potty training - come and talk to me

[trixie123]

DS is 2.4 and we would like to start the process so that when we have a block of time off work at xmas we can do a full on "attack" and try to achieve it. Can I ask how others have approached it - eg is it worth "Potty" training or better to use the toilet with small seat etc straight away? He does know when he is pooing and will tell us when he wants his nappy changed but only for poos, not wees. Any input gratefully received. I generally stay away from parenting books, much preferring the anecdotal advice on here but if anyone has one that they found especially good, that would be useful too. I am generally pretty confident as a parent and think common sense gives you the answers but for some reason feel a bit flummoxed by this. Cheers

HI Trixie, we are 2 weeks into 'training' DD2 (2.2mo) and she has pretty much cracked it - she has had an occasional poo accident over the last week but is very reliable with wees. We just bit the bullet and put her into pants as she had long periods of being dry. She chose to use the potty, whereas DD1 went straight on the loo with a little seat - they were bot hoffered both. The first week was mostly us offering (nursery did the lion's share) but after about 5 days, she started to tell us, with seconds before she would wee, but now she tells us, and if she hasnt after about an hour, we ask. we started off with much shorter intervals.
does this help? sorry for waffling! I am really chuffed - DD has a speech delay and we didnt want her lack of communication stopping her cracking this - it hasn't . Oh and we use the usual stickers, clapping and high fives still, when she goes! she also loves the tipping of poos and wees into the loo!!

Oh, I'm in a similar position as you OP. watching with interest.

The first thing we did was to swap from disposable nappies to real nappies, because often with disposable ones they can't feel when they are wet. So the real nappies allows them to feel those sensations and that helps with their awareness and control.

Then after a few days of that, introduce the potty and make it a big deal, tell him that now he is a big boy he's going to get his very own big boy potty! I would get a potty as very often you have mere seconds from when he says he needs to go, but you can also invest in a seat for the toilet as you will need one eventually.

Do a reward chart and let him colour it in and go shopping with you for stickers. Every time he does something in his potty he gets a sticker and lots of praise. NEVER criticise if he has an accident, praise him anyway for trying.

Expect a regression when you have him potty trained, this is normal.

Don't promise material rewards like sweets or games, rewards that promise time with mummy or daddy doing a favourite activity like football or baking cakes is much better and ensures that your child does not start putting too much emphasis on material things at an early age.

Best of luck!

thanks, some good suggestions there. I think I am just dreading the potential accidents. We used to live in a house with all hard floors but have just moved and have new carpet throughout! Oh well, DD has already been sick on it a few times