19 months too early?

[askingaquestion1]

DS is 19 months and now when he's filled his nappy is consistently coming up to me and saying 'poo poo.' Also if he breaks wind and I smell him, he will say 'no poo poo'. Does this mean he's ready? He can't get his trousers off! I was thinking of training him this time next year! But if I don't listen to him now will I miss the window?
Trained DS1 at 2yr3m and he got the hang of it quickly but had odd accidents for ages after so don't want to do too early. DC3 due end of sept so don't want to do too close to that either side. Thanks in advance for help.

I'm interested in hearing other people's experience on this. My daughter isn't as far on as yours with the speech as she doesn't say poo poo but she puts her hand on her bum and pulls the changing mat out. Whilst I think they're signs she knows she's filled her nappy, it's not all the time but I'm wondering if this means potty training may be round the corner.

Too early imo, I think 2yrs +...is he dry after waking from naps yet? If he can’t take his trousers down yet I think it would be a waste to try and teach him yet

It's not too early! Have a look at Go Diaper Free or Little Bunny Bear if you want more evidence and research-backed facts.

It has nothing to do with taking trousers down either. Of course, a 19-month-old will need help with that, but it doesn't mean they can't be potty trained - would you rather change a nappy or help him pull down his trousers?

I'd strongly recommend you don't miss the window!

I’m 2 weeks in with potty training my one who’s 2 years and 2 months. He doesn’t say when he’s done a poo or wee but I thought lockdown is the ideal time to start.
Doing it really gradually as he’s still quite young, for first few days left his bottom half naked, then pants after a few days and now he’s wearing joggers and pants.
At the moment I’m just sitting him on it regularly or when he’s fidgety, lots of praise. Still using nappies for nap and bed.
We don’t have many accidents because I sit him on it quite regularly but he’s not at the stage to say when he needs one and he hasn’t mastered pulling his joggers down.
I think it will take longer starting early but it’s actually been really stress free and lockdown is helping because it’s not an issue of how long it takes.
I’d get a potty and just get him used to sitting on it and see where it goes. He is still really young but it doesn’t hurt to get him used to it

We’ve been potty training our (just) 20 month old for about 6 weeks. It’s a much slower process with a younger child I think. Or ours is very thick 😂 We still have an accident or two per day (only wees and it’s usually our fault for not grabbing the potty quick enough or not insisting he goes when he’s really into something), and he wears a nappy for his nap and bedtime but it’s so much easier than wrestling him for nappy changes constantly! Plus the weather is good so we’re mostly in the garden anyway. I’d say go for it, just don’t expect to have a fully potty trained child in a week.

You could try it...but then anticipate losing your mind over the number of accidents he might have

I toilet trained my dd at 19 months, she was just ready. Very few accidents.
We did naked from waist down for first 3 days. Transferring into knickers was hardest but, but once we ditched nappies and just did pants, it was fine. I think the putting a nappy on for nap/ going out just confused things.

Hi cantchooseaname - how did you know your daughter was ready?
Interesting ideas about doing it during lockdown but for us it makes us very time pressured as both having to work and home school dc1 so not sure I want to add the extra pressure!

She was controlling when she would poo- never out and about as she wanted to be changed immediately. Gave me an idea she knew how to hold/ eliminate.
When we were at a cousins house she asked about the potty, I told her what it was for, asked her if she wanted to wee on it. She said yes and did. She has always had good language skills, and was able to ask for wee/ potty. She also always followed us to the toilet and had always seen us go (and still does, sigh).
She started nursery at 22 months and has only ever had one accident there.
It was never our intention to train early, it just happened, and we were just lucky with it, I think.

Oh Crap! reckons 20 months or thereabouts is fine. Am having a similar dilemma at the moment. The book method sounds pretty good.

However I am a bit sceptical about the idea of a magic window. A window where it's easier, absolutely yes. But it's not going to be the end of the world if you miss it either. You have to consider other things about the current situation.

I tried to train ds1 around then as he seemed ready. He did use the potty a lot but had a good few accidents too. I then left it until the day after his 2nd birthday and he was fully trained within a week. Ds2 trained just after his 2nd birthday but he was very familiar with using the potty as it was actively encouraged from around 20 months.