I'm potty training my 20 month old and I don't have a clue, any advice?

[insywinsyspider]

Ok so I say I'm training him but really he's doing it himself as I have an 8 week old and this really isn't a great time to do this!

He's been slowly getting into pants for the past couple of weeks, we did a week of pants only at home, then he went in pants to the child minder last week and today he wore pants all day (nappy for his nap) and we've had no wee accidents at all (even going to park and busy toddler group) but he did do poo in pants tho - happy to go on potty not so great at letting me know when he needs to.

So what do I do next, we have to have the potty within easy reach because sometimes when he says potty he has to go there and then - any ideas how long this lasts for? do I have to have tantrums getting him into napies for next 6 months or a carry a potty round for 6 months?? I'm just not sure at which point I can say he's out of nappies as its not feeling much easier than nappies at times (apart from less washing and bum wiping) when I'm carrying a potty around and having to whip it out at any moment - I guess thats the bit that bothers me most but I don't want to put him off if we're heading in the right direction....

he pulls his trousers up and down himself, sometimes we have only a few seconds warning and he wants help other times I leave the room and come back to find a wee in the potty! any advice?

[dilbertina]

with an 8 week old too....I'd leave it - but then I'm very lazy! 20 months sounds pretty early to me but it does sound like he's pretty ready though....thinking...nope I'd leave it a bit!

[BigBadMouse]

Having no wee accidents is very encouraging I think. He sounds very ready. No idea how long the not having much notice about needing the potty lasts (sorry, DD1 was much older and we didn't have that problem). I bet t doesn;t take 6 months though.

Personally I would say he has done a good job (as have you) and I think taking a step backwards into nappies again would be a bad idea. You might find when you are ready to try again - he isn't! I would stick it out having come so far so well. You may find that things suddenly improve.

You could always try cloth training pants to help prevent any accidents if you don't have the potty out in time. They would hold in any accidents so his clothes etc don't get wet. Before you go out do you ask him to use the potty etc. How many wees is her doing per day, my DD went from doing about 17 a day to about 6 (I think) very quickly as she learnt to hold things in for a bit longer.

hth (not sure it does ). In short, I would say carry on.

[insywinsyspider]

Thanks - I had him in nappies again today and he told me half way thro a poo but it is progress, it just feels like hard work trying to bf baby and get the potty out at the right moment - we already do potty when he wakes up, before bed/nap and going out and he goes about 30-40mins after he's eaten or drunk anything although I don't have to watch that as much as he is telling me

I have no idea how many wee's he does but they are getting bigger... will count tomorrow!
The cloth pants seem to feel like his nappies to him, we take a backwards step if he goes in them so I invested in one of those seat protectors but he hasn't christened it yet

oh I think I'm going to have to stick it out - anyone out there done potty training at this age??

[BigBadMouse]

Good for you! If his wees are getting bigger that might be a good sign that he is holding more in between weeing sessions - thats what my DD did.

I'm no potty training expert though, DD1 gave up on waiting for me to train her and did it herself aged 3. DD2 is the same age as your DS and wants to start now but I am trying to put her off (silly as I am 26 weeks pg and should get it over with before DC3 arrives)

If I were you I'd bump this tomorrow eve and say 'Help' but I think you are doing the right thing sticking it out

[insywinsyspider]

thanks bigbadmouse - he's gone to CM in pants again today, its half term so it'll be busy at hers, be interesting to see how he does with loads going on and me not keeping an eye on him

tbh I'm not all that keen to do it but I can't face the tantrums with the nappies, he has now learnt how to undress tho, down side of pants I guess, I had him running round naked giggling yesterday whilst I was feeding ds2!

I think I'll bump this later if I have chance to get on

[BigBadMouse]

He sounds the same as my DD2 (same age). I dread every nappy change becuase of the tantrums - she likes to kick me in my bump but I have told her the first thing the baby will do when he is born is come home and kick her back - a lot (she doesn't believe me though ). She also likes to be naked. In the morning she knows how to get us into her bedroom pronto by shouting 'Oh look, poo poo in nappy! Mummy! Daddy! nappy coming off now.....ahhh poo poo everywhere! So far she has been telling porkies but I don't fancy leaving her to it in case one day she isn't .

[BigBadMouse]

Someone on here must have some advice on how to do this surely????

[chankins]

No advice - just impressed at the young age ! My dds were a nightmare, and dd1 still has accidents now at nearly 4 !
My sis did potty train before age 2 though, as her dd seemed ready, and she picked it up very quickly and never looked back. So I am wondering with ds, (only 9 mo at the mo !), when the time comes, is it better to start really early or leave it really late ? I guess it depends on the child though !

[insywinsyspider]

BBmouse - ds kicked me in bump as well during nappy changes and interestingly stopped after ds2 was born. lol about dd in mornings! they know how to get our attention don't they, we have a battle with the night nappy, tonight I tried to put it on as ds was shouting 'nooo nooo potty' so I put him on he squezed out the tiniest bit of wee and gave him self a clap then I tried again for nappy and he signed potty and strained and did a fart! so I let him go back on potty, 3 goes later I got bored of that game and he had to have nappy on but it shows he has some control and knows exactly what the potty is for!

anyone offer any more help??

[BigBadMouse]

It took 35 mins to get DD2s nappy on tonight. Thats pretty much average for every nappy...really looking forward to potty training her at times . She is incredibly cute but I proper little monster too. She was at nursery until 1pm today but had 8 tantrums between 1pm and bedtime - each tantrum lasts 35 mins at the moment. I have no idea where she gets the energy from I don;t know whether to be impressed, concerned or just have a breakdown and become a gibbering wreck .

Not having much luck with this bumping are we??

[Sycamoretree]

Wow - am so impressed that you are training so early. I tried twice before current (touch wood!) success and DD is 2.6 yrs. It has been a doddle - day three and completely dry and clean and is pooping on potty. Last two times were nightmares - I had a 3 week old baby first time we tried (WFT was I thinking?). I'm not saying go backwards, I'm just saying, when they are really, really, really ready, it's generally over very quickly - well, that's what I've gleaned from my many MN lurkings on the potty training threads. Sorry not to have any more helpful advice.

[insywinsyspider]

sycamore - thanks for what you said, its made me realise ds was really ready, I haven't exactly been encouraging him and he's training - today was so much less rushing around, he's starting to hold it longer i think I can start to admit to the world he's in pants - didn't before cause didn't want loads of random 'advice'

[BigBadMouse]

Sycamore - my DD1 was the same I put it off as I was dreading it so she did it herself and was completely dry in three days (inc nights). She was 3.0.

Insywinsy - glad you got the answer you needed in the end

[Sycamoretree]

Aw, and so ends another happy MN thread. See you all soon!