She is ready but I am not!

[Smithagain]

DD2 is 2 yrs 5 mo. For a few weeks now she has voluntarily done a wee on the potty or toilet, once or twice a day. Takes herself off, does it, then announces what she's done. The rest of the time she just uses her nappies.

I KNOW she's ready to train but honestly, I just don't feel like the hassle. Quite apart from not knowing how we're going to deal with the walk to and from school twice a day (half an hour each way).

Will I be doing her irreprable damage if we just pootle along as we are until she begs me to remove the nappies Or alternative can someone give me a kick up the backside and remind me just how you get started on this whole potty-training thing. Especially when you have another child's timetable to factor in.

(sigh) it was so much easier with one - on so many different levels ...

When my DD started training she could hold her wee for hours. Could you not perhaps get a collapsable potty to put in the pushchair. We did and she has yet to use it 6 months on.

Both DS and DD were able to go for ages without needing to wee, from the beginning.

Could you maybe try at half term, when there wouldn't be the school run pressure?

Take a deep breath and do it! Sounds as if she'll be fine and take to it straight away and don't use the school run as an excuse as she can probably control her bladder for over an hour anyway.

Could you start off getting her to go to the toilet at the same time as your older one?

imo, toilet trained kids are a lot less hassle than nappies. if she has good control, she can prob last an hour and if not, can't you just let her wee behind a tree or something on the way? It'll would only delay you 30 secs or something..go on, you know it makes sense! plus think of all the money you'll save on not buying nappies!

My DD was ready and I wasn't so it took 3 goes. TBH now she is 4 it doesn't seem to make any difference but I would have saved a lot of washing if I had done it when she was ready. I wonder if she'd be dry at night by now too??

Smithagain, you are so lucky in that she has trained herself. Pick the weekend with nothing on to allow her to build confidence for every wee/poo. She will probably be fine. On the school run put the potty under the pram if you take one/ carry it in a plastic bag with some tissues and nappy bags/ spare clothes. If she needs to pee then just get her onto it regardless of place- most mothers and fathers appreciate that when training this is necessary. To reduce the risk of her needing to go, try to get her onto the potty to try to wee before leaving the house and at school before coming home. Have spare clothes incase of accidents. Don't use pullups as they are too like nappies. If you don't strike while she is willing she may give up trying.
If that seems a lot to carry then just take spare clothes and hold her over a grid to wee/poo and collect poo in a bag like you would a dog!

agree just give it a go. dd1 just trained but she had been saying for ages she knew what she was doing etc. At the same time she went dry at night so has been out of both for a week..2 accidents only both in nursery and is fine ont he school run.

Thank you all - feeling more motivated now. I guess I have to accept that there is never going to be a nice, long period when we can stay in and practice (like there was first time). Half term would be good, but we are going to the grandparents and they might not appreciate it!!

Will take her shopping for "big girls knickers" this week and see how we get on!

Do it asap don't let her get the idea that she is supposed to wee in a nappy!

Ah - thanks Colditz - I think that was actually the kick I need. Hadn't thought about it like that, in my selfish "I'm not ready" frame of mind.

I don't blame you one bit for it, but BELIEVE ME it is so much harder when they have become entrenched in their views about where they want to do a wee - and have such iron bladder control that they WILL wait until night time to do it in the night nappy.

We had a long walk to school too, quite often dd3 went for a wee at school before we did the walk back. It was fine - go for it!

Good thought Pollyanna.

We've already got a reputation because DD1 takes so long in the loo before coming home. Another one won't hurt .......