ds is 21mths. should i introduce a potty?

[cruisemum1]

not intending to potty train for a good 3 mths......... your input pls.

absolutely not!

no

not unless he has shown signs that he knows he is doing something or about to do something. Its not worth the hassle.

you could leave the potty out in the bathroom and ask him to sit on it before a bath but 21 months is quite early IMO

Unless he shows distinct signs of knowing when he's weeing and pooing, telling you when he's done a poo, there's no point. Even at 2yo he's unlikely to be ready.

You could have one around as a 'toy' so he gets used to sitting on it etc but it makes no difference to when or how easily they train, ime.

no. you'll just drag it out unnecessarily.

much better to wait until he is ready and then go for it.

no. you'll just drag it out unnecessarily.

much better to wait until he is ready and then go for it.

and I really meant that!

Yes I would. It gets him used to the idea of it and you can let him know what it is for. If he shows signs of being interested then go for it.

I would. Some boys are more 'action' than 'vocal'!! Give him a chance to show if he's ready!

I agree with Luby. We've been talking to my DS (18 mo) for about 3 months about poos and wees and what mummy and daddy do on the toilet. We put his potty out last week so that now, when we go to the loo he sometimes 'joins' us on his potty for a few seconds - fully clothed, mind. Just so he can get used to the idea. In a month or so I might let him sit on it without his nappy. I'll just see how things go and then decide.

It's all very gentle and means that when his body is ready for potty training he'll already be familiar and comfortable with the concept.

I'd say yes - but not in any kind of forced way, just have it around and let Ds have nappy off time and if he sits on it, praise him. If, when he has his nappy off he starts to wee, try and get him to sit on the potty to finish it. Let him see you and DH wee so that he gets the idea.

We did it from 18 months, and DS is dry during the day at 2 and 2 weeks with no 'potty training' at all - I moved him into pants this week as we had to be at home due to chicken pox, and he's been taking himself to the potty when he needed it. We'd been letting him be nappy and clothes below the waist free for a few weeks whenever we were at home.

thankyou all. I did get a potty and have it out so that he can sit on it if he wants. If asked, he tells you it is for wees and poos but i am not expecting him to produce anything in it yet! he does seem very keen though and keeps sitting down on it clothed or not and saying "wee/poo" . not gonna do anything more than that for a good wee while (pardon the pun!)

CMotdibbler - we're doing the same as you, from 18 mo too. Interesting to see that you didn't need to train him when he hit age 2. It feels like a more natural way to introduce the idea of using a potty, so I wonder whether it just suits some toddlers better than an enforced regime in style of e.g. Gina Ford (dare I mention her name?!!).

MrsThierry - well, it just seemed natural to me to let him have the opportunity to use the potty, and that given that he'd get the hang of it on his own. Somehow, leaving them in nappies all the time until a point that the parent decides that its time for the potty didn't seem quite right. He is a very determined child though, and we know by now that we have to do things like that his way. And I'm a bit lentil weavery and have let him feed on demand/drop feeds/ determine nap times and lengths/BLW, so its a bit of a natural progression.

This was the first weekend out and about in pants, and he was perfect - even through a trip to a widlife centre, swimming, and round at BILs barbeque.

All of mine have had potty ou & about from about 18 months. Have sat on it fully clothed from then. We'd encourage sitting on potty before a bath and when we used the toilet.

Didn't potty train particularly quickly - all 3 were about 2.5. However we hardly had accidents as only took nappies off when we knew they were ready. I had friends who were running around changing their kids clothes about 6 times a day due to not reaching the potty in time - can't be bothered with that! Seems odd for the parent to decide - right now no more nappies and the poor little child has never seen a potty before. need some time to understand what's going on.

Dd2 (no.4) is almost 2 and not keen on the potty so we're not pushing it at the moment. It's there and I'm pretty sure she knows what it's for - sits there when dd1 is on the loo.

yes, definitely - so many stories on here of toddlers who are petrified of potty - the sooner it is introduced (in a v. relaxed way of course) the better. dd has been on it since 5 months. I don't see why people think it is 'dragging it out' you are only giving them the opportunity to use it, not forcing them. also, the more you talk iabout it, the more they get used to knowing- dd at 10 months definitely knows she is weeing as she does a huge grin!