Health visitor told me to start PT now - is this madness or am I procrastinating?

[irecitethegruffaloinmydreams]

Hi all

DD has just turned 2. She is on track development-wise - in particular, her speech and understanding are both very good. She goes to nursery 5 days a week (and has just moved up to the 2-3 room). I had planned to do potty training with her in August when the nursery is closed for 2 weeks, so that we could just blitz it with lots of naked time in the garden. But at her 2 year check, the health visitor told me quite firmly that I should do it now.

DD knows when she is pooing and tells me (often she hides herself away), and often tells me she wants me to change her nappy, so she's not completely clueless. But she's not brilliant at taking off her clothes (I have to give instructions/help her a bit) and I thought it made sense to give her another couple of months to practice that. But the health visitor (and the stern warnings in 'Oh Crap' about leaving it too late) have spooked me a bit.

I have no idea whether leaving it 'too late' is an issue at this age - obviously I do want to get on with it, but I am a bit nervous about trying to get it sorted over a weekend and then bundling her off to nursery on the Monday (even a long weekend sounds a bit ambitious). Or did I just need to get on with it?

[Evidencebased]

Your plan sounds good.

Lots of people here will tell you it's way too young, and wait until your child asks.

But, block of warm weather time, once they know they're pooing. Sounds like you've got this sussed.

[Bwekfusth]

I'd leave it. Always remind her where the potty is though, in case she wants to give it a go. My youngest was 3 before he started, and only recently out of pull-ups at bedtime at the age of 4. I just didn't push it 🤷‍♀️ all in good time.

[pastabest]

My DD (2.4) has been potty trained for a few months now but still struggles with her clothes so I have to help (she can pull them up but struggles to get them down). She didn't need to be in nappies any more though so I wasn't going to let the clothes thing stop us, she just asks me to help her when she needs a wee.

[Ohyesiam]

Id do what you intended.

[irecitethegruffaloinmydreams]

Hi all, thanks for the helpful input. I will have a chat with the nursery but probably will leave it until August so we don't have the pressure of trying to get it sorted in 2 days. From the sounds of things waiting until then wouldn't be likely to be detrimental.

[BackforGood]

You don't have to "sort it" in two days (although it does sound like she is ready) - the Nursery will carry on during the week. Toilet training is 'everyday' for staff in Nurseries.
Re clothes - just put her in something easy - pull up shorts or joggers.

[Chilledout11]

Your plan sounds good. I waited until ds was nearly 3 and he got it in two days and set at night from not long after. I think If I did it earlier It wouldn't have been an easy.

[Chilledout11]

Dry not set

[MummyBear2352]

Hi, i think she is quite young but if you are seeing signs its heading right way. I would just go at your dd pace and when suits you. I would stick to your original plan and leave.potty out now so she can get used to it. Dont worry about the late warnings..my dd has just got the hang of it at 3.3!!

[MyInnerAlto]

She's 2! There's no rush. And tbh your HV has no business dictating when you do this.

It's a physiological thing (in the main). Children are ready when they are ready. Mine were/are on the later side - out of nappies in the day at three and a half.

[lanbro]

Youngest dd was potty trained by 2, started herself at 18mo copying her sister. I couldn't believe it and did have her in pull ups overnight longer than necessary!

[Mrsjayy]

Most children need help with pulling down/up clothes when they are toilet training she is telling you she needs the toilet don't ignore it.

[HennyPennyHorror]

I waited till mine could tell me before they went...'I need a wee" both were almost three and as a result of waiting, they had it down within a week.

We never had accidents either at home or out. I think a lot of people start too young and that just results in wet pants at the shops!

[Mrsjayy]

Why would you need to sort it in 2 days ?

[SoyDora]

DD2 was trained at 20 months, and it took 2 days. We had a couple of days of warm weather and no plans so could spend most of our time in the garden so just cracked on with it. She was young enough that she just accepted ‘this is where you go to the toilet now’ without argument, unlike DD1 who was trained at 2.5! So I don’t think just turned 2 is ‘too young’, as some will say.
However there’s no harm in waiting until August. I think you have to be ready as much as them to be honest! I found once my head was in the mindset of doing it, it was fairly straightforward.

[SparrowBo]

If they are ready it can be very easy and quick. I'd have a go now tbh. Dd was done in a couple of days.

August is a way off and its unpleasant for your dd to be in nappies when she knows what's going on and asks to be changed.

Have a go and if it doesn't work then wait.

[SoyDora]

Oh and we never had any accidents either!

[Mrsjayy]

Yes just have a go or sit her on the potty/toilet when she says she needs a poo.

[Firebreathingwoman]

I'm going back a long time as she's grown up now, but my (bright) youngest was fully PT at 19 months.
As she was a second child, I could see the signs she was ready, lots of positive reinforcement and she got it in one day.
Not a stealth boast, honestly, but just to say it's possible if you detect they're ready.

[thirdfiddle]

"Starting" potty training doesn't have to mean going all out. For us, starting was sitting on the potty occasionally at nappy changes or first thing to get them used to the idea. Some friends had major difficulty persuading little ones to perform on the potty at all, some kids didn't even want to sit on it without a nappy on, so if she can do that already before your 2 week's holiday start everything will be easier. And it could be she potty trains herself in the meantime without you having to think about it.

[Letthemysterybe]

If she’s showing signs then I’d start to give it a go at poo times. But I hate squashed pooey nappies and would much rather deal with a pooey potty. You don’t need to worry about getting it sorted over the weekend as nursery staff are experts at this stuff! But if you’d rather wait then that fine too. I don’t believe that there are hard and fast rules about this stuff. You need to do what suits your family.

[Mrsjayy]

Mine are grown up too and they were dry by the time they were 2.5 if they are showing signs i don't see the point in waiting

[Disfordarkchocolate]

We did all four when the stated having nappies that were dry still after a few hours and when they knew they needed a wee/poo. All 4 were done in a few days with very few accidents. If I was you I start now.

[EdWinchester]

She sounds ready, but maybe you’re not! I’d wait until you feel happy.

My eldest was just 2 and he told me he wasn’t going to wear nappies after spending a day with a friend who was using a potty. But my 2nd one wasn’t ready until he was 2.5.

[MyInnerAlto]

Just wanted to reassure anyone reading this and worrying that being dry early has nothing at all to do with intelligence (and likewise, being late nothing to do with a lack of it).