Is DD really ready for potty training?

[soupmaker]

My DD has just turned 2. We've had a potty in the bathroom for a few months, for show more than anything else. DD has shown lots of interest, sitting on it, annoucing she is on the toilet, and asking for toilet paper, but has never actually managed to wee or poo in it! She is also used to seeing me on the loo - normally shouts 'mummy on toilet' to anyone in hearing distance. She has also recently been talking about 'pants'. She is at nursery as I work full-time and I think the interest may be stemming from there. She is a wee madam when it comes to nappy changes, she is quite happy to be in a wet or dirty nappy and when asked if she had done a poo, when quite clearly she has, will say 'No poo'. I am just not convinced that she is ready for toilet training, despite various relatives encouraging me to go for it. Any advice?

I am in the same situation - my daughter loves to sit on the potty and wants to wear pants - but just doesn't get that she should poo/wee on the potty. She is also at nursery 4 days and sees other children using the potty. When she asks to use the potty at home - I allow her to sit on it and praise her for doing that - I think one day she will just wee - she'll do it in her own time. Relatives tend to have lots of helpful advice - but your child will be ready when they choose to be, My mum said my daughter should be potty trained - so she came to stay for a few days and I let her try - well there was wee all over the house! Thank goodness for wooden floor!!

I'd carry on as you are at the moment. She seems happy and completely unstressed by the whole thing which is exactly the way to go so well done!

When she is another few months older, the weather is warmer and there is a nice, sunny weekend looming, start.

Once started though, don't look back as it is confusing and complicates things which is why you have to be absolutely sure you want to give it a go.

Once you do, nursery will be angels for you. They will be full of patience and praise and I often think that children who are potty training in an environment such as that are just SO lucky!!!Lots of changes of clothes, lots of knickers..a lovely chart for stickers when she wees or poos stuck on your bathroom wall and all will be well.

It is preference as to whether you use pull up type nappies or not once training. I wouldn't and that is just what I do though I do think that getting rid of nappies and moving to pull ups BEFORE you begin potty training in earnest is a good move as it is a great transition moment and gives the child a feeling of pants with the security of a nappy.
Have fun!!

Although DD is a few months older than your DD (she's 2.5), she's at exactly the same stage. She sits on the potty before her bath, says 'wee wee' and then sings her wee wee song (along the lines of twinkle, twinkle) But she's yet to do a wee or a poo in the potty. The other night she was in the bath and actually asked to come out so she could wee on the potty. She sat on it, did nothing, got back in the bath and promptly wee'd! So progress, but not great!!

She loves wearing pants and we use pull-ups during the day now to get her used to pulling them up & down. I am expecting DD2 next month, so have decided to leave any potty training until after her arrival, by which time the weather will be better and things should be easier.

All her friends are now potty trained, and I just ignore people who express surprise that she's not trained yet - she will be potty trained when she's good & ready and there's no point in stressing her - or me - out about it until that time.

Thanks for all the advice and comments, its all very reassuring. I really do not want to start training until DD is really up for it, and I agree summer time makes sense. Great advice about the pull-ups I hadn't thought of that - might make nappy changing a lot easier too. Had to laugh tonight, DD running about before bath and having sat on potty for a while and then demanded to sit on the toilet without any result, stood in front of our hall mirror and watched herself wee on the carpet, she was well chuffed with herself!

She is obviously interested in the workings of it all!!!