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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Toilet/potty training....at what age did you introduce to your dc ?

18 replies

Twosugarsplease · 18/08/2011 20:57

Today I've been made to feel like I should have started my ds, who is 2 today, potty training by now. I have two teenage ds's and just can't remember exactly what age they were. I have been thinking about me starting to train him, originally the plan was during this summer, but I just don't think he is ready, and he is still in the cot so moving into a bed is my next mission, which I'm reluctant to do as we have not long been settled into a good sleep pattern, but I know I have to do it. So, am I late starting my ds at 2yo ?

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rhetorician · 18/08/2011 20:59

doubt it; DD is 2.7, we had a go a few weeks back, she clearly wasn't ready, so shelved for now. From what I've seen on here, at any rate, up to about 3 seems fairly common. I'd like her to be potty trained now tbh, but she can be quite tricky (anxious about things she's not able to do) and I don't want to force it.

LawrieMarlow · 18/08/2011 21:02

DS was about 2.2. Could have done it earlier but DD was born when he was 22 months and them they both had chicken pox and Christmas happened so I delayed.

DD was 19 months. Her choice not mine - she started taking her nappies off and asking to wee so I went with the flow so to speak.

Sleepglorioussleep · 18/08/2011 23:31

Dd was 2.3 when I first tried-realised after three accidents before breakfast that I wasn't ready for it even if she was. Two months later we did it but still wish we'd waited as it took six months before the last accident. Ds is 2.9 and whilst I'd like him to be potty trained, he really doesn't seem ready. Buying pants tomorrow though so we'll see!

burtie2u · 19/08/2011 09:54

I was made to feel guilty by my friend who has 2 dd, but I am a firm believer in being child led. We did have the potty in the house from when our DS was just over 2 (he picked it) and we always talked about using the potty when he gets bigger. He did start to use it when he was about 2.5 but then seemed to regress and not want to go anywhere near it?
We did go out a few weeks ago and let him chose some pants, toys story ones and peppa pig! Then this week he just decided he wants to wear pants. On the first day he had 3 accidents, on the second one. The third he did poo himself, but after explaining that we now can't go to the park as he has poo in his pants, he got the idea and he has even done a poo in the potty this morning!!!
He is 3 in November, every child is different and you know your child better than anyone. Sometimes if you push then too much it then becomes an issue. A friend pushed her DD and she then had to have months on laxatives as she started to hold her poo!
Just do what you think is right and and keep talking to him about it, I personally think 2 is very early for a boy. DS starts at preschool in September and I was really worried about him being in nappies, they just said don?t worry he will soon copy the other children going to the loo, but as it goes he might just be leading others

Sleepglorioussleep · 19/08/2011 15:33

Oh, and a very experienced friend of mine (nursery nurse) said ball park figure for considering starting is for her 2.3 for girls, 2.6 for boys. And that's just considering. So some might be ready earlier. Some other parents might start catching stuff in potties, but that's not always the same as being potty trained-ie knowing they need the loo and going on a loo or potty. And as for out of nappies- describes a broad spectrum. We could be out of nappies now but we'd have very wet floors unless I was a lucky catcher

olibeansmummy · 19/08/2011 15:45

Ds was 2.1 and trained in a week and a half and at night aswell by 3 weeks. He was just ready. They're ready when they're ready and you know when that is better than anyone!

pranma · 19/08/2011 17:22

dgs was 2.4 and was trained day and night very quickly-takes himself to the potty at home and always asks when out.In the morning he wakes his mum early to help him with jamas but so far no wet beds [unlike his brother who is 4.11 and still sometimes wet in the morning].

Tiggles · 20/08/2011 21:46

DS1 was out of nappies in the house at 12months and completely by 18months (before that he didn't have the control to wait a few minutes to find a loo when out and about), DS2 was out of nappies by 2 and a bit. DS3 however is 3 in a couple of weeks and doesn't have a clue! He can hold in a wee until he is sat on a potty, but never asks to use the potty. He is on a drug that gives him diarhoea and I have recently been speaking to the doc about changing it as it makes potty training awkward. His reply, Boys tend to train AFTER their 3rd birthday, so I wouldn't worry to much if your DS is only 2!

Tgger · 20/08/2011 21:50

No, I'd leave it until 2.5 unless he demands to do it before. I've done both of mine at between 2.5 and 3 and they've both (boy then girl) been very quick. Girl was quicker than boy but boy was quick too at nearer 3 than 2.

They're all different, do it when you and he are ready.

Seona1973 · 20/08/2011 23:10

dd was 2.5 years and ds was trained by the age of 2.

PuppyMonkey · 20/08/2011 23:12

About 2.5 with both.

wilkos · 20/08/2011 23:23

dd was about 2.9

ds (18mo) did two wees in the potty last week before bathtime so I feel he may be a bit quicker, but he most definitely isnt ready yet

ZhenXiang · 20/08/2011 23:33

Started when DD was 16 months, she is now 27 months and fully potty trained during the day, but still in nappies at night.

akaemmafrost · 20/08/2011 23:36

Just under age three with both. Both day trained within ten days, both dry at night two weeks after that. I have two dc and between them they have wet the bed four times, one time dd was ill, the other her dad forgot to get her to go to the loo before bed.

I firmly believe leaving it till that age will prevent pretty much all stress related to potty training.

Solo · 20/08/2011 23:37

Ds was started on his 2nd birthday and was done in 4 days (potty). Was totally toilet trained inside 2 weeks. I kept him in nappies at night for a further 6 months as I couldn't have dealt with wet beds whilst working 14 hour days and up at God knows what hour of the morning...he was fine after that though.
Dd started at just past her 2nd birthday, but sadly my Dad was terminally ill and I spent much of my time with him and Mum, so Dd's toilet training had to stop. I started again a week after Dads funeral at 2.8years and just carried on my life as normal. She had 3 wet accidents in the first two days and never looked back since.
My Mum, as lovely as she is kept on at me to start 'potty training' from almost the minute they were out of my womb which I think is ridiculous and I told her so. Children go at their own pace with this sort of thing and sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and give them a push little encouragement, but you know when your child is ready most of the time.

AngelDog · 21/08/2011 00:10

I've often heard:

If you start at two, they'll be dry by three.
If you start at three, they'll be dry by three.

I think it's normal for boys not to be ready before 2.5; girls are often ready a bit earlier.

We've been pottying (doing EC) since 8 months (DS was classed as a late starter) but DS isn't keen to use a potty at the moment.

It depends a bit on whether you want to go cold turkey, or use a gradual approach.

inmysparetime · 21/08/2011 06:12

DS was barely dry when he started school nursery at 3.6, still in night nappies till he was 5. He really did not want to do potty training.
DD on the other hand, a few weeks shy of 2, said to me "I will not wear nappies any more" and was dry day and night with very rare accidents from that day.
Children vary widely, even within the same family, and it would be misleading to attribute a definite age or method to guaranteed success.
The majority of children are trained by the age of 3.5, and the process goes much more smoothly if the child wants to do it.

Original poster

Twosugarsplease · 21/08/2011 12:00

Thank you all so much for your response ! Our internet been down so haven't been able to get back sooner. Most of you have confirmed what I thought, I think 2 1/2 about the right time, my ds definitely not ready yet, I will slowly introduce training though. Why do the older generation think they know your child better than you do and make you feel so bloody inadequate at the same time Grrrrr !

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