19mths - too young to potty train?

[Fizog]

I have no idea what age I should start potty training but dd is showing a real interest in the toilet (well all things bathroom related really).

She's 80% of the time dry at night and can answer correctly when asked "Have you done a poo?" and "Have you done a wee?" but I'm not sure I'd be able to catch her in time with a potty.

Can you give up training if you start or once started is best to keep going?

DD is 21 months and she's been dry day and night since 20. I had a potty for her yonks ago, and anytime I went to the loo, I brought her in with me, and now and then she'd sit on her 'toilet' too. But, we only actively started trying at the beginning of January. I was trying to help her to feel less shy about pooing, as since she could crawl, she would hide to go in her nappy, and I thought it was going to make for a hard time with potty training. In the end, we hid her potty in her favourite hiding place, and she was comfortable to use it then. I couldn't skip pottys with her, as she's a low weight, and would definitely fall in, toddler seat or not! She goes to creche for 2 hours, one afternoon a week, and I think they really made all the difference. They seem to have all sorts of tricks for making it a fun game, and instilling confidence in my DD!
So, yes, I'm one of those ridiculous people who'd whip a potty out just about anywhere! (Usually restrict it to the car though!) but if that's what makes DD happy, I don't have a problem with it!

dd2 has also often been constipated (not mobile at all) and we give her about 20mls lactulose per day plus the Fortini milk with added fibre. Things seem to have got a bit better recently, not sure why, but we do occasionally have to give her a suppository, which isn't pleasant for her or us but necessary as nothing else works. Same here lou with the effect on appetite, dd2 is just beginning to pick up now she's not so constipated.

BTW TC, we have always diluted the lactulose in a full cup of drink and it definitely still works. Hope that works for Lottie!

ThomCat, I'm so sorry to hear that Lottie is still suffering - I thought her bowels were better. I haven't read the whole thread, so if I repeat others sorry, but here's my twopennyworth: as you know, my ds suffered dreadfully with his bowels, and sitting on the potty to poo seemed to make an enormous difference. It could have been that we tried that just at the point things were going to improve anyway, but maybe the posture did help, it's suppposed to be more natural to poo with your knees higher than your hips. We used an ordinary potty, placed near the wall, and I or dh (or both!) sat right next to him with an arm around him to comfort him and support him if needed. Can Lottie ballance herself well if she sits on a step, for example, so that her feet are lower than her bottom? If so, maybe a fairly contoured potty (Baby Bjorn?) would be suitable, or, of course, a pottychair.

Fizog, we tried training ds at about 20m, because he showed clear awareness and understanding, but gave up after a few days. He couldn't give us enough warning, and, although he was clearly improving on wee-control, he himself was getting distressed at not getting it right. Pooing just wasn't working at all, but that might have been because of his bowel problem. We tried again almost a year later and it took just 2 days with only 1 accident. We started on the potty, lugging it around everywhere for a while, then moved on to the toilet as soon as he was ready. We'd had the potty and toilet seat for ages, so he was quite familiar with them.

I don't think there's any harm done by trying and then stopping, as long as you don't keep chopping and changing. I would leave at least 3-6months beetween attempts.

BTW, I really rate the Rymax Family Seat - even for tiny toddlers - it's excellent.

Just thought I would steal this thread for one minute, if you all don't mind. Ds2 as you probably know has cerebral palsy. Today his specially ordered toiletting chair arrived, and within 10 mins of sitting on it he did a wee! He's 3 next week btw and fully in nappies usually. Am very proud of him, even if it turns out to be a one off .

well done little lou, on his new loo

He's done another one!

hurray!!!

ThomCat et all....I posted this ages ago for you on constipation, but don't know if you ever saw it, here goes. If you did see it and I am being a pain in the a**, please ignore then! This is what I tried for my DD and we had GREAT Luck with relieving her constipation. My DD was potty trained very early I did a post about this somewhere on the site already, but she did not want to poo in toilet for quite a bit. She would ask me for a diaper, we would put in on and then she would croutch down (bend her knees) and go right there and then have me help her get the diaper off--whatever works I say! She did this for 3 weeks or so and then we went to the potty. I also kept her in diapers at night until much later and we never discussed training at night (she was a terrible sleeper anyway).

Here is the info:

ARKOCAPS ISPAGHULA 100 Capsules
Distributed by Arkopharma US, New York City, NY 10956.
From the bottle:
Use as a supplement to your daily diet. It can also be taken by mixing the powder into hot water and drinking it as tea. Take one capsule with each meal or follow the advice of your health professionals advice.

I gave Rachel 1/4 of the capsule of powder in some applesauce starting once a day. Sometimes that was enough to do the trick, if not, I would give 1/4 capsule of powder at lunch and dinner. Ispaghula is derived from the husk of the Plantago Ovata seed. I found it here for you on the web or you can go to the local health food store I am sure: www.worldwideshoppingmall.co.uk/body-soul/ispaghula.asp
The company website I found is: www.electramed.ie/arkopharma.htm
look in: www.electramed.ie/ark_digestion.htm to find the Ispaguhula recommendation for constipation, I didn't even know this was used when dieting or to lower cholesterol!

Here is more info from the web: www.electramed.ie/phytofibre-ispaghula.htm

Phytofibre-Ispaghula
Plantago ovata

Recommended for
SLIMMING DIET (HELPS REDUCE THE APPETITE AND SLOWS DOWN THE ABSORPTION OF FOOD - CONSTIPATION - HELPS LOWER CHOLESTEROL AND TRIGYCERIDE LEVELS (REDUCING THEIR ABSORPTION)

Presentation
430 mg per capsule of total plant cryoground powder, 20% of mucilage

Part used
the seed husks

THE FIBRE EFFECT :
Ispaghula is a plant belonging to the Plantaginacea family which often grows in Pakistan and India. The teguments of the seeds are rich in mucilage. This forms in the stomach, when mixed with cold water, a gel which is not assimilated by the organism but which has multiple benefits. Ispaghula is particularly appreciated during slimming diets for two main reasons : firstly, it naturally takes the edge off hunger ; secondly it slows down the absorption of food during digestion and especially sugar and fat therefore minimizing calorie intake. This high viscosity gel is beneficial to re-educate the intestinal tract which breaks the vicious circle of "classic" laxatives. It increases the volume and the hydration of the stools, making their elimination easier. Also, by covering the intestine walls, it has a protective action. This gel can also absorb bile salts which will be then evacuated along with the stools instead of being held within the intestine. So, the liver will have to use cholesterol to make more bile salts and in this way Ispaghula will reduce the cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Please remember for slimming : can only be used with a calorie controlled diet.

Dosage (For Adults)
Take 2 capsules with a large glass of water before each meal. The intake can be increased to 4 capsules