18

All my three were potty trained by 18 months (DS took to it just as easily as the girls).
There were no future issues.

afterdropshock · 16/08/2023 23:47

Why are you waiting so long? She has given you loads of signs that she is ready.

ThePoint678 · 16/08/2023 23:48

I did the same and it worked well. Commit fully though and get it done.

Original poster

Raggeo · 17/08/2023 07:51

Thanks for sharing your experiences. In real life everyone I know waited until around 2 and a half before training their little ones but glad to see that it is actually more common to train earlier. Wish me luck.

OP posts:

Sarah180818 · 17/08/2023 08:01

I think you'll know after a few days if she is ready or not and if it is a disaster, wait for a while. Mine were all over three before they potty trained but all mastered it very quickly. I think each child is very different and you'll know if they are ready because it will be pretty easy.

Summerrainagain1 · 17/08/2023 08:03

I mean you can give it a go and if it doesn't work leave it a while longer and if it does, great. But I always wonder why people bother. It's so much easier to wait till they are genuinely ready. Then it requires no "training" at all for most children. Also life is so much easier with nappies than a very young potty trained toddler.

Twizbe · 17/08/2023 08:05

Children can be ready at 18 months, some aren’t there until gone 3.

IME if you wait until they’re ready they get it quickly.

There’s no harm in trying, but if no real progress in a day or two then I’d stop and wait a few months.

Children are all so different. My eldest was almost 3 before he was ready. My youngest was ready at 2, but we had to delay training to almost 2.5 because of house moves / renovations.

Didimum · 17/08/2023 08:06

We did Oh Crap at 2.5, but that method definitely advocates it earlier.

Everydayimhuffling · 17/08/2023 08:07

DC1 started at 18 months, and DC2 at 3. It sounds like you are following her cues, which is great. You can always go slowly: we kept nappies for long car journeys for a long time after.

Everydayimhuffling · 17/08/2023 08:08

DC1 started at 18 months, and DC2 at 3. It sounds like you are following her cues, which is great. You can always go slowly: we kept nappies for long car journeys for a long time after.

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