Is there a golden window for toilet training and does it matter if you miss it?

[Skimty]

DS is almost 22mths. He's just started being really interested in bodily functions etc. He now says 'change nappy' before he does a poo about 30-40% of the time. We were away last week with lots of naked swimming in pool and about 50% of the time he needed to wee he did it by the toilet. He seems pretty ready to me.

The thing is I'm 6.5 mth pregnant and was hapoing to hold off until after the baby was born. I thought possibly when DS was about 2.5 yrs old. We're redecorating the entire house as well which he is finding disruptive.

I would rather ignore the whole potty training issue but I'm worried that he will miss the best opportunity. What do you think?

Congrats on number 2. The baby, I mean, rather than the poos... (cue tumbleweed)

I'm also due in September, and my DD is just 2 and I'm keen to get her out of nappies by the time the baby comes along. However, we might be thwarted by the fact we're moving house in the meantime...!

Why don't you give it a go now? We started in very small stages, showing her the potty when she was just a year old, to having it in the bathroom, her watching me and her Dad go to the loo, to gradually using it before bath for a couple of months, to using it in the mornings for a month or so to now, when it's Day 5 of full-on pottyland and she's getting there in pants with nappies for naps and going to bed in.

You could always see how he gets on with the idea and then you can always roll it out further. Or forget about it until your house is sorted and your LO pops out. He sounds like he's keen! Good luck!

I did buy a potty today so I suppose I could try the small stages thing. Thanks.

DS is 2 in Sept. and has started showing a interest too. he says poo once he has poo'd and is always wanting to sit on the loo, but feel he does have the control he just like the idea of copying mummy and daddy. We keep putting him on the loo and potty at nappy changing time, so we are hoping something will happen soon. Not rushing it though.

I'm due to have another baby in a fortnight and DD2 will be just 2 and so I'm holding off for a while - I heard that older children can 'regress' when a new baby comes along so I thought it best to wait until things are a bit more settled so that she doesn't feel she's 'failed' iykwim

22 months is still pretty young imo.
Unless he is showing signs of distress at having to wear a nappy and insisting on the potty/toilet then I'd stick with it until you are all ready to start.
He will be even more ready by then (I'm pretty sure you cant miss the window) and it should be quicker and easier!

Ha ha LL, me too!

But seriously, am wondering the same about dd: she's got to a stage where she wants to KEEP her dirty nappies on: "I want it! I want the smelly one! Don't want a nice fresh one!" and I'm wondering if I have missed the "ready" stage and she's already got ishoos.

They're supposed to get to a stage where they don't like being dirty, but it's the opposite with dd. She's only just 2 though.

I'd also be interested to know if there's a "golden window" that can be missed! My daughter was doing really well 1-2 months before her 2nd birthday - but then we went on a 2 week holiday abroad and don't think we've ever got back on track again! I can remind her every 10 minutes for an hour to use her potty, she might even sit on it too, but once we're downstairs or something (ie she's distracted), then I get a big puddle in the floor! I was really hoping this summer I'd get her trained, as winter in scotland is just tooooo cold for few clothes! But seems I'm getting no where - I just end up putting her back in a nappy, else I'll have wet beds, couch, and anything else in sight. She certainly knows when she's doing both a wee and a poo, she can even nearly tell you ahead of time occasionally, but if you say let's sit on your potty, she'll say she wants to do it in her nappy!

I actually believe that there is a window (i'll leave whether its golden or not up to you ) of opportunity for potty training and am a big believer in following your child's signals.

If your child is saying that he's ready, go with him. But if you find that he's not ready, just put the nappies on and try again later ...no big deal.

Good luck with the no. 2

Thanks everyone.

I thought I'd try it next week for a week and see how it goes. I'll give it a week and then reassess. About to go and frantically read all the old potty training threads!

I suppose I'm just feeling a bit lazy . I was hoping to be able to leave it until next summer!!

Also, we have no floor for two weeks so it does seem a good time to make a mess!

My ds was completely dry during daytime when he was 2 years and three months old, I wouldnt let anyone pressure me, do it when you think he's ready If he is really ready now then it won't take long atall to train him although he does seem really young atm
Good Luck with whatever you decide x

Both my (girls) were out of nappies (except for sleeps) by 22 months. Mind you, I did follow my mums advice and start sitting them on the potty once or twice a day from the age of 7 months or so. Because of this they have grown up knowing what the potty was for and just accepted it as part of thier life, no scarey potty introduction or explanation need when they're two or what ever.

They both started by telling us they had done a wee/poo, then it was that they were doing a wee/poo and then that they wanted to do a wee/poo. One day they turned around and didn't want to wear a nappy and we just went along with it. It wasn't stressful at all.

But for it to be that easy you do need to start the potty thing off at about 6-8 months.

However, ready is ready, and if he's showing signs/interest at 22 months then maybe he's almost ready, just encourage him and go with the flow, so to speak.......

Monkies