When/How/HELP!!

[Showmethemhappyfeet]

So... How old should my baby be before potty training? She is 23 months, we have a potty and have caught a couple of poo's and a couple of wees. Got it more because she needed a good bit of 'bare bum' time due to a mix of eczema and nappy rash.
So.. Is it too early? How exactly do I potty train?!

I soon realised that the mummy ect had to be just as ready as the child. It's a hard few days work and you've got to be on the ball and stick to the plan. I trained my little girl at 23 months and it was perfect. I put Olivia in pants - letting her choose which colour pair and showing they we're like mummy's. I explained she needed to use the potty or toliet like a big girl (not sure she understood but thought it was woth trying) We had 2 or 3 days of catching wee's, each time I'd sit her on the potty and read a book to her (Pip and Posy and the little puddle) I'd give it all the 'oh no, a puddle, wee wee on the floor, oh dear' which she copied and understood that wasn't meant to happen. Then the big cheer's when the wee went in the potty. I thought it was going to be alot harder than it was but it wasn't too bad. Stay in for a few days then don;t go too far for a couple of days - it has to be consistant. Make sure you use pants, not pull up's as they need to feel when they've had an accident. I've heard it's harder with boys but it wasn't too bad with my daughter. Just ask yourself, of you ready as well as the child. Your almost following them around on the floor waiting for them to have an accident. Good luck.

Honestly, it will happen when the child is ready.

My DS was 3.3YO when he was dry, but he was dry and clean (day and night) within a week. He simply wasn't ready before that. He's 3.11YO now and I don't even think about accidents. He's never had one.

My DD was clean and dry in the day by her second birthday. She told me, in no uncertain terms, that after her 2nd birthday she WAS NOT wearing nappies or pull ups. She's been dry at night for several months now and she is 2.7YO.

In neither case have I had to buy special pants or explain anything. WHen they are ready, they 'get it'.

IMHO, you shouldn't be running around catching wees and poos (unless you want to!). That is not potty training.

It is quite possible to train at at that age, though it might take a bit longer. I don't know that ds was an entirely willing participant, he still sometimes asks for nappies, but he is practically dry after 10 days and have taken off night time nappy now. He probably would have continued in blissful soggyness for a while longer, but I wanted to do it in school holidays when not about to go camping (wet clothes and tents don't go well), and didn't want to wait until October.

It would probably be better for her skin if you can get her out of nappies, but if you make no progress in a week or so, then ease off a bit and try again in a few months.

So do I take nappies away completely even of a night? Or do I wait until days are going well first?

If you feel he is ready, then yes, pants in the day time and pull ups (I used reusable ones due to cost) at night or just invest in a good mattress protector (JojoMamanBebe do great ones).

But remember, he is still young, so please don't be dishearted if you have to go back to pull ups / nappies.

My son was late to be potty trained, my DD early... but you'd never guess which was which now. (Except, I suppose at 2.6, DD is still quite young to be well out of nappies day and night, but you know what I mean... in a year or two... it will be irrelevant)