Think I'm discouraging rather then encouraging :(

[tigerlillyd02]

I potty trained my DS very early on. Well, I didn't exactly potty train, but introduced it more as a game - have some nappy off time and encourage him to sit on it. As it turned out, he grasped it and was day time potty trained a week before he was 14 months old.

He went about 6 weeks with the occasional wet accident - all poos were on the potty. He did so well, I was starting to wonder if we should tackle night times too. To say I was proud was an understatement and was amazed at how easy it seemed!

However, after about 6 weeks he started doing everything in his pants. This went on for about a week and, rightly or wrongly, I just decided he was obviously far too young and put him back in nappies again.

He's just turned 2. Between then and now, he often (not always) requests at nappy change times to go to the potty. When he does request, he always does something in there.

Tonight he had a bath and after his bath he didn't want his nappy on for bed but pants like a big boy. I let him have a run around naked and he did 2 wees in the potty in about 45 mins. The second time he let slip a bit on the floor and looked a bit shocked but then before I could say anything he said "stay there wee wee" and run off to the potty where he continued it. But then I still put a nappy on him but put pants over the top when it was bedtime.

Although I don't think he realises what I've done (he was just happy he got his pants on) I'm feeling incredibly guilty for not doing exactly as he requested.

Somehow I feel like I'm not giving him enough credit here and feel a bit scared, although I don't know what of. I think I'm nervous about trying again to then realise that perhaps he's not ready and having to keep stop - starting. After the last time I vowed I was going to wait until I knew for sure and then I knew to stick with it no matter what. I figured around 2.5 might be a good time for this. But how do I know for sure?

Would you just try him again now that he's asking or keep doing what we're currently doing and using it in between nappy changes and bath times until he's a bit older?

Not sure what to say really. He sounds perfectly ready to me, but I'm not sure that you do! (which is just as important!). If I was you I would ditch the day time nappies and go for it again. There is no perfect time, but with a child who knows what to do (as your DS does) and shows some enthusiasm earlier is sometimes easier - as the twos progress they can get a bit more challenging and less compliant and less keen to do what you want! Talk to him. Tell him that say next week he will start wearing pants all the time and won't that be fun, maybe tell him he can have a chocolate button each time he does something in the potty. Then take him to the potty regularly (every hour or so at first as he knows what to do, then extend the intervals), expect some accidents, lots of spare clothes, wipes and plastic bags when out and about, but just get on with your life if you can (rather than hanging around at home for the first week which is a bit soul destroying for both of you).