potty training- where and when to start

[MyLittleMiracles]

My little boy is just turned two and I think I should be Potty training him but how do I go about it? Is he ready? He also doesn't really say that many words though is quite bright. He runs around pretty much constantly. I am about to put him into his big boy bed next week too. I haven't tried before cos he has had a lot of upheaval. So just some advice please, and how long it will take, tips on how to etc and reassurance I am not a bad mum for not having done any of the above before.

I'm probably the last person to give you advice but will add my tuppenyoth to bump the htread. My DS is nearly 3 and although we have been trying to introduce potty training over the past year he is still in nappies and has no interest in keeping himself clean and dry. Every child is an individual, maybe your DS will take to it quickly and happily, no-one can tell you how long it will take though. Good luck!

Search on amazon for story books on the subject - DS's favourites are Zoo Poo and Everybody Poos.

My little one wont sit down for two minutes, I literally pick him up come 8 oclock and take him upstairs to bed or he would continue running around and then put him to bed wide awake, five minutes later and without a peep he is asleep so that is working well. I am glad he isnt super behind or anything.

Do you think you should potty train just because it's next on the list of things to do or because you think DS is ready? There are checklists on the internet of signs of readiness. My DS wasn't ready at 2, we left it until he was nearly three, far more verbal so we built up to it with lots of explanations about big boys using potties etc and he trained really easily. I'm so glad we didn't try it earlier even though there was some pressure to from others!

In the past (and still so on the continent), potty training started at 2. So I would give it a go, especially if he goes to nursery/preschool.

He doesnt go nursery or pre school, and doesnt seem interested in the potty, i started thinking as my friends started talking about doing it with theirs so thought hell he is behind. There is something I do want to do and that is to teach him to swim, he loves water and i nearly drowned cos i couldnt swim not nice so i want him never to feel that. But i am just not sure he is ready yet, i try regularly with him, but he wont go, and there is no point trying to force him, he knows mummy goes toilet, but not sure he knows why, cos i always tell him that mummy is sorry but mummy need the toilet, maybe i should try to let him sit on the toilet, rather than a potty?

I dont do checklists of what he should or shouldnt be doing, i just think he needs his big boy bed now cos he keeps getting his legs stuck in between the bars of his cot. so hence i think he should go into a proper bed cos he screams in pain and panic when it happens.

Too much too soon IMO. Why dont you put the potty in the bathroom and see if he wees in it before his bath? It is a good starting point. Also you say he doent say that many words so how will he tell you he needs a wee wee? Boys are notoriously slower than girls to potty train. Have done my dd at 2y 4months which is early and she got it in 3 days with only 2 accidents.

Get a potty story book and see if he understands the concept. If you start too early you risk getting him upset and you will have a lot of cleaning up to do.

Re the big bed...depends on how much you value your sleep. I am not getting rid if the bars till DD is over 2.5!!

Good luck!

Put him in a gro bag, he wont get his legs stuck that way!

I agree with whiteworm... Get a potty and a couple of books (we had pirate pete's pants and who's in the loo) and just gently introduce the idea. Talk him through what you do and let him see that.

And then just see what he makes of it.. My DS was 3.3yo when he was potty trained, but he got it within days. OTOH, my DD informed me on her second birthday that she was NOT wearing nappies any more (she was dry anyway, but I still had her in pull ups). They really are all so different.

My only advice is once they are confidently dry in the daytime, take them out of nappies at night too, as kids can become quite reliant on night nappies... I am a firm believer that once a child is physiologically dry, then they quickly need to become psychologically dry too. As soon as my kids were out of nappies in the day time, they stopped night nappies (they are now just 4 and nearly 3) and I'm a little shocked that most of their friends are still in night nappies.

Oh, and good luck. Whatever happens, there will be accidents and incidents

Oh, just read about the bed.... I put DS into a full size single at 2 and he now has a double bed (I cannot begin to say how useful this has been, as I or DH can hop in with him if he's up in the night, so he no longer considers getting out of bed). I moved DS as he could climb out of his cot. and DD went into a regular single bed at around 17-18 months... Just put a side rail on it. Never really considered it.

I was gonna put a rail thingy on it, thing is my little boy gets out of his sleeping bags how I don't know but he does. He can also get himself out of his pushchair leaving all the straps still done up.

Relieved he isn't behind. Thank you. It's just my two friends seem to think I should push him but we moved nearly three months ago so I have tried to keep everything as normal and unstressful as possible. I kept him in his routine and slept in his room the first night (i had no mattress but spare bed did, and we had been sharing a room)

Tbh I am also worried about being a bad mum.

Thank you. I am glad there is no rush. Xx

I really don't think you are a bad mum!

My DS is 22months. I have just bought him a potty and ordered 'Potty Training Boys' and 'Pirate Pete's Potty' (or something- can't quite remember the title). My DS has just watched his CM's DD potty train and as a result is very interested. He has been telling me he's about to have a poo for a while and is now saying 'I poo, need potty' (presumably picked up from CM's DD) so I figure the time is coming.

I am a teacher so am going to leave it until the summer holidays. I am under a bit of pressure because I would really like to start him in a Montessori school at 2.5 that requires the children to be dry. If you are not under that kind of pressure I really wouldn't worry yet.

go and buy as many potties as you have rooms, boy friendly potties, they are cheap.

place one in each room, hallway, and back garden,

explain that they are his, every time he uses a potty successfully massive amounts of praise,

When he has demonstrated he has control reduce amount of potties.

having a handy potty everywhere increases the success rate, which increases the confidence,

two of mine hated potties, and went straight onto the loo, so buy a decent step and loo seat, one that doesn't wobble.

I have a 10 month old son and just bought a book out of interest, and it says that toddlers should be doing certain things before they are ready. Ie taking on certain requests like putting their toys away, dressing themselves etc.
My son is far too young at the moment, but there are tippitoes potties on Amazon for £4 which have rave reviews esp for boys as they have a high front.
Good luck x