Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

Too young?

23 replies

LuckySalem · 26/03/2009 19:10

DD is 14 months old and we were thinking of starting potty training her in the summer (so she'll be around 16 months)

We're not going to go at it full pelt but were just thinking of leaving a potty around and if we can tell she's going to wee wee we'll put her on it.

If she wees other places we're not going to shout at her but perhaps tell her to wee wee in there next time?

Too young? If not, how would you go about it?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

McDreamy · 26/03/2009 19:12

I had a potty around from about that age. We played with it for quite some time. We would put her dollys or teddys on it for a wee until eventually she decided she would like to do a wee on it herself. DD was potty trained just before she was 2 but she did it herself really. She decided she didn't want to wear nappies one day and that was that.

Original poster

LuckySalem · 26/03/2009 19:17

See that's what I'm hoping for.

I dont want to have to MAKE her pee in a potty but I would like her to do it sooner rather than later as I dont like the idea of kids over like 2 and 1/2 (dont ask me why as I dont know, Its something imprinted in me) in a nappy.

So if I leave it as a toy she may take a liking to it dya think?

OP posts:

CherryChoc · 26/03/2009 19:18

Not too young. You can "potty train" in this manner from birth!

As long as you are not being coercive (rewards/punishments) and realise it can go backwards as well as forwards then I don't believe there is an age too young to start.

I think the best thing to say if they wee on the floor is something like "Oh, you weed on the floor. Oh well. It should go in the potty. But never mind, let's clean it up." Very neutral, more of a comment on it than a negative or positive association.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Families General parenting

morningpaper · 26/03/2009 19:19

yes why not - both of mine were trained before they were two

perhaps have it in the bathroom with you now, let her sit on it before her bath? talk about it, let her sit on it while you go for a wee? buy some books about it, get her used to it, see how it goes

McDreamy · 26/03/2009 19:19

It's worth a try. I did the same with DS but he wasn't interested. He potty trained just before he was 3. If I was to give any advice it would be not to push it. They will do it in their own time with a little encouragement from you. You seem to be on the right track though. Good luck

Original poster

LuckySalem · 26/03/2009 19:22

oh i'm so pleased.

Thanks for the tips about just before bath MP - might have to buy 2! lol

OP posts:

morningpaper · 26/03/2009 19:25

Mine often did wees after meals and after naps. And got squirmy and crabby when they needed poos. I found that a toilet-training seat was good on the loo, because they couldn't just wander off so I could read them a story when they needed a poo.

Mine were fine and I didn't really have any accidents, just moved to pants once they started doing all their wees in the potty/toilet. It was very unstressful really. But later training is the norm these days so some people might think you are weird.

Original poster

LuckySalem · 26/03/2009 19:50

Maybe that's why when I told my mum she gave me the thumbs up but one of my friends has said don't be crazy lol.

OP posts:

nickytwotimes · 26/03/2009 19:53

I have had a potty for ds since he was about 15 mths. We have had many attempts at training but at 2.7, he is still in nappies. About half of his little friends are trained, the other half not. Don't make a big deal out of it and you won't go wrong.

MustHaveaVeryShortMemory · 26/03/2009 20:47

We started dd with a potty before her bath when she was about this age and she soon clicked and now does a couple of wees/poos a day on it.

Going to start potty training when its a bit warmer and she hasn't got so many layers on!

Be prepared for lots of people telling you its "too young" though - just because they did it differently.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 26/03/2009 20:56

We had a potty around the house from about that age. DS wouldn't even sit on it...

However, he did suddenly initiate potty training at the age of about 2.4 - refused to have a nappy put on one morning, did one wee on the floor and then started going on the potty.

It can't do any harm to leave it lying around.

Original poster

LuckySalem · 26/03/2009 20:58

Just had a thought. Is there any worries that it'll become a play thing and not a potty? IYKWIM

Have got visions now of DD weeing in potty then putting it on her head.

OP posts:

cat64 · 26/03/2009 21:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ches · 27/03/2009 04:56

Started DS at 14 months putting him on the toilet first thing after waking up. Took about a week to get the hang of it. "Wee" was one of his first words. :D Clean by 15 months, dry by 18 months. Lovely.

Original poster

LuckySalem · 27/03/2009 16:56

All these have really cheered me up. Especially cos I dared to mention the idea in toddler group today and got told I'd scar her for life if I tried that so early and also that I should let her be a baby for as long as she wants. Felt rotten.

OP posts:

MustHaveaVeryShortMemory · 27/03/2009 18:40

I agree that there is no need to hurry them into potty training if they aren't ready for it. BUT if you feel she is ready to potty train, why have her sitting in wee/poo any longer than is necessary? It seems to be very fashionable at the moment to potty train late expect lots more comments!

ches · 29/03/2009 00:12

I find most of the comments are . When they're younger it's more of a continumum, but since you're not doing it while they're in the belligerent twos stage, it's pretty stress free if you're prepared for accidents. (No need to rush to underpants, leave 'em in nappies until they're reliable with poo, then in stuffed undies to catch wee accidents.)

Original poster

LuckySalem · 29/03/2009 20:10

Thanks Ches.

We've decided to try it for a week in the house. We're gonna let her be naked and then if we notice before she wees we're going to put her on her potty. If not we're just going to say "oh dear, nevermind - next time how about we try on there"

If after a week we're not getting less accidents on the floor then she's obviuosly not ready so we'll leave it for abit before trying again.

OP posts:

horseymum · 30/03/2009 21:02

i have had 2 'early' potty trained and think it is definitely more of a continuum as someone else said. however, i never used potty as a toy or had toys round it - just my opinion but it is for wee and poo so not that hygenic to let them think of it like that - maybe get a dolls potty for dolls if that is what you want. I just don't really mention it at toddlers etc though most of my friends probably know even though i don't go around 'boasting'- they all think it is too young! I just think - how can she be too young if she loves pants, potties etc, hates being wet, can hold on for ages, has healthy coloured pee so not dehydrated. i have only ever told her off once for wetting herself because it was sheer naughtiness - i had just put her on potty with her saying no wee etc and then she stood in the kitchen and just weed right there!

miffin · 15/04/2009 14:39

Just to add that we have done likewise, with a potty left around and lots of help using it from a much younger age than 14 months. Now he's just turned two and largely done with nappies - it's just fantastic, so so much more sanitary for everybody. It's lovely seeing him in clothes and knowing he's not in a possibly soiled nappy. Don't let anybody who leaves their child in nappies for three years suggest you are doing any harm. If you are gentle, loving and calm you will not hurt anybody.

Early trainers are definitely in the minority nowadays, but mothers have have been training in the first two years since the beginning of time without too much harm to the race. My mum's edition of Dr Spock (1969)thought that the 'later starters' would delay potty training until 18 months and be largely done by the age of 2 (obviously lots of mothers would begin before then!) How the times have changed!!

GreenMonkies · 15/04/2009 14:45

On the advice sugestion of my mother I began sitting my two on the potty, just once a day, from the age of 6 or 7 months (once they were sitting up unaided) and they both decided to stop wearing nappies at 20-21 months.

It's never too early to introduce the potty!!

ramonaquimby · 15/04/2009 14:48

I think it's too early - you're going to have accidents for months. I'd wait a bit longer until she can tell you she has to go and is aware of that sensation. It's not a bad thing if your kid's still in nappies over 2. I had one trained just over 2, one just over 3 and I've got a 2.6 year old that still isn't trained.

HensMum · 15/04/2009 14:51

LuckySalem, do you know any slightly older kids who use a potty?

DS is 18 months and his cousin is 6 months older and almost entirely potty trained. He sees her using her potty and we do lots of talk about how she's a big girl and wears pants instead of nappies and does all her wees and poos on a potty.

We've also got a potty that lives in the bathroom and we talk about it being DS's potty and that he can do wees and poos in it if he likes.

And I bought a potty training book yesterday and he pointed to a boy on a potty and said "wee-wee" so I think the message is starting to get through.

I have no expectation of him being trained any time soon, and we're not really trying, just starting to get him used to the idea so that he can have a go if he fancies it.

Cherrychoc, why are rewards not a good idea? Obviously, I get why punishing for accidents is bad but what about sticker charts etc?

Flip