How to know when child is ‘ready’ for potty training?

[HappyHippo99]

my toddler will tell me when they’ve done a poo or wee and to ‘change nappy’ but every time I mention the potty and get it out they tell me ’no’ and ‘put it away’. I don’t want to force them but the communication is definitely good enough.

Sometimes you have to force them, or you end up being one of those parents who sends their child to reception in nappies.

How old are they?

Do they know they're doing a poo in advance? Will they go away/hide?

They were 2 in March!

Yes 100% been ‘hiding’ to poo since about 18 months.

Go for it this summer. Absolutely perfect age, perfect weather, perfect timing.

Use the nappy fairy setup if you think that will help, it often does help kids who are resistant to change.

That’s what I’m thinking!

thank you

Get a toilet seat and step. I’m not a fan of letting wains decide if they’re ready or not. You’re in charge here. At this stage popping him on the toilet at regular intervals would be a good start.

Agree skip potty go straight to seat and step. Don't delay you will miss the window.

Was thinking this as They have recently started asking for the ‘big toilet’ although scared when I put them on it

We started off by just having the potty around. Didn't mention it, didn't draw attention to it. We just left it into the corner of the room unused. We bought some potty training story books (we had a good moving parts one called "No more nappies") which we started reading periodically. Eventually DD started sitting on it by herself when playing, or watching tv. Once we got over the winter, we then decided to start actively potty training around Easter (she was 2.5y by then) but if it was the summer, we'd have definitely gone for it by then. Do you have a downstairs loo? We don't, so we had potty downstairs and kids seat + step on our upstairs loo, but actually DD wasn't so bothered by that so we just put a potty in the upstairs bathroom in the end as well.

My youngest is the same and was also 2 in march. We used the toilet seat/step combo with my eldest (who was late to toilet training at 3.5, but cracked it straight away after previous failed attempts). I am going to get them down from the loft (the seats, not the toddler!) and start saying I’m putting the contents of the nappies down the loo and letting her see the steps and basically talk about using the loo for wees and poos loads in readiness for trying training properly in a couple of months time. Something the health visitor suggested was the Eric website and to give them bubbles when sat on the loo as it helps associate that sensation/muscles of doing a poo.

Just turned 2 in March? Perfect age, go for it now!

Once you start, keep at it and see it through.

Sounds like your toddler is ready! I'm currently potty training my toddler who also turned 2 in March. We had the potty out (but unused) since the new year so she could play and sit on it. Had a couple of potty training kids books to read to her.

Over the bank holiday, took her nappy off and kept putting her on the potty/toilet when she needed to go. Seems to have picked it up fairly well although does have occasional accidents.

I would leave the potty and toddler toilet seat out and let your toddler play/sit on it for a week and then try potty training.

I'd go for it in the summer. I did last year with DD (she was 2.5 year in the summer). Very similar to your child. Wanting changing ASAP when wet or dirty to the point they were getting upset after a dirty nappy. Very big NO to the potty or toilet but always interested in what others were doing in the toilet.
I just took the plunge one weekend when were had no plans and were at home. I got her to choose some knickers for herself. Got her to decide potty or toilet (I left the potty out in view for a few weeks) so she got use to it before hand.

It took DD a bit to not be scared to go but we got there eventually.

We are on day 3 with a just 2 yr old. Dreaded it a bit as he kicked off if you tried to put him on the potty. Used the oh crap potty training book and it's gone well - only one accident today and 10 successes.

Note that not once has he said yes to "do you want to go". We try instead to do a casual ok cool, we will do bubbles after wee in the potty, and pretend not to be as invested in it as we are. He was terrified of releasing and distraught at wees/poos on the floor on day one but fine today. We just said yes that's a shame that's not where they go but don't worry, mummy and daddy are here to help you, you're just learning etc. I think the fear only would have got worse with more time spent in nappies.

Of course on day 3, I may have a nightmare from now on!!