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Potty training

MrsSippi
Posts: 287 Forumite
I know this subject has probably been done to death already so apologies in advance if Im repeating what anyone else has asked!
My older daughter was quite, though not massively late at potty/toilet training (she had just turned 3 when she finally mastered it), though this wasnt through lack of trying on my part or hers, she just seemed to take longer than most to understand the whole process! Fast forward a couple of years and I am now starting the whole thing again with my 20 month old. In fairness she does seem to grasp the concept better than my older daughter did at her age and she has used the potty 2 or 3 times. She will always tell me when her nappy is full and most of the time can correctly tell me what's in there :rotfl:. I am now keen to progress a bit further with this but would love to hear what methods other mums have found most successful.
Obviously I know kids won't do it before they're ready but I do hear quite often of them being trained by 18 months and although I am not going to force the issue with DD2 it had made me wonder if I approached it in the wrong way with my eldest and if so I'm keen not to do the same this time! I would love to hear any advice from other mums on this - what worked best for you, what methods were most effective etc? At the moment I pop DD on potty whenever I go to the loo or if she has used her nappy she sits on it with her nappy off while I'm sorting a fresh one out. What else can I try? Any help would be hugely appreciated
My older daughter was quite, though not massively late at potty/toilet training (she had just turned 3 when she finally mastered it), though this wasnt through lack of trying on my part or hers, she just seemed to take longer than most to understand the whole process! Fast forward a couple of years and I am now starting the whole thing again with my 20 month old. In fairness she does seem to grasp the concept better than my older daughter did at her age and she has used the potty 2 or 3 times. She will always tell me when her nappy is full and most of the time can correctly tell me what's in there :rotfl:. I am now keen to progress a bit further with this but would love to hear what methods other mums have found most successful.
Obviously I know kids won't do it before they're ready but I do hear quite often of them being trained by 18 months and although I am not going to force the issue with DD2 it had made me wonder if I approached it in the wrong way with my eldest and if so I'm keen not to do the same this time! I would love to hear any advice from other mums on this - what worked best for you, what methods were most effective etc? At the moment I pop DD on potty whenever I go to the loo or if she has used her nappy she sits on it with her nappy off while I'm sorting a fresh one out. What else can I try? Any help would be hugely appreciated
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Comments
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Two thoughts - potty training is ideally a summer activity.
The other is cloth nappies give prompt feedback without too much risk of harm, so seeing what the NCT sales etc can do for you & young 'un may be the economical way to go.
Very best of luck!0 -
My second potty trained earlier than the first too, if you can go nappy free (trouser free too) at home then I really thinks it helps them figure it out.
Getting used to noticing their cues helps stop too many puddles
I know some don't like bribery but when we decided to say goodbye to the nappies we rewarded successful toilet times with a chocolate button.
Offer the toilet often and lots of luckCurrently studying for a Diploma - wish me luck
Phase 1 - Emergency Fund - Complete :j
Phase 2 - £20,000 Mortgage Fund - Underway0 -
wait for the warm weather, then go nappy free in the garden. Simples.0
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From my experience of training my three years ago, and working with many families since:
Summer is definitely easier or at least easy to remove clothing - Do not put your child in jeans
It's best not to use pull-ups and go for real pants, as they feel too much like nappies.
Go shopping for special big girl pants (let child choose) - get lots of pairs
Introduce 'toilet talk' early, comments on wees and poos
Recognise signs child wants to go
Introduce pot at most likely times initially (e.g. after breakfast)
Praise for sitting on a pot (distraction with activities initially) for a few seconds and gradually increase time
Praise for weeing or pooing on pot
Encourage sitting on pot at frequent intervals (hourly at first)
Introduce story books about potty training
Model sitting on potty with teddies etc.
Don't restrict drinks
Take the potty everywhere (don't go back to nappies, it confuses) and be prepared to use it in - portable ones are useful
For an older child, skip the pot and go straight to the toilet
Let them see siblings or adults use
Be prepared for lots of accidents: having a good washing machine and laminate floor helps and keep clean up cloth/disinfectant at the ready! And remember, there's usually a lag between day time training and nights.somewhere between Heaven and Woolworth's0 -
Thanks for all the replies, they're really helpful. One thing I would appreciate opinions on - when is the best time of year to start? I know many prefer (as mentioned) to do it in the warmer weather so little one can run around outside nappy free but others I've spoken to have said they prefer colder weather as generally you are at home more which makes it easier. I'm sure I covered both with my eldest! but am interested to hear what others have found easiest. My eldest hated not wearing a nappy or pull up in the garden so that didn't really work for her but hopefully it will this time if we wait until the warmer weather.0
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Just start when you feel ready. If you're thinking about putting it off till summer it might mean that you're not feeling ready right now - make sense?Currently studying for a Diploma - wish me luck
Phase 1 - Emergency Fund - Complete :j
Phase 2 - £20,000 Mortgage Fund - Underway0 -
My son told my MIL when he was 28 months that he didn't want to wear a nappy anymore. Took it off and that was that. A couple of wet accidents over the next fortnight. It was the same day I discovered I was pregnant with DD. In my naivety I thought that was how children potty trained.
Only overhearing a conversation when he started nursery between other mums did I realise that it wasn't usually quite like that.
As practically everyone had told me 'oh boys are so much harder to train' and DS had done the above. I was convinced DD would be a doddle. She wasn't she was a nightmare and starting nursery a couple of months before her 3rd birthday, the staff asked me if I would like some help. I said yes and they sorted it within 2-3 weeks.
However I will say though she was older when she trained, DD was dry at day and night together.
DS though he'd been younger, took a further 15 months before he was dry at night.0 -
Your daughter may be ready now. She seems to know she's done the toilet and will sit on the potty.
Just get her some big girl pants and try her 30 minutes/every hour on potty lots of praise when she does it and no big deal when accidents happen.
There all different but I'd try now. Give it a week or 2, she seems ready.0 -
Back in the day babies were usually clean by 18 months to 2 years (not overnight) but that is because they were in toweling or not very good disposable nappies. That means when they were wet/dirty they felt uncomfortable and let you know all about it. It was then quite an easy step to get them clean. These days even the cheapest disposable nappies keep a baby dry and comfortable so the child does not complain and has nothing s/he wants to stop irritating them. You obviously want good quality nappies on a small baby but when you are trying to get them clean it hampers your efforts.
I would wait a few more weeks until the weather gets a bit nicer then get some cheap cotton pants that will feel wet and proceed from there.0 -
I bought some cheap real nappies (pre-loved) and that did the trick. He was over 3 years old as well, but in disposables he just didn't really care. The real ones are bulky, obviously nappies and get a bit wet - plenty of motivation!0
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