CM Club: toilet training - how young is too young?

[Numberfour]

I have not had much experience with potty training little ones. One of my dad's has said that he wants the potty train their son in about a month's time because he is showing readiness. The he mentioned that the little one is able to stop and start mid stream when in the bath.

The child will be 2 at the end of April. I think this is a little young.... or is it possible?

Of course I would support the parents as best I can, but I do think that 23 months is quite young. Or am I wrong?

sorry for the typos!!
he wants TO potty train....
THEN he mentioned.....

all 3 of my children were potty trained at about 2. My dd was 18 months when she started using the potty and the boys slightly later.

It really comes down to each child and how ready they are

I would be observing the child at your house & looking at what signs he shows there. Is his nappy often dry when you change it. Does he stop & look at you as he wees, or tell you he's done one? Does he point to the toilet as he wees? etc. It is not unusual for a child to be 'ready' at home long before they are at a CM setting for various reasons, but mainly because at home the potty training can be the main focus whereas you may have 2 other little ones to deal with as well and have other priorities. The child may be more distracted at yours if there is lots going on & you are out & about. Also, there is a BIG difference between a child being aware that they are DOING a wee compared to knowing that they NEED to do one, and having the bladder control to wait whilst they tell you, get to the loo, get their clothes down & actually on the loo/potty
2 is quite young for a boy, although not unreasonable, but they need to be able to communicate to you what they need & be able to wait if necessary.I would suggest to the parents they encourage the child to tell them (& you) if they need a wee and take them too the toilet, maybe sit on the loo/potty after each nappy change etc for a while. This is a kind of potty/toilet orientation and then you can go for it when you all feel he can cope

Thanks, PaulaMKB and CAH. Both of you gave useful advice.

The little one is not showing any signs of readiness at all, imo. I think that rather that discuss this with the parents now, I will wait until they are back from their trip abroad.

That sounded SO patronising: "Both of you gave useful advice"! I did not mean it to be at all

I have had children between 18 months and 4 yrs old.

I have also had children trained with me, but not at home and the other way around.

Maybe he will be toilet trained while he is on his trip abroad?

Hi, HSMM
The boy's father mentioned starting once they got back. However, they are going into summer so perhaps they may start while away. Not sure.

I am not particularly concerned about it. I just was a bit surprised that they are considering trying already when the child is only 23 months. But it seems that this is possible.

My DD was reliably potty trained by 2 BUT I think she was unusual because she was desperate to do what her older brother was doing and she was talking in full sentences by then so it was easy to have a conversation about what was going on. My DS was 'done' at about 2 and a quarter and it was hardwork (my choice to go the hard work route rather than wait until older) and achieved within a reasonable timescale only because I had him 1:1. I would be very reluctant to do the lions share of the potty training work with a boy that young.

My DD started using potty at 18m and was reliable for both poo and wee before her 2nd birthday, but she did have regressions. At the moment (nearly 2.5) she has done a poo EVERY DAY in her pants for nearly a month, but I have to say that I think she may have some sort of constipation issue as she tells me she doesn't know she's doing it ... could just be a fib of course!

My mindee who is 2 1/4 has absolutely no idea that he is having a wee and doesn't care that he's done a poo in his nappy, but will tell you yes or no if you directly ask him if he's pood.

Another mindee (girl) who's 2 in May has made no attempts at taking nappy off or sitting on potty etc, all things that my DD did, she was desperate to do it but in hindsight I would probably wait until at least 2 if I were to have another child.

the most important thing about potty training is that the parent doesnt expect the cm to start from scratch(ok there are other factors but that one always ticks me off)

if dad is anxious... and it may be a compatative dad thing or indeed child may be ready.. whatever it is the parent should initiate the start over a long weekend or a holiday..

I wont initiate potty training or help from day one as I am not a nursery with wipe clean floors.. I work in my house and quite frankly dont want it to smell of piss or worse all of the time.. accidents always happen and thats fine but make sure you are ASSISTING with potty training and not initiating it..

thats my advice...

and btw if a child comes to your house in a nappy then the parents arnt with the programme..

Thanks for all the replies.

The child is with me 3 days a week, so when the parents decide to start p'training, I will ask them to do so on the start of their long weekend. I am happy that they would not take advantage of me and I am sure that I would guide them as needs be. That does not concern me. What worried me is that the child is too young.

He is not showing any signs of readiness. Awareness, yes. Readiness, no.

I will not say anything until they get back from their time away.