18 month old - is she ready?

[MrsPMT23]

I think DD (19 months) may be ready to start potty training. She's my first so I'm after a bit of advice.

She's started to wake up from her nap and in the morning with a dry nappy, we've started to direct her towards the potty just after waking up and she goes for a big wee.

We've tried a bit of no nappy time and she will also use the potty when she needs a wee without any prompting.

She does try to pull at her nappy when it's on and lets us know when she needs a change and will try to change/wipe herself.

Is she ready? She still seems so young to me but she's so independent and determined, I don't want to be holding her back if she's ready or potentially damaging any future training if she's not ready.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

You could try. If she hasn't got it in a few days then you know she isn't quite ready

The Oh Crap book recommends training between 20 and 30 months but it has a short section on training earlier so you could give that a read? I'd always recommend the book anyway, it's great.

Yes what tea and biscuits said!

She sounds close. Does she have pull ups on?

I’d go for it. Ds started at this aged and was fine. We went on holiday not long after ds and only needed nappy’s for night which was great! Just strip her off and expect a few accidents.

We did it at 19 months OP. Also used OH Crap. Never looked back. I'd read the book first then try as it was good for me actually to 'say goodbye to nappies' and get mentally prepared.

Good luck and hold your nerve xx

I wouldn’t use pull ups. My three youngest were all done by 2 and we never bought a pull up as we thought it may confuse them. Bare bottom half round the house and try to only have short car journeys. It was hardest with Dts as 2 school runs a day meant 2 x hours with 2 potty training toddlers out of the house a day.! But it was great when done, we used cloth and the reduction in washing is great.

Yes sounds like a good idea.

Thanks for all your replies

I spoke with nursery this morning (she's there 3 full days a week) and they've noticed it the same signs and think she might be ready too.

Will definitely be buying the book, think I'll give it a read first before starting anything consistently.

Do it OP, I bloody love being free of nappies it now we have no real risk of accidents (one or two but nothing too major). The book is a bit OTT in places but overall I thought I'd was great and had lots of ideas we used that I hadn't thought of. If you see progress each day then keep going but don't be afraid to stop and reset either, try to hold your nerve if you can and I found it helpful to have DH take over at times as it can be pretty intense to start with.
Best of luck, it can be done! Xx

PS the pourty potty has been good for a no mess clean up and I recommend using several of the same colour to avoid the 'I want the red/yellow' tantrum when it's in the car

Well we're doing well famous last words.

As the book says, it's a great age as she's so willing to help and take on some responsibility.

She'll go to the potty unprompted when naked and she's grasping the idea of commando with trousers, just struggling to pull them down and sit on the potty.

Nursery have said they have the potty available for her but she can't be naked. So we're practicing pulling down trousers at the moment.

Going to make the most of the long weekend with DH and try and get through the next stage. She loves stickers so we've got a little star chart for when she goes on the potty and bought one for nursery too.

The book has made me feel confident that now is definitely the right time - thanks for the recommendation!

Sounds like she's doing amazingly well OP! We did Oh Crap with my DD at 22mo and it worked really well. Trying to decide when I can start with 15mo DS but he is just my baby so maybe not...

Hope you have a successful weekend!

I’m in the same position except this is my 3rd DD she’s 17 nearly 18m my other 2 was out of nappies by 2yo I can’t believe how quick she has picked it up! 1 accident in 3 days I think If they are ready they are ready. Good luck op x

Hi OP, so glad it's working for you - my DS has only just started to pull his trousers up.

If you have to go with what nursery says, I recommend doing commando for a long time - don't think DS wore pants for a few months and we didn't have any accidents. I think you can go early on the pants and then it can go backwards a bit.

Keep going, good luck! Xx