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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

Potty training: Am I right to wait for sunnier weather?

25 replies

MiaSparrow · 11/03/2013 11:19

That's it, really. DD is 2.1 and I feel she's pretty much ready to start but I've always thought I'd do it late spring/early summer. I guess my question is, is there any harm in delaying it (apart from the expense of nappies, obvs). If you felt your DCs were ready in the winter months, did you wait? Thanks!

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kelda · 11/03/2013 11:20

My two girls were potty trained at about this time of year. I didn't find it a problem.

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 11/03/2013 11:22

No I didn't wait for summer.

I don't really understand the waiting for summer pov. If they're ready, they're ready.

ShowOfHands · 11/03/2013 11:27

DD started in the November. I'd do it when ready.

Original poster

MiaSparrow · 11/03/2013 11:27

Hmm, I've just heard that it's easier (especially for girls) to just let them wear a dress with nothing else on and let them wander about in the garden, that kind of thing...

OP posts:

Beehatch · 11/03/2013 11:28

Sunnier weather - what's that?

MirandaWest · 11/03/2013 11:29

DS was trained in January - was fine

Original poster

MiaSparrow · 11/03/2013 11:29

Haha! Yes, exactly. It might never come...

OP posts:

Pootles2010 · 11/03/2013 11:30

I'm trying to do it at the moment, can't say weather has affected it. I've tried letting him run round in the nip, but tbh I find it easier when he's got his trousers on because it stops it ending up on the sofa/carpet whatever. Jogging bottoms work well for absorbing things....

Original poster

MiaSparrow · 11/03/2013 11:32

That's interesting, Pootles. I guess they need to know when they've wet themselves too...

OP posts:

Chocotrekkie · 11/03/2013 11:37

I found it much easier to do dd1 in winter (dd2 was ready in summer). Winter i tended to be in house/church hall/soft play etc all which have nice close handy toilets. Summer tend to be in garden/park so you are constantly looking for closest loo or carrying a potty about with you.

Thick trousers help so accidents aren't leaking through onto floor/sofa etc.

Original poster

MiaSparrow · 11/03/2013 11:38

Thanks choc, yes these are exactly the kind of logistics I'm trying to get my head around.

OP posts:

MrsDonnieDarko · 11/03/2013 12:51

I wouldn't wait. I potty trained DS1 when he was 2.4 and it was this time of year. I found if I let him be naked it just went everywhere, also I wanted him to not 'forget' as soon as he was clothed again thinking he had a nappy on. I didn't just want him to associate using the potty and not having to pull his trousers down if that makes sense. If they're ready then they're ready and to be honest my DS1 only ever had 2 accidents so it wasn't such a big deal. good luck!

Cantbelieveitsnotbutter · 11/03/2013 12:55

I'm another vote for doing it now. If she's ready then crack on.

Bearcrumble · 11/03/2013 12:57

Just do it. You tend to stay at home for the first few days anyway. Sit her on the potty every half hour for the first day or so and then see how it goes. She could run around the house in just a top and skirt or cheapo leggings?

ZuleikaD · 11/03/2013 14:58

DS is 2.3 and although I think he'd be ready to give it a go I am absolutely waiting for sunnier weather. There's no way I'm going to hare around trying to put a child on a potty every 20 minutes (the idea is to train him, not me!), especially not with an older one (including necessarily pottyless school runs) and a new baby who'll hopefully be putting in an appearance any day now. With boys especially I think nappy-free garden time is great - nothing a boy likes better than realising he's got something to point at the roses to water them!

Cupcakemummy85 · 11/03/2013 15:05

I am personally waiting for the summer so my dd can run around with a too and no knickers and have a potty outside :) much easier I think.

notso · 11/03/2013 15:14

I think if they are really ready it shouldn't matter when you do it as it won't take long.
DD and DS1 were both done in a week at 2.9. I think DS2 is ready he is 2.3 have put it off as we have had lots of things going on so not really able to commit. I am thinking of giving it a go when we go on holiday in a couple of weeks though.

Original poster

MiaSparrow · 11/03/2013 15:34

Thanks so much for replies, all. Really interesting comments. OK, I'll start looking for some DD-approved little knickers then and maybe go for it in a couple of weeks. Eeek!

OP posts:

Pootles2010 · 11/03/2013 17:25

Oh take her with you, ds loved picking his pants out! It all helps.

Bearcrumble · 11/03/2013 18:11

It only took about 3 days of putting him on the potty before he started taking himself/going longer between sits. Don't bother starting before baby arrives as they usually regress.

elfycat · 11/03/2013 18:19

DD2 is about ready to go, she's telling me when she needs a poo (and gets put on a potty but doesn't do it yet). I think she'd be ready to do wees.

I'm trying to shift a chesty cough 5 weeks and counting so I have the energy/calmness to deal with it all before starting. The problem is DD1 (4) who had been brilliant in the day for months and uses the toilet. But if the potty is there she will use it and then spill it taking it to the toilet before I catch her. DD2 is not quite big enough to confidently use the toilet with a step.

BertieBotts · 11/03/2013 18:20

If you have a garden maybe, but if you're aware of her and mop up accidents quickly and thoroughly, you shouldn't have a problem even if you have carpet. Pants and trousers contain poo accidents much better than naked bums too! :)

MeAndTheBoys · 11/03/2013 18:57

Don't put it off. Just dragging things out. If she's ready then it's best to let her do it rather than get her used to ignoring her body's signals and ising nappies anyway. Bite the bullet! She'll be fine in cheap clothes and it stops the pee from going everywhere.

CecilyP · 11/03/2013 21:44

The only real advantage of waiting is that if it doesn't really work and she wets a lot of clothes, the extra washing will dry quicker outside. If it works just fine it doesn't really matter what time of year it is.

GoingtobeRuth · 11/03/2013 22:10

You have to do it when they are ready rather than when it is most convenient, you run the danger of giving the wrong message and I think it gets harder if you keep putting it off
We had planned a week at home, rolled up the rug, had pants and skirts and just kept the potty to hand. Keep asking, get her used to 'having a try', use rewards and stacks of praise.
By day two she only had one accident and was asking to use the potty, we went out with the potty on day 3 and she refused pull ups from thereon

Give it a go, at least move to pull ups so she is in more grown up pants that she can control

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