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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

7mth sitting on the potty / Elimination control - has anyone done this?

18 replies

theprecious · 19/02/2008 17:38

I have also posted in Nappies section. I need help to convince dh it's worth it.

I am not looking to potty train ds - I know he's too young. However I am wondering if sitting in on the potty when I do nappy changes will mean I can train him a bit earlier.

What age did people start sitting thier Los n the potty?

Also does anyone think it's worth it putting him on the potty when I know he is having a poo mid dinner?

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BlueberryPancake · 19/02/2008 19:51

I have never heard of anyone doing that and I can't see any benefit to it, personally. I can't see any benefit in potty training a toddler 'earlier' either. Many books say that when potty training, it can be confusing to put a nappy on, and off again, and sit on the potty some times but not other times. When you go for potty training, it should be because the child is ready. In my opinion, it can be confusing for a baby/toddler to have wees and poos sometimes in the potty, sometimes in a nappy.

ArmadilloDaMan · 19/02/2008 20:05

there are a few mners who practice it.

I didn't do it myself (am far too lazy for anything proactive ) but I don't see why it would cause any problems.

ArmadilloDaMan · 19/02/2008 20:07

there's a thread here on it.

ArmadilloDaMan · 19/02/2008 20:08

there's also a good post here by MYBeautifulBabyGirl

ArmadilloDaMan · 19/02/2008 20:09

and some links on this one

MaeWest · 19/02/2008 20:12

When I first heard of this I thought it was a load of hippy bollox , but having read more about it, it seems to make a lot of sense. I don't think it would do any harm to put them on the potty at regular times e.g. after nap, before meals and see if you can 'catch' anything. After all, babies learn things like 'if I'm sitting in my highchair, dinner must be on the way'.

Although know what you mean about pooing during meals, DS did this for a while, he seemed to operate on a one in/one out policy . There is definitely a gap in the market for a highchair/commode combo...

TeenyTinyTorya · 19/02/2008 20:13

I started sitting my baby on the pot when he was 6 months old, he is now 11 months. I decided to do this because I wanted him to be used to the potty, before he was old enough to make a fuss about sitting on it.

He always pooed after a meal, so I sat him on the pot after each meal and then before bed. He now shows interest in what he has done, and I have noticed several times that he will start making noises as if he is going to poo, and then holds it until I take him to the potty.

I think there is no harm in it, it prevents dirty nappies for both of us, and I am not trying to "train" him, just make things easier when that time comes.

NellyTheElephant · 20/02/2008 11:22

My SIL did this from 5 months. It wasn't something I was interested in as I'm a bit too lazy and found nappies convenient, but she had great results, her DD picked up on pooing in the potty really quickly and I don't think she had a single dirty nappy from about 10 months on. It really helps if they have a consistent pooing pattern - so yes, if you know mid dinner is the time then go for it and you'll probably soon find he holds it until you put him on the potty after diner. My SILs DD didn't actually fully potty train any earlier than normal (her DD was out of nappies completely just before 2), but she was really pleased not to have to deal with any poo nappies. Another friend of mine (DD just turned one) did the same although she only started around 9 months. Her DD now does all poos in the potty. One word of caution - you really need to get started with this before they are crawling!! They need to get used to the idea before they can just up and leave!! If you get them used to the idea before they are moving you are more likely to have good results.

WigWamBam · 20/02/2008 11:25

Search the archive for posts by Babies Everywhere. She has lots of information on elimination communication.

Piffle · 20/02/2008 11:28

My tip
Wait until they are nearly 3 and begging to use the toilet
Dry day and night in minutes
no mess to clean straight onto the toilet, no potty faffing
But what would I know, I have better things to do than interrupt my kids mid dinner and sit them on the toilet.

Original poster

theprecious · 20/02/2008 14:52

ArmadillioDaMan - thanks for the great links.

MeaWest - my parents had a highchair with a potty in it for all of us, my little sister is 20 now. I remember the deal, do you want to clear the table or empty the potty? It was always a gamble, had she done a poo or not? I don't think you can get them anymore.

NellytheElephant - good tip about the crawling. I will get on with it. We caught another poo this morning after his morning nap. I am loving the lack of dirty nappies.

I tried holding him over a toilet when out this lunchtime when I saw the Poo Face but he didn't poo. Interestingly he didn't poo in his nappy wither though.

OP posts:

There · 24/02/2008 19:27

There's no harm in your child knowing what a potty's for.

I started with my older daughter from 6 months but didn't mean she was potty trained any earlier. In the end I had to wait for her to ask to wear pants because by the time I tried proper potty training, I think she'd had enough of the potty. I won't be bothering with my second daughter...

I agree with Piffle - it's good to just by-pass the potty.

viggoswife · 24/02/2008 19:32

Agree with Piffle - straight to the toilet with his own Winnie the Pooh seat worked for us.

Original poster

theprecious · 25/02/2008 11:25

There - wasn't it worth it not to change 100s of pooey nappies? That's what I am enjoying so far.

OP posts:

HonoriaGlossop · 25/02/2008 11:34

Totally agree with piffle

Far more hassle to do all the lugging about to and fro the potty, emptying the potty, and just having this as something you even have to THINK about, than it is to change a nappy!

If the child is ready potty/toilet training won't even be a chore - with my ds it was instant, he was ready

HonoriaGlossop · 25/02/2008 11:35

A nappy will suffice, surely

cory · 25/02/2008 13:28

Took 3 days to potty train dd at the age of 2.5. Simply by explaining to her what we wanted done.

Before that, we had two years of freedom to travel around the country and abroad, to visit friends' houses, go around museums and exhibitions, eat in restaurants without lugging a potty around. Took her all the way on the train to Berlin when she was 23 months- great fun. But I think the other passengers might have raised an eyebrow if we'd sat her on the potty in mid-carriage.

I just can't imagine the constraints of having had to build my day around the need to catch a poo. Particularly not when you are on your second or third child, so are dealing with the preschool run, social whirl etc.

The point with traditional potty-training is that you wait until your child can hold on for a few minutes so you can take them to the toilet away from other people.

HonoriaGlossop · 25/02/2008 13:29

exactly cory

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