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Behaviour/development

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Original poster

Potty training - how much can I expect by 2yrs?

11 replies

Icoulddoitbetter · 15/05/2011 18:50

Evening ladies,

My DS is 19 months and the only sign I get of him having a poo is when I suddenly goes still and bright red! He's not talking yet, but even though he's a good little communicator, he's not letting me know when he has a dirty nappy.

I'm pg and due as DS turns 2. I was with my mum today and she said I should think about starting potty training as two in nappies will be hard work (really mother?!). I've been meeting to buy a potty for a while so DS can get used to it being around. He likes sitting on things, so at least he can start by doing that. But other than that I don't think he's showing any signs of readiness at all.

He had an accident on his bedroom floor the other night when DH was getting him ready for bed, and DH thought he seemed quite upset. But in his nappy, he's fine.

So, is just getting a potty enough for now?

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Choufleur · 15/05/2011 18:54

Personally I would forget potty training DS1 until you've got settled with the baby.

He needs to be able to tell he needs a wee anyway or else you will just be putting him on the toilet every half hour in case.

LawrieMarlow · 15/05/2011 18:58

Having had two children in nappies at once (DS was 22 months when DD was born) and then toilet trained at 2.3 and then DD at 19 months who was desperate to stop wearing nappies, I would go for leaving the potty training for a while. DD was basically ready but if I could have stalled it a bit I would. And that was her leading things (by pulling her (resuable) nappies off and calling "Eeeee" at anyone who would listen).

Two in nappies is really not a problem. How do parents of twins or triplets manage if it is? You don't want to be running round with a potty when heavily pregnant and you don't want a newborn and to be toilet training IMO.

sleepingsowell · 15/05/2011 19:01

My DS was 2 years 7 months when we started with him so you have aaaaaaages yet.

I think this thing of 'two in nappies will be hard work' is old fashioned - if you are using disposables. A nappy change is two mins and you're done and the nappy is binned. I guess for our mums it was hard work if they had to throw poo down the loo and then soak nappies etc etc etc - but I wouldn't call it hard work nowadays. Expensive, maybe!!

With my ds I waited until I thought he was ready and then just explained "you're going to use the loo today if you need a pee or poo" He listened carefully, and it went absolutely fine from day 1. No training involved. No potty, even - he just used the loo with a child's seat on. So the more you are sure they are ready, the easier for you I would say because the less 'training' is involved.

Also agree with Choufleur that it will be better done after you're all settled with the new baby, anecdotally I have heards lots from friends and on here about toddlers regressing and having lots of accidents when new baby comes. Sounds a bloody lot harder to be clearing up accidents AND dealing with the baby than it would be just having two in nappies for a while.

Firawla · 15/05/2011 19:18

2 in nappies is not hard work.. i would leave it for now, he does not sound ready, it will just cause more stress for both of you

Original poster

Icoulddoitbetter · 15/05/2011 20:12

Thanks ladies. I agree that the thought of two in nappies does not seem that bad. When I think of how many nappy changes I do for DS in a day, it's hardly anything at all. Having a new baby and ten nappy changes a day is going to come as a shock!

OP posts:

MrsJamin · 15/05/2011 20:19

Nappies on a 2 year old when you have a baby is a very very good idea! Unless he's showing lots and lots of signs he's ready it's really a lot easier for you to have him in nappies. When potty training you have to drop everything when they shout "I need a wee!"- not great in the early days of constant feeding your baby. Also your patience won't be great when you are sleep deprived.

AngelDog · 15/05/2011 22:38

There's nothing wrong with starting pottying if you want to - lots of ideas here. But you shouldn't feel you need to start now.

firstsupermum · 15/05/2011 23:55

my ds is 2yrs and 2months now i will be having my second one in 2months, i was thinking about the same idea but i think is better to wait and see how it goes with the baby around first, how he will cope with this, and i dont want him to have to do with the new baby and potty training specialy is just 2months left, i think you just have to wait.

NellyTheElephant · 16/05/2011 16:02

As others have said two in nappies really isn't a big issue - way easier than having a newly potty trained toddler plus new baby (now that really is hard work!), I've done it both ways. So I wouldn't stress about getting your DS out of nappies just yet, but having potty trained 3 now (DD1 at 2.3, DD2 at 22 months and DS at 2.1) I'd say that the absolute key to it is preparation. So right now I would buy various potty story books and start reading them to him. Have a potty in the bathroom and encourage him to sit on it before he has a bath. When you change his nappy talk about how when he's a bit older he will do poos in the loo / potty like mummy and daddy. Toddlers really like to know well in advance what is gong to be expected of them. Once the new baby is a couple of months old and settled into your family your DS will be just over two and a good age to start training, if he has had a couple of months of build up on reading the stories and talking about it and showing him the very nice pants that he can wear 'soon' you might find it all happens fairly easily.

MrsBrollyhook · 17/05/2011 16:59

I agree, unless your DS suddenly really seems ready I'd hold off until the new baby's a few months old. My DD1 was 22 months when DD2 was born and was no way near ready for potty training. I probably left it a bit long and potty trained her at 2.11 - delayed first with new baby, then a phase of saying no to everything, then starting nursery school. But having 2 in nappies was no problem.

camdancer · 17/05/2011 17:46

Just think about what is easier. A 2 year old in nappies, where you can leave the poo in their nappy for 10 mins while you finish feeding a newborn. OR a 2 year old who needs a poo immediately and needs your help with the toilet? 2 in nappies is expensive but so easy!

I had 22 months between DS and DD. People kept telling me I should potty train DS before DD arrived. There was no way I was going to do that and I'm very glad I didn't. DS wasn't ready until 3.2 and even then when he was tired he wasn't hugely reliable.

DC3 is due at the end of this month and DD will be 2.3. She is showing signs of readiness and has some time in pants each day but there is absolutely no way I'm potty training her completely before the baby arrives. She might be ready (with a bit of a push) but I'm not!

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