Too early for training...

[NoTeaForMe]

Hi all,

My daughter is only 16 months old, so it's too early to be thinking about toilet training...but she points to her nappy and tells me when she's done a poo, and when she's straining she says poo. She's not reliable at all obviously but I wondered if there's anything I can do to encourage her and her understanding of what's going on.

Does that make sense?!

Thanks all!

I would (with all the experience of having trained one kid!) buy a potty and see if she's happy to sit on it occasionally and perhaps even do something in it. Very gentle start - not training... just introduction to the concept. I would do it that way next time around. Instead of the full on assault of potty training boot camp when we felt DS should start.

It's not too early to start her sitting on the potty if you recognise the cues.

This time last year I had two in nappies, I trained ds in the summer ( he was 2 years 11 months ) and it was a bit hit and miss. Since I trained him dd, who was 2 yesterday would regularly sit on the potty for poo and would say poo from about 15/16 months. 3 weeks ago she kept asking to be naked after nappy changes and would sit on the potty, 2 days after that she asked for big girl pants and is now dry day and night because I listened to her cues. Go for it. Girls do train earlier than boys too.

So do I need an actual potty rather than just using the toilet then?

I have absolutely no idea where or how to start, any ideas?

Thanks

With her being so young a potty might be easier - the toilet can be a bit daunting, but no harm in getting a trainer seat too and see which she prefers. The potty will be at a height she can get herself on and off it - even if just 'playing' at it.

So if I get a little potty and a child seat for the toilet (I'm guessing I'll need a little step then too!)

How do I start?! What do I do?!

Thanks!

My DD was v reluctant, so I may not be the best person to help, but, I'd suggest any time that you usually have her clothes/nappy off - bathtime/changing, potter around a bit longer before dressing her again and encourage her to sit on it while.

My DD is 16 months and we've been using the potty for poos and most wees since she was 11 months, so not too early. Medically, bowel control happens at around 12 months.

I'd start by consistently putting her on the potty as soon as she wakes up from sleeps or naps. Then, if something happens, praise her and clap and say how wonderful she is for doing 'a wee' or a 'poo'. Then take the potty with her to the loo to show her how to flush it down. When it flushes make a big deal of it and give her a kiss. She'll soon 'get' it and may start to communicate to you when she needs to go by grunting or tugging at her nappy. (If nothing happens on the potty after say, 3 mins, then take her off and say, "not to worry, nothing this time".)

Good luck.

DD started on the potty, but now has a seat insert on the toilet, and a little step up to help her feel secure when she's sitting up there. When she's finished she gets down on her own, after I've wiped her bum. Then she drags her little step over to the sink so that she can step up to wash her own hands. She's a smart kid, but they all are, so I'm sure yours is capable of the same thing too.

In terms of toilet times, we do 4 regular times a day:

• when she wakes up from her sleep in the morning
• immediately after lunch
• when she wakes up from her midday sleep
• before her evening bath

She does do wee in her nappy at night, sometime in the morning and also in the afternoon. So not fully 'trained' yet. I've just bought training pants so that she can feel the wee and start to learn about wees in the toilet. I think we'll have her fully trained by 2. No sweat.