How did you know your DC was ready to start and how old were they?

[username586]

DD is 21 months from what I have read she isn't showing me any signs she is ready for potty training. However quite afew of my mum friends with similar age DC have already started. Most of them are actually younger than DD. Should i be starting aswell?
Also any tips? I'm at a loss of how I'm meant to even start? How do I explain this to DD/show her what to do?
Thanks

Hi, sorry don't have much help for you unfortunately but recently had the same thoughts with my 22 month old. I felt obliged to give potty training a go, due to my mother saying that myself and my siblings were all trained by age 2, despite DD not showing many signs of being ready. I read up on some ways to get started but ultimately when we actually got the potty out and tried to encourage her to sit on it, even clothed, she got very upset despite us trying hard not to put too much pressure on her. I think if you want to give it a try and she's not ready then she will let you know very quickly and you can try again in a few weeks. Think success in this area all stems from being very patient with them. I try hard not to feel stressed about other kids the same age taking to it, they're all at such different stages at this age.

Hopefully someone comes along to offer some tips as I could also do with some advice on how to explain it to her next time

29 months. Trained and in pants within a few weeks without any fuss or much input from us. She was interested in the potty and the toilet, going longer between changes and dry when not wearing a nappy. I wouldn’t push earlier if they’re not ready - 2.5 seems about average as far as I know. Younger than 2 is v early - DD wouldn’t have been ready at that point / would have taken far longer!

There’s a book called Oh Crap which is well worth a read - its basic method is that you start with a few days in the house with your child not having clothes on, catching wee/poo in the potty when they go and watching them like a hawk to learn their signs of when they need go, then add trousers but no underwear, and then pants a few weeks later. But we didn’t potty train DS until he was almost 3. To be honest I’d wait until Spring/Summer at least, it’s much easier when you can be outside in the garden - and easier to dry endless amounts of washing too!