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Potty training

Is your child ready for potty training at nursery? Here's the place for all your toilet training questions.

Health Visitor confused me ... Is she right?

6 replies

BorgLady · 03/03/2011 15:40

My DS is 2.7 and so far I've taken a very laid back approach to potty training. By this I mean I've not been worrying about it, he has a toilet seat and potty that he plays with, and we talk about using toilets but so far not made any definite stabs at getting him out of nappies.

Over the past few weeks, he has suddenly become quite distressed when doing poo, needing cuddles etc when he feels it coming. Doesn't seem to notice wee at all.

I had a visit from new health visitor today and mentioned it to her, wondering of it was a sign he was ready to move on from nappies. She thought so, but told me I now only have a small window of opportunity to potty train him before he loses his sense of needing to go.

She suggested putting him in pants so that his poo and wee isn't soaked up, and feels unpleasant for him. I see the logic in this, but we are currently staying with my mum, and I'm reluctant to just let him have accidents all over her house, particularly as I think he really hasn't got a clue about wee at all yet.

Is my health visitor right about the limited window of opportunity? I'd read that it's much easier to do if you wait until it all clicks in their mind, and then it's doable overnight. I was kind of waiting for that, to minimise distress, but I haven't given it a lot of thought.

Any advice appreciated!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Olessaty · 03/03/2011 15:43

I hope not, because I stopped training my DD just before Christmas and have decided to try again when she's older.

I've never heard anything like that before.

starfishmummy · 03/03/2011 15:53

BorgLady you can aklways put some cotton wool or folded kitchen roll in his nappy so he feels wet which might help him get the idea without the mess!

fizzyliftinggas · 03/03/2011 16:05

BorgLady - I have never heard this but I am currently training my DS (2.7 months also) We, same as you, had a potty but didn't make any firm attempts at training but one day he asked me if he could go on the potty and two weeks later we have probably had less than ten wee accidents since that day, although he has only ever done 1 poo in the potty, he will happily do it in his undies, I have read somewhere that pooing other than in a nappy is hard for some children at first.
Basically what I am saying is, I left it up to him and as far as I am concerned he really has done it himself, wee-wise, we just need to work on the number twos!
Don't put any pressure on yourself or your DS my DN was just short of 3 and he was virtually done overnight as he was a lot older.

MrsJamin · 03/03/2011 17:43

There's no "window of opportunity"! Goodness me, what is it about HV's and their windows...

Have just PT DS at 3.1 - lots of friends are also doing their sons at around 3. Girls seem to be a bit earlier though.

craftynclothy · 03/03/2011 17:54

How many adults (excluding special needs) do you know that are still in nappies? Do you think all their parents managed to train them in this supposed "window of opportunity"? No-one has ever, ever missed it? Wink

Yeah, she's talking shite Grin

BorgLady · 03/03/2011 20:21

Phew! Thought as much but just wanted to check.

I've been a firm believer in being guided by my instincts and they are telling me my DS is getting there, but he's not quite ready for a firm effort yet. He's got enough to get to grips with at the moment anyway, moving towns and playgroups and with a little brother or sister on the way.

I'm just going to see how he goes and will definitely try the suggestion of the cotton wool/kitchen roll in his nappy.

Thanks everyone!

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