In two minds about whether DD reading for potty training.

[hairtwiddler]

DD is 2yr5m and I'm thinking about potty training. I suspect it's a wee bit early but she has some signs of being ready. Thought I'd post them here for some expert opinions!

On the plus side - very biddable (for this read bribeable), good language skills, eager to please, able to pull down pants (but not up again so easily), and very very keen to wear 'big girl pants'. Also HATES having nappy changed and is fairly predictable with poos.

Not so good - rarely tells you she's doing anything. Pulls at nappy when weeing (I think), lies though her teeth when she's done a poo "nuffing there!". Usually fills nappy during meals. Also gets very upset if has an accident on the floor.

Plan to go the 'boot camp' route and have been reading up on the threads.
What do you think? Ready or leave it a few months?

Should point out DD is not reading for potty training! She's not that advanced!

Have a go at leaving the potty around for DD to get used to. My DD really wanted to wear big girl pants so we just bit the bullet and went for it - it took a while but she got there about a fortnight ago, she's 2yr8m. We found she only realised she was weeing when she went into pants, she just couldn't feel it in a nappy-pant, and they are difficult to pull up and down. Training pants are good, but DD just wanted the pretty proper ones!

Good luck (I hated every minute of it!!)

It's been around the house for months. The toys sit on it and get rewarded when they do something! Lots of awareness of what it's for. Also very interested in us going to the loo.
Maybe I should go for it. I suspect I'll hate it too!

Worth a go. DD only ever showed two signs of readiness - one, she habitually weed in the bath, which I took to mean she was holding it in specially (with hindsight, she was probably just stimulated to go by the warm water), and two, she accidentally pooed in the bath and got EXTREMELY upset, which I took to mean she knew perfectly well that that bath is not the place for poos (also we hoicked her out and she did the remainder on the potty, and was v pleased with herself). Other than that, she wasn't interested in pants, her nappies were NEVER dry when they came off, none of those sort of things. She had two accidents the first day (when tired), was reliable enough to go to the supermarket in pants on day 2, and that was about it (except nursery, she had a couple of accidents the first day back in nursery, but was fine after that).

Bit of a secretive little oyster, my DD, never lets on what she's capable of.

Oh, she was 2.6, so v similar age. Nights took another year, we were a bit more concerned with 'readiness' aka dry nappies in the morning, for that one, we like our sleep!

Thanks for that. DD also poos in the bath sometimes, and gets very upset about it too. Wasn't thinking about it until I 'trained' her not to be carried upstairs by using a sticker chart. Realised then that she cottons on to a new idea really quickly, and has a good idea of behaviour leading to reward.

Off to centerparcs 9 June. Can't decide whether to take a chance on doing it before then.

Two things;

One: children show an awareness of being wet/doing things about 6 months ahead of physically being able to control it.

TWO; a good sign is are her nappies dry for ages then suddenley down round her knees as she's done a BIG wee?

Otherwise leave it till the weather is a bit better Y go for it in the summer when she can run around next to naked & only has to yank the knickers down & if you have loads of washing it dries easier

HT I'd leave it till you get back-if they have a change of situation they can often regress & whatever is learnt most recently is forgotten. Try when you get back.

Good point. I have started to notice longer dry spells. Am used to changing her at same intervals through the day though, and she's always wet.
Am also thinking will wait until late June/early July. Very little planned for then and can devote full energy to it.
Feeling quite positive that when we do try are more likely to have success.

Ah, funnily enough DD was trained in close proximity to a Centerparcs holiday - shortly after! Obviously I didn't know how well she would take to it, and the thought of going on holiday with a newly housetrained toddler didn't appeal (with hindsight she'd probably have been okay).

I took the night nappies off shortly before the next Centerparcs holiday - DH was not impressed, but fortunately it panned out.

Bossybritches' point about big wees is interesting - DD never did this, she was always slightly wet, and when first in pants she went on the potty a LOT. Two reasons, I reckon - she REALLY liked the pink star-shaped stickers , and she was used to going little-and-often in a nappy. She quickly realised this was quite dull, and settled into a more normal pattern. Some kids don't seem to, my friend has a niece who still went every 45 mins or so at nearly 4.

Ah well they're all different bless 'em!!

The thing is not to stress either yourself of them about it, I'm amazed how much pressure is put on young mums (& how much they put it on themselves) when the little ones are only babes, it'll happen before school honest!

at thought of being a 'young mum'!
Thanks so much for taking time to look at this everyone. Will def. wait until after holiday and then have a try when weather is nice and lots of time in the garden.