best time to start potty training???

[sarahleanne]

my daughter is 20 months and i have my 3rd baby due in January.i was hoping to have her trained by the time the baby is born but don't want to rush her?
Is 20 months a bit early to start?
if I start in the next few weeks that gives me 6 months to crack it.
also could do with some tips on how to start this off.its been a few years since I did it with my eldest (boy)and i've heard boys are different to girls so this feels a bit new to me.

All toddlers are different - the youngest of my friends children was out of nappies by 18 months but he did most of that himself (copying sibling) however you need to be looking for signs of readiness rather than just deciding if its convenient for you.

My DS (2.5) currently isn't ready - if I give him nappy-off time he doesn't seem aware prior to doing a wee, he seems surprised when it happens. I'm trying to do nappy off as much as possible in the house, but doubt if he will be ready for a good few months yet :)

I did it at 20 months with my son, but he had been showing signs for a while. Like the poster above said, you need to watch out for signs he is ready before you start

Agree with other posters that you need to be sure that they're ready. Also, I found it was actually a lot easier to have ds1 in nappies when ds2 arrived as you don't have that mad rush of trying to get them to the toilet when you've just started feeding or doing something with the baby! I had similar age gap to you (26 months) but I didn't train ds1 in the end until ds2 was about 8 months and we were all a bit more settled.

thankyou for your replies.
I spoke to the health visitor today and think ive decided to wait a bit longer.and kaymondo that's a really good point you made about not having to dash to the toilet whilst feeding etc.

I'm around the 12 week pregnant mark with dc2 and I am sort of starting my 20mo ds. It is handy with the weather being so good as we can be outside alot. He seems to know when he needs to wee it's the pooing that sort of just happens..

my ds is 2.9 and has been dry for about 2 months now day and night.
I had tried a couple of times and he just wasn't ready.

like you I really wanted to have him dry before dc2 arrives, and he literally did it within a week when he wss ready, I was so shocked!

once ready it will more likely be a much easier process! good luck!

Mine were nearly 3 before i started to potty train. I have 3, all 2 years apart.

With all 3 i dreaded the potty training. I never had any firm plan. But with all 3 it worked out fine actually looking back.

I waited for good weather. So they could run about nappyless inside/outside.

Waiting till nearly 3 meant i could virtually say: ''ok smallfluffy, from now on we do our wee's/poo's on the potty/toilet seat yes? no more smelly nappies ay?''

... and they agreed!