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Parenting

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Original poster

Is 17 months too early to think about potty training?

28 replies

BroccoliSpears · 24/10/2007 14:01

I have no intention of rushing dd to potty train and am quite surprised to be thinking about it to be honest. Let me explain...

Dd has recently started getting quite upset about weeing and pooing. She was distraught to poo in the bath and very tearful when she came to find me to tell me she had weed on the floor. She is a bit of a naturist and so obviously accidents on the carpet happen - dp and I have never been anything but positive and low-key about these. She also seems to have started getting upset about going in her nappy, insisting on having her nappy changed as soon as she has done anything - wees particularly.

Other factors to consider...

She knows what her potty is for and likes to sit teddy on it to do a poo, then she wipes his bum.
She likes her potty and will sit happily on it as it's been around for months.
She sometimes tells me when she needs to go.
She is very interested in her father and my loo habits, sternly informing us whether we're doing a wee or a poo, and then cheerfully waving "bye bye wee!" as we flush.
She takes her nappy off the second she has a chance to. Doesn't seem to like wearing it.

But on the other hand...

She's only 17 months.
I don't think she's quite coordinated enough to pull her trousers and pants down and sit on the potty. Though I suppose she can take them off completely.
Whenever she has asked to sit on the potty or loo (mini loo seat), she obviously has no idea what she's doing there and although we always oblige and sit her on it she has never once done anything either on the loo or in the potty.

What do you think? 17 months seems young to me, but as she's my only experience of children perhaps I'm wrong and it isn't.

What would you do?

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doggiesayswoof · 24/10/2007 14:06

I would carry on doing what you are doing - it's great that she's becoming aware of what's happening in her nappy and getting used to the potty.

But if I were you I wouldn't get rid of the nappies just yet - wait til she's 2 at least.

My niece was like your dd and she was trained at 2.5 with hardly an accident. My sister feels it was worth waiting because doing it earlier would have been a lot messier...

My dd was trained about 2.9. I know some here think that's awful late, but worked for us!

Original poster

BroccoliSpears · 24/10/2007 14:18

To be honest I don't know what's late and what's early. I know they all get there in the end and that it's best not to rush them, but I don't want to put it off if she's ready and uncomfortable in nappies either.

OP posts:

casbie · 24/10/2007 14:20

our little one started 'potty training' when she was 18mths, but she watched us do it (four of us) and her older siblings. she prefers the toilet and will only go on the potty if there's nothing else.

it took her a long while to get the hang of it (till she was 2), but it was worth it.

now we don't have to take piles of nappies with us everywhere just a pair of pants and change of trousers (some spills while she's on the loo sometimes). otherwise she's dry.

we used washable nappies and so just used these without wraps on for a while, then without boosters and then pants.

go for it - pants are much easier to run in too!

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panickypatch · 24/10/2007 14:22

potty training or timing?
my mom had dsis potty timed to perfection at four months. but as she admits, that was ALL she thought about. but she coudl take her out and about without a nappy.
17 months is probly about the norm in parts of the world where mothers have to handwash nappies themselves.

Original poster

BroccoliSpears · 24/10/2007 14:35

You see, I'm not remotely interested in potty timing. Sounds like a lot of work for no good reason!

Thanks for sharing your experience casbie. Perhaps we're about on the right lines as we are.

I hear about other people deciding "RIGHT! That's it!" and shutting themselves in the house for a fortnight to get it done. I would hate to embark on that if she's simply not ready - it would be stressful and for nothing.

OP posts:

Astrophe · 24/10/2007 14:50

DS is 19 months and wears pants (or goes bare bum) at home, and a washable pull-up when we are out. He will ask for the potty if he needs a poo, but only wees on the potty at home, not when we are out (the pull ups feel like a nappy I guess, so when we are out he wees in that).

This has come about by us having the potty around, and by him watching us and DD who is 3. I think its great - no more pooey nappies to wash, and only a few wet ones. For me its definately worth it, although tbh I don't expect we will do 'official' potty training until he is 2.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing though - if your DD will go on the potty at home then let her run 'round nude and go with it. If you keep sitting her on the pot she will get it one day.

Good luck

casbie · 24/10/2007 15:17

with my DS it was much more difficult.

'potty trained' from 2 years and waited nervously until....

3 and a bit, when he finally was able to control himself - just before school - phew!

i don't think you can force (read potty train) a child to use the loo, it's just when they are ready!

tasha21 · 24/10/2007 18:00

i started potty training my ds when he was 18 months it took alot longer but was fully potty trained at 2.5 which i think is good. he started off quite slow not really knowing wat was going on where as your lo seems to have an idea. and then closer to the end he just started using the potty, then i took away the nappies at night and he has never wet the bed. but every child is different only you can know if he is ready.

Original poster

BroccoliSpears · 24/10/2007 18:51

It seems as though she is very unlikely to potty train this young, from what you are all saying. We could make a start if she and I both feel ready and fancy having a harmless faff with the potty or loo seat, but the prospect of getting it sorted much before the 2 1/2 - 3 mark seems remote. Is that about right?

What if I don't take the hints and she just stops asking? Would I then be giving her the message that I'm not bothered about her using the potty?

OP posts:

hana · 24/10/2007 18:52

yes

Hulababy · 24/10/2007 18:56

Just keep doing what you are doing for now, and follow her lead as and when she becomes even more interested.

DD showed lots of signs of being ready to PT very early. But TBH I knew that she just wasn't really ready, just interested.

In the end she took charge over it at 24 months - and she was dry within 3 days, with very limited assistance needed for me. Far less stressful and more hassle free than pushing it too early.

NAB3 · 24/10/2007 19:00

My DD started asking for knickers at 17 months. I was pg and not really with it so it took 3 attempts but she was dry before she was 2.

NAB3 · 24/10/2007 19:00

My DD started asking for knickers at 17 months. I was pg and not really with it so it took 3 attempts but she was dry before she was 2.

Astrophe · 24/10/2007 19:01

my DD was trained just after she was 2, btw, and that is not uncommon. I would def start at 2, if not before -3 seems on the later (though still perfectly normal) end to me.

If I were you I would keep gently encouraging her to sit on the potty, then one day she will wee in it by accident, and go crazy with praise and clapping etc. Then wait and see what happens.

It is def too early for the official, no nappies, pants only, potty campaign imho.

Astrophe · 24/10/2007 19:03

Laundry lovers DD was dry before 2 as well - I will direct her into the thread...

Also, having said its def too early for the official campaign, I am considering launching an official campaign with DS some time soon - He is 19m and has been weeing and pooing on the pot at home for about 6-8 weeks though.

Cadmum · 24/10/2007 20:04

Our DD1 was out of nappies for good at 20 months. She began taking her nappy off when she needed to wee at about 18 months. IIRC. I had not tried with DS1 as early because I felt that it would be more like training myself to run a toddler to the loo than training said toddler.

What worked best for us was 3 days at home with no nappies. On day one there were a few accidents on the way to the loo. On day two there were fewer and by day three they were off and running...HTH

DD1 (now 8) has never had an accident or wet the bed. The DS2 on the other hand...

Original poster

BroccoliSpears · 24/10/2007 20:13

This is so useful to hear all your experiences. I feel I'm being a bit flappy about it and other people's stories and tips make all the difference.

OP posts:

Cadmum · 24/10/2007 20:21

BroccoliSpears: I should have added that DD2 is now 19 months and insists that her nappy come off as soon as she climbs out of bed but so far only one time has she weed in the potty. Most mornings I have to mop up the bathroom floor! Rather amazingly, like her oldest brother and sister she is dry through the night.

Every child is different so use your own judgement as much as advice. You re clearly a thoughtful mum to have even solicited advice!

BabiesEverywhere · 24/10/2007 22:54

She is too young for traditional potty training.

There is the alternative option of Elimination Communication but that is a long term strategy which requires the parent to be more concerned with successful communication rather than counting catches/misses so it properly wouldn't be what you were looking for.

No reason why you can't carry on as you have been.

laundrylover · 25/10/2007 09:57

I disagree that she is too young for 'traditional' potty training - isn't this what Broccoli is doing??

DD1 was dry by 18 months and dry at night by 2 - this used to be the norm 30 years ago BTW before the advent of sodding Pampers!

IMO she is ready to potty train so just keep doing what you're doing and then progress to knickers and taking a potty out and about with you. It seems like a hassle but really it's not and it's great when they come out of nappies (even though I lurve washing mine[saddo emoticon]).

DD2 is the same age as Astro and Caddy's LOs and has been introduced to the potty for a couple of months - just pees on the floor tho. She is very lazy compared to her big sis! Caddy it sounds like C is the same and that Astro's boy is doing really well - go the boys!

laundrylover · 25/10/2007 09:58

Caddy, just saw that DD2 is dry through the night - how bizarre! Are you still bfing her at bedtime?

My DD2 wakes up at 5-6am with a stinking poo bum - ugh!

casbie · 25/10/2007 13:23

sodding [sodden] pampers

rofl

Hulababy · 25/10/2007 13:26

Don't worry about night time training. That is not IMO trainable at all. It just happens, usually between the ages of 18 months and 7 years. Very little you can do to control night time wetting.

laundrylover · 25/10/2007 14:35

Yes I agree re night time - just amazed by Caddy's dry babies!

BabiesEverywhere · 25/10/2007 14:54

Babies don't wee in deep sleep just when they wake up (either in the morning or in the middle of the night for a grumble and settle back to sleep).

My 14 month old DD is often dry over night when I get up fast enough in the morning. I remember her having dry nights from being 3 months old, on the odd occasion that I woke up before she did.

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