AIBU to start potty training 2 weeks before holiday

[Taybz]

Our toddler is almost 23 months and he has shown signs of being ready for potty training. He's previously told us when he's doing a poo usually before he does but always refused to sit on the potty. He puts his teddy on the potty instead. However, he has the speech to express himself and can clearly feel the sensation so we want to start potty training before he hits his 2nd birthday.

The problem is we're about to go on holiday in 2 weeks so just wondering if it's pointless to start now. He's our 1st and I'm currently 7 months pregnant with our 2nd. Are we just asking for trouble by starting now? How long did potty training take for you? Any tips and advice?

Definitely!

Wait til after the holidays. Really not worth the stress and 2-4 weeks won't make any odds.

Despite what the books tell you it's never a long weekend and done, it usually takes a few months to get totally clean and dry.

Also he's v young! Don't create unnecessary stress

Our second showed signs very early, around 19 months, so we just did a few days potty training which was fairly successful but then put her in pull ups and kept offering potty/loo. She did sometimes use the nappy if she was totally engrossed in something. As she was self motivated and young we just kept the pull ups and just before her second birthday took them away and no accidents. It was very relaxed and way easier than my first when we subscribed to the whole 'don't put them back in nappies as it will be confusing' mindset. I'd give it a very relaxed go! But don't get potty out in public if there are loos nearby!

We did it in days at the same age but it took 3 weeks for no accidents.

You don't need to take a potty put with you at all. I've potty trained my own DC and I've worked in childcare, I have never taken a potty out with me anywhere. If a child is ready for potty training then part of that is being able to hold it in for long enough to get a toilet. Yes, it limits how far you can travel about in the first few days and when you do venture out you need to keep in mind where the nearest toilets are to begin with but that's a short-lived stage of potty training.

I think you’re insane for even considering it honestly. Just why?

Unless you want training to take forever then you can’t go back and forth between pants and nappies without creating a load of confusion and giving the impression that the potty is optional- sometimes we use it but sometimes we pee in our pants will leave you stuck in a half way house for ages and personally I’d rather get it done efficiently.

If you did it properly and wait into underwear… Given his age and that you only have 2 weeks he’s never going to be 100% reliable and have the level of control to hold it for 30 minutes because there’s turbulence and the fasten seat belt sign is on. Practically also, carrying a potty in your hand luggage?? Where would he go on the plane because you won’t fit it in an airplane loo and by your seats is disgusting? So you’d have to get him all the way from nappies to using unfamiliar big toilets, including airplane bathrooms, public loos with noisy hand dryers and loads of people in only 2 weeks and he’s not even 2 yet.

He’s still little so there’s no rush. I would do it when you’re back and that’ll still give him a month before the new baby comes if I have your timings correct.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate all your insight and advice. We've decided to leave it until we come back from holiday and hopefully a month of potty training should be sufficient before the baby comes. If you have any suggestions of what good potties and accessories there are out there to make the journey easier I'd really appreciate it! Also any tips and tricks 😃