Potty training and big bed for toddler - best to do before new baby comes?

[ViolaCrayola]

My DS is 2.5 and still in nappies and sleeps in a cot. He shows no interest in potty/toilet training or going into a big bed (says 'no don't want to' when we mention it in a positive way), but we haven't actually tried either yet.

I am pregnant with DC2, due early Sept. We are keen to get DS potty trained and in a big bed before then BUT he seems to be a bit unsettled by my pregnancy (especially as I've been ill) and I'm just wondering if this is a bad time to be introducing these new things. He seems to just want everything to stay the same at the moment.

What did other people do? If we wait until the baby is a few months old then he will be 3 and is due to start pre-school in January (needs to be toilet trained). Any experiences/advice would be much appreciated :)

I started toilet training with DS2 when he was 3 and it was much quicker, easier and less 'wet' then when I tried DS1 earlier. Neither DS1 or DS2 were consistently toilet trained when they started pre-school but I just sent them in pants, put them on the toilet as we arrived and accepted any wet pants when I picked them up! Our pre-school was fairly casual about wet clothes luckily. You may find that even if you work hard on toilet training before the baby arrives (which is not easy when you are pregnant) he regresses anyway when the baby is born

We were lucky with the 'big bed' we chose a very special duvet with our DS1 and he was so excited that he loved his big bed. If there is room you could set up the big bed in his room and spent lots of fun time there reading special stories, snuggling under the duvet together etc before bed. My friend tried this to help her DS1.

Good Luck!

Thanks loris - we have tried potty training for the last few days but it was a bit of a disaster - DS v resistant. So we've decided to leave it for a while.

Big bed wise I am having doubts about that too - as DS just sleeps so well ATM, I am pregnant, ill (SPD) and we are both exhausted. Don't think we could cope with broken nights - but then the other choice is having them with a baby in tow too! He has plenty of room in his cot, doesn't climb out and likes it. Sleeps unbroken every night, down with no fuss, from 7-7 or 8. Can I risk changing this?!

Has anyone got any thoughts on moving to big bed before or after a new baby arrives?

Ds1 is 3.2 and ds2 is 4wks, I started potty training ds1 at 2.5 as I wanted it done before ds2 but he also seemed ready and interested, even though he's been in pants (other than nap/nighttime) for months we're still having some regression now and more accidents. If your ds isn't ready/interested then I wouldn't push it.

With a big bed I did move him at 2.9, he was also sleeping happily in his cot and slept well and I was v worried about broken nights as also had bad SPD when pg with ds2. We were also moving him from the nursery to a new room so I made a big deal about his new big boy's room and he helped me decorate it/choose things for it & choose bedding for his big bed. When I did the move I made a big fuss about it and he helped to move all his cuddly toys and clothes etc to his new room. He has continued sleeping through for 12hrs no problem and is v proud of his room & bed and likes to show all visitors! He hasn't regressed with that at all with the arrival of ds2. I'm v glad that he was settled in his big bed and new room 2months before ds2's arrival as when ds2 goes into the nursery when he's 6mths then I don't think it'll be an issue for ds1 at all that he's in his old room.

Not sure there's any right answer though! Depends what suits your ds/you

Interesting thread!

I'm due DC2 in August and was wondering the same thing regarding potty training DS.

He moved into a toddler bed on his 2nd birthday (back in February) and it has never been a problem as he was delighted with his new fancy bedclothes :)

I have no advice, but do think it's okay to go with the flow as when the baby comes he will be out of sorts for a few weeks (I imagine) so having the comfort of his cot etc will be good for him.

we did big bed but not potty training before DS2.

DS1 was 2.3 at Christmas and got a toddler bed as a present. i was all for a single bed with nice covers, but was persuaded to get a novelty one which to be fair he loves.

we just put the bed in on Christmas morning and he slept in it that night. he got out once, just cos he could, but amazingly stays in all night since after DH told him just to shout when he wanted to get up.

he still sleeps just as well as in his cot, we went from sleeping bag to duvet too and kept story routine the same.

it's a lot less effort when pg not having to lift in and out!

potty training postponed till after we've been on holiday when he'll be 2.10...

Thanks for the replies - good to know what others have done. I am still really in two minds about the cot to bed thing... but I guess we could always try it out and then change back?

I like the idea of DS having the comfort of his cot Needles but OTOH it would be brilliant not to have to deal with lifting him in and out jaggy I agree!

Did your toddlers drop their nap (if they still had one) when the went in a big bed? That's my other fear!

nope, still a 2-3 hours boy, unless we have visitors that are too exciting. DS2 is now nearly 7 weeks old and things going ok.

DS still naps in his bed, although he does seem to be able to go 3-4 days a week without napping now.

DS took to his bed like a duck to water so I didn't have to worry about tantrums, upsets or confusion. But I've read some threads about other kids who got upset when taken from a cot and put in a bed. No way of knowing till it happens, I suppose!

DS does have the odd day without a nap, but is grumpy as anything by tea time!

Yep, change to a bed now so that he doesn't feel pushed out of the cot when the baby arrives (presumably you'll need it for the new baby?) but leave potty training until later.. it's so much easier once they're 3+ and many children regress when they have a new sibling so you may find you have to do it all over again anyway!