Best age to start potty training? Best way to potty train?

[HeyBaby]

DS is now 9 months old and his keycarer at day care said that her DS was potty trained at 8 m.o.! Anyway, we have now bought the equipment but not sure how to go about it. DS isn't that regular and the times we have realised he is "pushing", it's been too late to rush him over to the potty and pull his nappy off etc. We have tried sitting him on the potty a couple of times but he seems bemused at first and then just bored and wants to get off and crawl around and explore.

Don't really want to buy another Gina Ford book, so does anyone have any advice or tips on how to go about this whole potty training thing?

Thanks in advance

My mum says I was dry in day at 11 mnths but not
at night till 2. She has no reason to lie, so I
believe her!

My dd is now 2.1 & has been telling me & dh for
over 5 mnths now when she needs a number 1/2.

Can we get her to do on the potty, can we B*gger.

She is v.forward, putting 5/6 words together & is
v.bright in other areas but potty training has become a bit of a nightmare. Going to leave it for now, she has the potty at her disposal, has done 1 wee on it, So we're gona leave it up to
her if she chooses to use it. But we also add
incentives like Buttons!

My ds is 2 and has had the potty around for a while, but certainly doesn't like using it! I have had a 'comment' from my dad that he shouldn't be in nappies because I was potty trained at 18months, but who really gives a sh*t. It's easier for me and it's easier for him. I won't push him into it beacause 'the potty' might become a thing to be afraid of (like in look who's talking - haha). I just leave him nekkid to do his own thing and if he sits on it and goes-bonus, if not-big deal. He can't/won't say many words yet so he can't tell me when he needs the toilet!

I am PT my ds at the moment (on day 5) and he is almost 3, I believe in leaving it as long as possible in the hope that the process will be quicker, certainly as he is more articulate, understands more, and is more able to do things for himself eg wash his hands it has made things easier. He has also been quite motivated, as he is at the age when he wants to be very independent and do everything for himself and we have played on this and encouraged him to take himself to the toilet, wash and dry his hands himself etc, and lots of praise. We haven't had to use any bribery...yet!!! And he's doing very well - almost all wees in the toilet, poos he is finding more difficult but the point is that I know I have his co-operation. For the moment at least...