Too young to potty train?

[PinkDaydreams]

Hello!
MIL keeps badgering me to potty train son, he was 2 in January. He’s not talking though and possibly has autism, we are awaiting diagnosis and SALT.
I said to her that I feel he’s too young yet as he’s not able to talk but she’s told me to get him a potty and get him using it.
Sometimes he sits down on the floor when he’s having a poo in his nappy but apart from that I’m not really seeing any ‘signs’. He’s been fascinated with the toilet for about a year. He likes to close the lid then flush it.
Sorry to sound stupid, I’m just unsure if MIL is right and that I should start training him.
Thanks all!

I don’t think he’s too young, but he’s not too old to still be in nappies either. At the end of the day it’s you that’s going to have to do the training bit, not your MIL. Do what you think is right. Your MIL can advise you of course, but she shouldn’t be telling you what to do. You’re the parent. If you’re waiting for SALT anyway I would probably hang on and see if they have some tips and ideas for you regarding potty training.

I am the worst person to ask as I still have a stubbornly UNtrained nearly-3yo but I don't see the harm in introducing the concept - buying a potty or toddler seat for the loo, talking about it, reading some stories about using the potty and wearing pants etc. If he likes it then great- go with it! If not, just keep it in the background as something you refer to now and again and try again in the future.

One of mine was trained at 22 months and the others right at their second birthdays.

But that doesn’t mean your ds is ready. You could give it a try and if it’s not working then try again in a few months.

Thank you for your replies!
I already have a potty and toddler toilet seat (didn’t know which to get so just bought both) thing for him put away.
The only thing making me think he’s too young is that he can’t verbally tell me when he needs to go. Maybe I should just try and see what he’s like with it? Not the end of the world if he doesn’t grasp the concept just yet.

I'm starting next month and my DC was 2 in December. She doesn't tell me she needs to go (poor language skills) and doesn't show any signs at all! Just carries on playing and pooing. However, I know she'll get it and language isn't the be all and end all. I'm in my 30's and my generation we're typically trained much younger. My mum has me done by 18 months (maybe even 16) and I certainly wouldn't have been talking.

Language skills are not essential for toilet training. Introduce concept, no harm done! The fact that he is fascinated with a toilet is a promising sign. For what it’s worth, mine learned before could talk and pull bottoms down- you soon learn to pick up indications to get to the potty.

Same boat here no speech and waiting on a SALT appointment. We just started training the last 2 weeks. I just regularly put him on the potty and about 6 times out of 10 he'll do a pee. No poos yet. I'm taking it slowly hes not stressed so I don't see why not.

Fingers crossed, I’ll try him over the next few days and see how he goes 🤞🏻

Nothing to lose by trying!!

Can he sign at all?

You don’t need to wait for a sign, my 4 were all out of nappies and dry by 2 1/2.

Seems a bit on the young side to me but I'm no parenting expert. Just did DD1 recently and she's nearly 3. Maybe I was slow though. Considering doing it much earliet with DD2 as I'm around with lockdown and she runs to the potty when DD1 needs to go. Every child is different I suppose.

Mine were trained at 22 months and 26 months and there were no signs but I think I got lucky as many friends’ kids were a lot older and took longer. I don’t think he’s too young but equally not exactly old either. See how you go but don’t stress about it.

I trained my son at 18 months and would have been absolutely horrified if I’d thought I’d have to wait a whole 18 months more before training him!! His language was excellent and he could have told me he wanted to do a wee, but actually for the first few months we didn’t wait for him to tell us, we just put him on the potty regularly at natural moments - before/after meals, before we leave the house, when we arrive somewhere etc, so tbh he didn’t need to speak at all. We went completely cold turkey with nappies (used the Oh Crap method) but maybe something more gentle/gradual would work better for your son. No pressure.

@AmelieTaylorno he can’t sign, Ive been trying with him lately but he’s not interested in signing.
Kicking myself for not ordering oh crap potty training book sooner! I started reading it on the Libby app last year then thought there’s no point as he wasn’t ready. Well, no longer available on Libby! Feel bad ordering it off the internet during this time of lockdown as it’s not an essential.

Well thought I’d give a quick update. Little one hates the potty! Screams if I try to get him to sit on it or even move it towards him and the toilet seat one he doesn’t like either. I’ve shown him me sitting on it but he isn’t bothered. Over the last few days I’ve been putting one of his bears on it which he has found hilarious!