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Posted: 02 March 2007 at 10:29am | IP Logged

So many people have told me to start potty training as early as possible. But surely you can't start it until

• they are walking
• talk (enough to tell you they need to sit on the potty or wee wee)

Maybe I'm just being silly, but I daren't start the girls as they look at me gone out when I say 'do you need a wee wee?'

Posted: 02 March 2007 at 10:47am | IP Logged

Its easier to wait til they are able to tell you, or are showing signs of being ready.  Isla was 2 nd half when we started potty training her, i waited til the school summer holidays when i had the time to do it, as in not rushing round like a headless chicken, we had it sussed in 10 days.  Your best bet is to have a potty downstairs so that they get used to it, and dont get scared of it.  However, you may find the potty being used as a hat, toy storage or whatever else they come up with.  We had the potty downstairs for about a year before starting training, shed quite happily sit on it (fully dressed) and read a book.  Or she would let her dollys have a wee etc on it.  There are no right or wrongs when it comes to the timing of potty training, they will do it when they are ready, and youve got no chance if trying to do it waaay before they are ready.  The only advice my mum gave to me was, no child starts school in a nappy so dont panic

Posted: 02 March 2007 at 11:54am | IP Logged

It's alot easier if they can walk and talk.  Being potty trained is another step towards being independant.  If you need to help them to the potty/toilet as they cant walk then that is taking the independace away as they still need you to help.

Talking would also be a a good skill to have as then they can tell you when they wanna go lol.

Love Trudi.  xx

Posted: 02 March 2007 at 11:55am | IP Logged

   I agreed with Steph. You will know when they are ready. It is pointless starting too soon as you get no where. My dd was just over 2 and my ds 2 1/2 but both were dry within a week so I am glad I didn't hurry them.

Posted: 02 March 2007 at 12:50pm | IP Logged

Ellis was just over 2 when we started and she was also dry within a week - that was helped by the fact a lot of her friends at her nursery were going through it too and she wanted to copy them!

I think it depends on the child really

Lily will be 2 in a fortnight and she is already showing an interest in the potty we leave lying around the house - she hasn't used it successfully yet (peed on the floor beside it the other day! ) but I think its dawning on her what its for

I think it would be a lot easier to start once they are walking tho

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Posted: 02 March 2007 at 4:39pm | IP Logged

Hi Dani.

I agree with what the others have said - I'm not even going to attempt to potty train Ella until she is aware of what its all about.

My MIL swears blind that DH was potty trained at 14 months, but his Nana told me it was more like 2 and 1/2. There is a lot of pressure to potty train, but I really don't see the point if they're not ready for it and end up having loads of accidents.

Ella sits on the loo before she has a bath, and sometimes she'll ask for the potty - but then she doesn't do anything with it when she gets it!

Posted: 09 March 2007 at 9:14pm | IP Logged

Some los can't talk at that age (like my son-speech problems), but he would indicate by pulling at his nappy.

Anyhow, they give you little signs that they're ready, but you have to be too.