Day 2 of potty training. Not sure if he is ready?

[Brooke87]

Hello,

My son has just turned two and was meeting almost all the signs of being ready for potty training. The signs he is meeting are: hiding in a corner/behind something when going for a poo, pulling at his nappy after a wee or poo, being able to follow simple instructions, dry nappies for periods of time, when he's had his poo he brings me his nappy and wipes to change him.

He says the odd words but won't communicate through words when he's had a poo or a wee or when he needs one. He also wouldn't be able to pull his pants up and down unassisted.

We decided to try and potty train him just after his second birthday as he is off nursery for the holidays so my husband and I thought we would have plenty of time to focus on it too.

We are currently on day 2. On day 1 we kept him naked from the waist down and explained the potty. He did numerous wees throughout the day which he started on the carpet and then we picked him up and placed him on the potty, let him empty the potty into the toilet and let him flush the toilet. All of which he enjoyed and cheered when the toilet was flushed. He didn't have a poo at all which was unusual for him. Come bedtime we put a nappy back on him for sleep.

Day 2 is looking very similar to day 1. Kept him naked from the waist down and he continues to wee on the carpet and we guide him to the potty where he will finish his wee. He also had a poo this morning but would absolutely not go on the potty for this.

I'm concerned because whilst I know plenty of accidents will happen he doesn't seem able to anticipate a wee at all nor make any effort to even get towards a potty or look at it etc. he will only go to the potty after he started weeing and we guide him there. If we didn't move him I know he would just stand there whilst he does his whole wee and not go to the potty.

Does this mean we have started too early and should try again in a few weeks/months?

Concerned that I am keeping him in the house unnecessarily if he isn't ready and we could be outside having fun haha!

I know some people do put nappies on their toddlers and pull them up and down when their toddler lets them know they need a wee but I know he wouldn't be able to communicate this to me at this stage.

Sorry that it's so long and any advice or peoples experiences would be really helpful! X

I forgot to add that I'm now thinking about when we eventually go outside how he will communicate that he needs to go to the toilet as I can't see him verbalising it yet. I'm very confused and stressed haha!

Usually clicks around day 3 or 4. For us with both children day 2 was the PITS.

They're learning something huge and it takes a bit of time, patience and perseverance

I know some people do put nappies on their toddlers and pull them up and down when their toddler lets them know they need a wee but I know he wouldn't be able to communicate this to me at this stage.

I would not do this. It's confusing and will make the whole process much longer

Thanks @jokish . Do you think he sounds ready to be potty training then?

Keep the faith!

Teach him the Makaton/ BSL signs for potty/ poo/ wee if he isn’t talking? I trained my son at 24 months and the first 4 days weren’t good. Then he started being able to hold his wee for 2 hours (but not initiating going for a wee) but did communicate using signs when he needed a poo.

He is much better now at initiating wees but still needs prompting when very excited or tired, he is 2 and a half now. Building it into the day helps. Always try first thing in the morning, before going outside, before nap, after nap, before going outside, before dinner and before bed! That for us worked out as about every 2 hours and so minimal accidents while he was learning to initiate going to the potty himself.

My eldest was speech delayed but communicated with a 'hmmph' sound when he needed to go.