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Parenting

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Original poster

Can anyone tell me how to start potty training? I haven't got a clue, when do I start and how?

12 replies

CatchaStar · 30/04/2009 12:50

Dd is 23 months. I haven't got any idea how the heck you potty train a child lol. She is my first and only.

Are there 'sighns' that tell me she's ready etc?

She tells me when she has done something, but isn't at the point where she can tell me before she does it, iykwim?

Do I hold off for a while? Is there an ideal age to start, or is it more about when the child is ready?

I'm so confused!

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notnowbernard · 30/04/2009 12:54

IMO & E

When they tell you they don't want to wear nappies anymore

When they can tell you before actually doing a poo or a wee that they need a poo or a wee

When they can pull up and down their trousers and pants etc (mostly) independently

I have 'trained' 1 child and 'left' 1 child to it until she told me she wanted to do it. II'll let you guess which one was easier

HOWEVER: There are many on MN who have had successes with early-ish potty-training, so I I am coming from another angle entirely

Original poster

CatchaStar · 30/04/2009 12:58

Thanks

She still seems so little, but so grown up at the same time. Perhaps I'll leave the potty out and introduce it very gradually, until she can understand the concept herself and begin to use it.

OP posts:

notnowbernard · 30/04/2009 13:00

The average age for starting using the potty and toilet amongst people I know is between 2.6 - 3 yrs

I have found mostly that the ones who started nearer or around 3 'get it' much more quickly and independently than the ones nearer 2. Eg, they don't need as much reminding, or bribing persuading or bloody sticker charts

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KirstyJC · 30/04/2009 15:07

I tried my son in pants at 2 1/2 but he wasn't ready - he got really upset when he wet so I went back to nappies for another 3 months.

WHen he started to say he needed a wee just before he started to do it, then I put him back in pants. He hated the potty so mainly used the toilet - if we got there in time!

I agree that leaving it until later (despite pressure from parents and other mums asking me why he was in nappies still) was a lot easier and much quicker - we were confident to take him out of the house wearing pants for the day within about 2 weeks of starting! (And not a sticker chart in sight )

My sister took 5 months to 'train' her daughter because she thought she should from 18 months....her second is still in nappies at 2.5! She learnt the hard way!!

ilovetochat · 30/04/2009 15:14

hi catchastar, leave the potty about and let her sit on it before dressing in the morning and before bathtime. if she does anything she will soon realise what its for.
i did this from 18 months, dd started doing all her poos in the potty from then.
about 19 months i offered the potty about an hour after a drink and she would wee on it. I then started taking the potty out and offering it every 2 hours or after drinks and she started asking for it. morning and night i would leave her bare for an hour and she would use it.
21 months i left her bare at home for 3 days and she only had 2 accidents, then put pants on and 3 weeks later she asks for potty 99% of the time.
hth

Jojay · 30/04/2009 15:16

I did my DS1 at 2.3. I think the main thing they need to be able to do is follow instructions, like 'come here', 'sit on the potty' 'stay sitting down' etc

My DS had never told me beforehand that he needed a wee, and had never wee'd on the potty before we started, though he had sat on it a fair bit, while I was on the loo

We also did lots of pretending, sitting on the potty, patting himself dry etc, before we took the nappy off, so he got used to the routine of using a potty without the pressure of accidents

We just went for it, no pull ups or anything like that. We had 10 accidents the first day but by day 3 we were down to one or two and he;s been pretty reliable from about 2 wks after we started. He's now 2.6 and I can't remember his last accident.

I do think that you have to be ready though. Be prepared to stay at home for a few days to get over the worst of it, and buy lots of pants!

The Gina Ford book 'Potty training in a week' book is excellent. I know she's contraversial, nad it took us longer than a week, but everyone I know who has used it has had success pretty quickly.

Good luck

fellowmum · 30/04/2009 15:44

Hello this is first time I'm posting so a bit nervous but here goes.

I started potty training dd today she is 2.2 and now I am worried if I have done the right thing.

She has been showing signs as mentioned by other mums like able to follow instruction, undresses herself and knows when her nappy is wet.

So this morning put her in "big girl pants" and sat her on potty every 30 mins, lots of accidents managed one pee in potty. This afternoon if I even mention potty she starts crying.

What should I do? Should I stop for a few months or does it get better? Feeling so disheartened by it all I've already eaten all of the choclate buttons I'd got for her rewards.

Jojay · 30/04/2009 16:03

I would carry on for a few more days. We had LOADS of accidents the first day or so, then it came together on day 3 or 4.

I shamelessly put the potty in front of CBeebies so he didn't object to sitting on it. Try to keep it relaxed, and big cheers if she gets it right. If it's not getting any better by Sunday I'd back off for a bit.

And try to get more buttons for her, and something MUCH nicer for you

I'd give her a button just for sitting on the potty at this stage, until she's enjoying it a bit more.

fellowmum · 30/04/2009 18:25

Thanks Jojay I will persevere a bit longer think I deserve a glass of wine tonight!!

Jojay · 30/04/2009 20:43

You do that! How did the rest of the day go?

fellowmum · 02/05/2009 09:17

Potty training day 3!!

Sorry no messaging yesterday was constantly changing and clearing up pee was almost going to give up. Then dd spontaneously wanted to sit on the potty after her dinner and did a pee and poo yipeeeeee.

This morning when dd woke up she said "it's coming" meaning pee and managed to hold it till she was on potty. However she did just poo in her pants but I suppose I can't expect her to get it every time yet.

So fingers crossed.

Thanks for telling me to keep trying till Sunday I was so depressed on Thursday I would have given up otherwise.

Jojay · 02/05/2009 19:39

WEll done for sticking with it - it sounds like she's making progress

It took my DS longer to figure out poos too. I suppose doing a poo in your pants doesn't feel that different to doing a poo in a nappy, so I think it takes a bit longer to sink in.

Good luck tomorrow

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