How do you start?

[spikeycat]

DS1 (18 months) now squats when he is doing a poo in his nappy and holds the front of it when he is weeing. He knows what wee wee and poo poo mean and I have had a potty lying around for weeks. I have told him the potty is for wee wee's and poo poo's but still nothing. I know he is a little young but what with his terrible nappy rash (another thread) I thought it might be time to start but don't know where to go from here?

18 months is quite young, but with the fine weather you could just let him run round in the garden with no clothes on and if he starts to go, leap in with the potty, and give him lots of praise (and chocolate if you're like me?) and just take it from there. You'll soon work out if he's ready.

18 months might be a little ambitious for wees, but dd1 was doing her poos on the potty from about this time. Not sure how I managed it, I think she was pretty regular, so I'd pop her on knowing she was due to do one and that's how she got the hang of it. However, didn't do wees on the potty until 2 and a half years old, and has only last week come out of night nappies (nearly 5 now). Dd2 has literally just started potty training and she turned 3 on Friday, so all different and do things at own pace. (Sorry, bit of a cliche)

Best way to get child interested that I have found is to buy a load of attractive pants which they will want to wear, and try them on and have a go, sitting child on the potty at regular intervals. But would also reiterate Musica's good advice - namely, let him run naked in the summer outside. That way you won't have to clear up any mess!

Spikeycat will watch your progress with interest. DD (21 months) has been doing the same as your DS for a while now but I have decided not to train yet as we haven't got enough free days to stay at home and do it, so will wait til after our holiday in July.

Just going to add my usual encouraging thing about how potty-training at this age is entirely possible and IME much easier!

Take him to choose a potty, get a potty book and see what happens.

agree with most of what musica says but have seen numerous threads on MN about probs getting kids who trained "nude" or without pants to start wearing them and using potty.