Do's and dont's

[Kafri]

Just that really....

When do you start? As in, how if you know a child's ready to start potty training?
DS is only 16m so we're nowhere near yet but just thinking ahead.
Then, once he is ready, how do you go about it and what tips have you pros got for a complete novice?

I keep reading snippets about portable pottys and whipping them out in shops (which I don't think I've ever noticed anyone do)???

Finally, which potty? A bog standard pound shop job, an all singing all dancing mamas and papas job, a toilet seat adapter thing???

Standing or sitting??

It's like weaning all over again......

Anyone...?

We started when DD was 23 months. I thought she was ready earlier, but when I discussed it with nursery they put me off trying.

We bought some books about potties (we got Princess Polly and her Potty - comes with a sound button (only cheering noises, nothing more gruesome!). I think there's a Pirate Pete version) and read them for a few weeks before, had a couple of potties sitting round at home (just plain ones from a NCT sale), then picked a weekend we didn't have anything planned and said today you can do your wees/poos in the potty. First couple of days were tough - she didn't like getting wet clothes and would cry for us to put a nappy back on. We decided to try pull ups and that worked for us and then after about 1 week (once she'd got the hang of using the potty) we switched to knickers. We did resort to offering a chocolate button to get her to poo in the potty - just put it on the coffee table and told her that she could have the button when she poo'd in the potty.

We do have a portable potty (also bought from an NCT sale) and have used it a couple of times in the early days.

Can't comment on sitting or standing as we only have a DD.

Good luck for when the time comes!