Potty business

[BabydollsMum]

DD's just 21 months and so far she has had a couple of flukes on the potty. We bought her one a couple of months ago just so she'd know what one is. She reads I Want My Potty etc. Anyway, tonight I plonked her on it just before her bath but instead of getting straight up this time she decided she really, really wanted to do a wee, bless her and she sat there, waiting resolutely and lo and behold, it happened. Now, this is obviously a development in terms of her wanting to go rather than the flukes. She really wants to go again now so she'll get another Magic Star but I really don't want to push her and I think she's far from proper full-on potty training, so my question is, what's next? Should I just do the once-a-day bath time ritual for now? What did you do in the early stages? Obviously I don't want her to lose her enthusiasm for it either. Thanks!

I did the putting on the potty while I ran the bath for a bit and made a HUGE fuss if they did anything.

How old is your LO?

I would put her on first thing in the morning, and when you run the bath. I would also put it next to the nappy mat, and ask her if she would like a trywhen you are changing her nappy.

With DD2 I used to let her have nappy free time after a poo and she would always be dry for a bit (see I learned after DD1) so you can make a fuss about her staying dry.

DD2 was dry day and night by 25 months, just because she wanted to be, and I was prepared to go with flow (and the flows all over the carpet). DD1 was more like 2.10, and I did the Gina Ford bootcamp thing which made us all miserable and took weeks.

DS is 25 months and I put him on the potty in the evening while his bath is running, when we are getting dressed in the morning, and sometimes when I remember when I am changing his nappy at other times, and have been doing this for a few weeks. He is always very proud when something comes out! ('wee coming Mummy!!!') and I make a fuss.

However - I am going to wait until the summer to really go for it (unless he insists) because staying at home for a few days with the run of the garden and any accidents going on the lawn sounds like much more fun than at home inside all day in the winter with any accidents all over the carpet

I am also going on the experience of friends - those who tried to potty train earlier took much longer and had more accidents than those who waited until their DC were 2.5+

My youngest was 21 months when he had a really sore bottom, I left his nappy off for a few hours and just suggested he might like to use the potty if he needed a wee. He did and was so proud of it he refused to wear a nappy from that day on - within a week or two he was reliably dry in the day. It's not too young for some kids so if she's keen I would try for a while with no pressure and see how it goes.

Thanks all. I really hadn't anticipated this but DD's been quick off the mark with most other developmental things so it wouldn't surprise me now if she just takes the initiative herself. She can be quite stubborn. Beela I had the same thoughts, except I was going to wait 'til spring at least. TBH I'm still trying to get my head around the logistics of it all - I think it's important that Mummy isn't rushed either!