Is it possible to potty train a 21month old non-verbal toddler?

[aPixie]

I'm 100% poisitive that if he could talk I would be able to potty train him very quick.

This morning he hasn't had a nappy on, was playing with toys and suddenly stood up, grabbed his willy and ran to potty. Sat down for 30seconds but when nothing came out started playing again. About 2 minutes later he did it again but didn't get to potty in time and I ended up holding potty against the stream of wee but then he took my hand and led me to the bathroom where we emptied potty down the toilet, he flushed the chain and stood on his step stool to wash his hands. Without any prompts from me.

He's been having poo's on potty at home for a couple weeks.

He doesn't talk though, so won't be able to tell me when out and about when he needs to go. In the house it would be fine as I would just keep the potty out for him so he could go when he needs to.

Any idea's? Should I just go for it at home but put nappies on when out or just wait until he can talk and tell me? I don't want to miss this window where he's obviously interested and then find it difficult later on.

I was just going to wait for summer but if potty training now means less washing, (Cloth nappies) I'm all for it.

I trained my DS when he was about 2.7 and he had very few words. It is possible to train a non verbal toddler, not sure at 21 months. My DD had a huge amount of language at 21 months, but I was not able to train her until she was also 2.7 just like my DS who had very little language.

Just go with it, let him set the pace like you would with any other aspect of development.

DD trained at 19 months, no problem. She did have some language but it was mainly nonverbal communication about the potty. But, I viewed 'training' as a process rather than something to be accomplished in the shortest possible amount of time as is often the case with later training.

Loads of nappy free time and encouragement to make a sign or sound when needing the potty will work.

by non-verbal do you mean no words or no sounds at all? my dd2 was much younger and just used 'shwsh' for ages as a sign she needed a wee or you could use makaton toilet sign if preferred. go for it and stay relaxed ignoring other folks negative comments. agree it is a process but you can start whenever you feel ready. maybe keep nappies on but offer toilet at every change or when he signals and praise dry nappies.

Bright Bots training pants are grand for out and about in the early days.

horseymum I mean no words. He "talks" a lot iygwim but still baby language. We trying out the sign for potty so hopefully he'll pick it up soon.

Today was so unexpected though I didn't really have time to think. We've had the potty lying around for a while and with poo's he just takes his own nappy off and sits on the potty, I don't/didn't have to do anything (apart from wipe him properly of course) and it looks like he's going the same way with wee's.

A shwsh sound is good though so I'll start doing that every time he sits on the potty for a wee. Hopefully by the time he gets that though he might actually be able to say wee. Lol.

Hetty will have a look at those thanks.

And thank-you to the other replies. Think I'll just carry on letting him lead the way and see where we go.

My DD was using the potty before she could talk. Using the sign for potty worked brilliantly.

for out and about as long as he can indicate yes/no in some way to the question "do you need a wee/poo/toilet" then you should manage fine.

my son is nearly 3 and disabled, he cannot talk at all but can sign fluently as i taught him from birth first touch sign as his sight was poor then full signing, 21 mths is a great age to add some signs to him he will pick up quick as well,
toilet is one arm over you chest like its wrapped in a sling and 2 fingers up and down twice for toi let
its a fun way to do things make it a game
good luck x