Potty training

[MistressMary]

Well my Ds is just over One years old and I thought make a start on potty training as he tends to fill his nappy straight after he has had it changed.
So today removed his wet nappy sat him on the potty and distracted him whilst he did his business! Down to luck more than anything.

How early did you start potty training?
Any useful tips appreciated?

didn't start before they were about 2 1/2. No point beforehand as they weren't ready and I didn't want it to be a difficult thing. DS1 trained in 3 days, DD1 came in one day and said "Not wear nappies, not no more" and she didn't (wet at night for a month but refused nappies, dry ever after - no accidents). DD2 trained in 3 days as well. DTs only 9 months but will probably wait until they are 2 1/2 as well. Hth

Bumpees

I know several people who 'faffed about' with potties, leaving nappies off for short periods, etc. from about 12 months. But none of their children were reliably dry sooner (many were later than average), and in the meantime they ended up doing lots of extra cleaning and laundry!

I agree with MarsLady about waiting til they are ready. My boys were both clearly ready in the week of their 2nd birthday. Up until that point we had done nothing about potty training; We just took the nappies off and left them off and they were both completely dry within a week of starting.

IMO the three key points to successful potty training are:
Don't start until they are ready, otherwise they are bored of it all before they have the chance of success
Heap praise and congratulations on every success, and don't comment on the accidents
Don't make a big issue out of it, and don't get stressed

Congrats on some early success MM! DS is 15 mos and started showing some awareness and interest in the potty within the last month. We bought a little potty for him and now when I go he goes and sits down on his potty too. At this point I am just letting him sit on it like a chair, not taking off nappy yet.

By the time ds1 (autistic) was potty-trained at 4yrs old his little brother was 17mths old. Ds2 went through a phase of sitting on the potty with his nappy on whenever he needed to poo. However, I knew that he still had little or no control over when he needed to wee so I didn't take the process any further. It would have been way too much hassle cleaning soggy carpets just for the sake of ds2 using a potty to poo. We'll probably start thinking about it again when he's about 2.5yrs old.

Most experts agree that a child doesn't have the physical maturity to control his/her bladder and bowel movements until at least 18 months.

I my, albeit limited, experience, all toddlers who were "potty trained" before 2 1/2 (at least!) still had plenty of accidents. Depends how much hassle you can stand! Cleaning up wee can get old very quickly!

If you can get him used to it and have the time and energy to anticipate his needs all the time then you may get some success. However I agree with the others that you would probably meet more success, quicker with fewer mishaps and less stress, by waiting until he is more independently ready. ie can manage clothes himself, communicate that he has/needs to go, can sit on the potty and will stay there for a few minutes at a time etc.

I think there has been mention of a system to start training from an early age but tbh the vast majority get there in the end however early/late you start.

Thanks.
I thought it would be good practice to get him used to the potty, whether he uses it or not.
Sit him on it after meal times etc.
I'm used to clearing up mess etc. My job as a carer, so not worried about the accidents.
I put the potty on his changing mat and with a lino floor it's easier to clean up.
It's all good practice tbhough and he learns from it, I hope!

Well I'm having results of some sort as this is the fourth day now and he has used his potty.
Sorry it's just that I'm quite thrilled that he has achieved this, at this early stage.
I'm sure it will change though.

Great for them to practice if they are keen. My GP was quite insistent, though, that children cannot be potty trained before 18 months at the earliest, as they simply do not have the brain-bladder-bottom connections to do so. He says he likes to think of the parents being potty trained, e.g they know when the nipper usually goes and pop them on the potty at that time!

So have fun with it but don't expect too much consistent performance at this stage!

Thats the way I see it too, I know when he will go or I expect him too, but I do think it is good learning for them.
Like everything else.
I just seem to remeber that my mum potty trained us young too and perhaps times have just changed?

A lot of my friends; mums talk about their children being dry by 18 months, but I think 1) see GP's comments above, and 2) with terry nappies they had a lot more incentive to spend ages potty training rather than let the child do it when ready

Just over a week of potty introduction and no pooey nappies in that time!
He stayed overnight at my mum in laws and thought he was due to use his bowels, but didn't over there.
Sat him on the potty when at home and low and behold he used it?!!

My mum potty trained me young and I was clean and dry very early, she tells me.
Why do we believe and take note everytime of the professionals? Surely it's an individual thing?
And cutting back and soending out on baby wipes and nappies is a big help finacially too.