Should I attempt potty training now?

[BendydickCuminsnatch]

For whatever reason, this morning DS (26 months) ended up nappy-less while I was brushing my teeth this morning. I could tell he needed a wee so said "Don't wee on the carpet!". He came and tried to get in the bath (he wees at bath time a lot!) but couldn't so instead he climbed onto his step and weed into the loo! Wahoo!

Totally get it could just be a fluke, I was imagining potty training much closer to age 3. I don't see the point in trying before he's ready and failing. I was planning on waiting until he's definitely ready.

I don't want to overwhelm him - recent/upcoming changes he has:

Starting nursery next month

New brother in November

Just moved to single bed

Just got rid of bottles

Our only loo is upstairs, could get a potty for downstairs but if he's weeing standing up at the loo upstairs, wouldn't that be confusing? He knows when he needs to poo I think but I should probably start paying more attention.

If you think I should go for it, any tips? How does one potty train somebody? Thanks!

Exactly the same situation with my little girl who is also 26 months!! We've had the potty hanging around for ages and she doesn't really get that but we randomly bought a seat and a step for the toilet from Aldi (just berceuse they were there) and she decided to go and do a poo on it!!! Then yesterday I just let her be naked and she did 5 wees on the toilet but had one accident when I'd put her clothes on (but no nappy)

She's gone to nursery with her nappy on though. I've ordered her some knickers - so going to try those on this afternoon and see how it goes.

I would try some naked time and see how it goes. You can always abort if it seems like it was random. I'm not really sure what you are meant to do when you want to go out tho!?

Sounds like you and DD have done really well so far buck!

Thanks, it's a bit daunting isn't it! x

Read the Oh Crap potty training book! It's great. It gives you a rationale and a structure which I needed because I didn't have a clue! I used it when DD was 22mo because she was refusing nappies.

Thanks tea, my friend has read that but I can't find time to read! Really I'd just like insight into whether it sounds like a bad idea or not and tips on what to do.

Another wee in the loo just now though! Because his nappy was off. Do you just have them nappy-less and that's it?

It's really worth reading because it's hard to convey why potty training earlier than MN generally suggests sounds like a good idea without being able to give you all of her rationale! It's honestly a really quick read, you only need to read the first couple of chapters anyway. And it's on kindle/iTunes/PDF if it helps!

Basic idea is this:

Readiness - between 20 and 30 months, can have a tantrum about something, can ask/demand something (doesn't have to be words), can push their own trousers down

If that's ok, she says go for it.

Block 1 - naked ( or top only if you have to). Watch child like a hawk to see what signal they give before they wee/poo. Once you see that signal, move them to the potty. If they start to wee, move them mid wee saying something like 'wee goes in the potty'. The idea is getting them to link the feeling of needing a wee with knowing where to put it.

Block 2 (could be day 2/3/4 depending on child) - dress in top and trousers, NO underwear. Carry on as block one but with trousers. Don't use underwear because it gives them the secure feeling of having something like a nappy on so they wee. Hopefully things will be clicking by now. Try to do short trips out of the house increasing each day. We were back to normal life by day 5, DD went to nursery on day 9.

Block 3 (about 3 weeks after you start) - Dress top, trousers and underwear. I didn't even mention the underwear just put it on her.

It might sound a lot but it's honestly doable. I had 22mo DD and DS was 6 weeks at the time. But it really would be better to skim the book than follow my ramble!

That's really helpful, I'm going to get the kindle version now, it's clearly worked well and sounds simple enough (famous last words ). I can find time to MN so surely I can find time to read. I think potty downstairs and loo upstairs. I never thought about no underwear, that's a good idea. Only problem is I have a lot of childcare coming up with pregnancy appts and stuff so might be a lot to ask of other people. But hopefully he'll get it quickly, he can do all the things in the 'readiness' section.

Thanks for the info!

Don't use a potty. It's twice the training ! Straight away do the toilet and a step so he can reach . Iv never understood why anyone would use a potty as it means you then have to train to use a toilet . With all 4dcs Iv always went from nappies to the toilet . My last 2 dads have been 3years old before they were ready . I never have pushed them to do it and always waited till they showed signs of being un comfortable in their nappies .

I think potty downstairs and toilet upstairs is going to be very confusing for a 2 year old

I used a potty in the living room (I had a cluster feeding 6 week old at the time so couldn't always run to the toilet with DD!) and then a toilet seat and step in the downstairs loo and upstairs bathroom. DD has never had a problem switching between the two. She just uses the toilet these days though (29mo).

Hope you manage to get a minute to have a read of the book. It totally changed my idea of what potty training is. The key workers in DD's nursery have since read it as well because they were so intrigued about the no knicker idea.

Good luck!

OK well I've got some stuff arriving tomorrow - toilet seat, fold up toilet seat for when out, and a potty. Starting the book now. 2 free weeks coming up then a busy September so going to give it a go now! Prepared to abort though.

We've had mixed success yesterday / today, but overall good I think! She didn't really understand the knickers yesterday and weed twice so I just let her run round naked for the rest of the day. Tried her again this morning and she had one accident first thing but has then been dry all day!!

However! She did the biggest poo in the history of time not on the toilet. We then went to the supermarket and I just darned risk another knicker poo!!! So she went in her nappy. Is that really confusing for them? When we got back she hasn't weed in her nappy.

Well done buck. I'm going to start on Mon.

Really enjoying the Oh Crap book!

Any more advice anyone? Mainly about overwhelming DS with lots of changes? I am definitely seeing benefits to getting it done before the baby comes, and I do think he's capable of it.

Another vote for the Oh Crap book. We are on week 5 now with pants and it works!

Yep. Oh crap all the way.
Just stay calm and don't pester and then enjoy no nappies!!

Ok! I'm so excited actually! No more wees in the loo since Thurs but that's ok... have been casually mentioning saying bye to nappies, and we chose some pants today. Also got some pull ups and bed mats, as haven't finished the whole book yet so not sure what it suggests re those.

How do you see if he needs a wee without asking though? Or do you ask, just not all the time? I'm sure the book is just about to go through all the signs etc, I'll just read the book.

It's so true what the book says about potty training vs walking, sitting, other milestones... you don't reward those, or expect those not to happen, so why is potty training any different? Also agree with what she says re sitting in poo is not very dignified - think he's definitely getting to that age.

Still not sure what to do having our only toilet upstairs - potty downstairs and upstairs, or potty downstairs and toilet (sitting) upstairs? Or just stay upstairs for 3 days (torture!)?? My mum did say when we were buying this house that it would be a nightmare for potty training

Personally I'd just use the potty for the first few days until he's got the hang of it. Easier to carry the potty upstairs than run upstairs to the loo mid wee every time!

Don't ask him if he needs a wee as a question - too easy to say no! Try to figure out what his pre-wee sign is (DD just stopped for a second!) and move to the loo using a statement like 'come on, it's time to wee.' Use a similar statement if you need him to try because you want to go out or something.

I presume you're using a nappy when he's sleeping still? If so, that will be the only time he has a nappy on from tomorrow.

Good luck! You can't have wine can you?!

We only have a toilet upstairs. DS is happy to use the potty downstairs and upstairs. He will use the toilet sometimes. My little one's wee sign is touching his bottom with one hand!

OK thanks so much for the advice, it's really helpful to have somewhere to ask questions!

Potty it is then.

I can't have wine, ugh! I will make sure to get the chocolate in though

This is my house right now - note the prosecco frosted potty!

Ohhhh Prosecco! Well deserved How old is your DS?

Potty I amazoned is tiny and DS is the height of a 3 year old so have frantically ordered a Potty Chair to arrive Monday morning - starting on mon and hopefully will make do until it arrives! DS was waaaaaay into his new pants, tried them on at bed time, wore 3 pairs at once! Also have toilet seat and fold up toilet seat for changing bag so hopefully something will work!

He's nearly 31 months. He's just learning to pull pants and trousers down!

Only 45 mins into day 1, but what do I do if he won't sit on the potty? The book is like, simply put the child mid-stream onto the pot! But he doesn't seem a potty fan. 2 juice cartons in though and no wee yet. He deffo needs a poo but is scared to do it (they're quite difficult for him anyway).

Also what do I do if he holds it in all day and we get no practice?

My friend's DS didn't do many wees the first 2 days. She tried to back off a bit (outwardly calm! ) and not hover too much and just move when it finally happened.

I wouldn't give too much extra liquid too early. Just see how the morning goes.

and !