We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Advice on Potty training
Options

Lizard_Lady
Posts: 175 Forumite
Hi, i have a 21 month old daughter and want to know when the best time to potty train her and how to start. any help would be much appreciated!! xxx
0
Comments
-
TBH i would wait for as long as you can i found with my kids that the longer i left it the quicker it was. I didn't even try with my son til he was two and a half and it was done in a week never had any accidents or anything (night dryness took a bit longer). I think there is no point until they can truly understand what you mean when you talk about needing a wee. My daughter just turned two and i showed her the potty and told her what it was for but she just looked at me blankly so i have just put it away. I do encourage her to watch me on the toilet and i tell her what i am doing ie mummy having a wee on the toilet.I don't get nearly enough credit for not being a violent psychopath.0
-
i never used a potty with my dd , straight to the toilet as you have to train them to use the tiolet after training them to use the potty. she was 21 months took 2 days and shes been dry day and night since. and has never used a potty. but she told me no nappy mummy i am a big girl.
my ds was another story he was nearer 3 and i used a potty and he would pee in anything that resembled a potty, bin, cat dish was one of his favourites. this would drive me mad. it took a good while to ge thim to use the tiolet.
so i would buy a step and get her straight onto the loo. forgeting the potty. i think she was so quick because shes like a baby monkey and follows me everywhere. and as pukkamum said that included the loo as well.
hth
xLife should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, champagne in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming ~ WOO HOO what a ride!0 -
Hello there
I potty trained my son at about 2 3/4 as they were supposed to be toilet trained by 3 to go in to the 'pre-school room' at nursery - it took a couple of weeks and plenty of accidents and he wasn't dry at nights for quite a long time.
My daughter took off her nappy and trained herself at around 20 months but then again I guess she was aware of her older brother (trouble is she would try and pee standing up for a bit):D
If you have no need to start potty training I wouldn't worry too much at this stage unless your daughter has shown an interest - you could keep the potty in the toilet and sit her on it occasionally while your on the loo to give her the general idea!
Wouldn't worry too much though!0 -
Im a child carer, and a mum, and have found.. thers never a specific time to try.. no need to make a big deal out of it, just go slowly with it..
Maybe buy a potty for in the lounge, and now n then ask your child if theyd like to sit on it, explain what its for n ask if theyd like to try.. also when you go to the toilet, ask if theyd like to come too. Children often learn from copying..
In warmer weather, allow your child to run around without a nappy on, or even in a pair of pants. From experience I learnt that once in pants, children learn quicker as they dont like the feeling of being wet/soiled in pants and soon learn to control it and use the potty/toilet!Good luck!
\\ Debt Free April 2008 //\\ Single Mummy to 1 boy - 4 years & 5 months old //\\ Last weeks spend: £139.39 - 2 NSDs //0 -
We've just started with my son who's nearly 32 months. He wouldn't sit on the potty before and just didn't recognise the sensations. It's only recently he's mentioned "pooed pants" so based on that we started leaving his nappy off during the evening, kept asking him/reminding him wee/poos are done on the potty and after a few weeks he's clicked. Not completely there since he will only go when he's not wearing a nappy but it's stage further than he was a month ago. Will introduce some pants to him and see how he gets on.
I'd definately get a potty and keep it around, explain what it's for etc.I have a gift for enraging people, but if I ever bore you it'll be with a knifeLouise Brooks
All will be well in the end. If it's not well, it's not the end.Be humble for you are made of earth. Be noble for you are made of stars0 -
Do it when they start showing an interest, or noticing they're having a wee / poo.
Try to gauge their interest by asking questions -
If they make a face, then ask them if a poo is coming, would they like to use the potty?
If they look bored, then leave it for a while. No gain from rushing it - all you get is more laundry and wet carpets.;)
My DD was about 2 1/2 and once it was done she never had an accident. We kept her in nighttime nappies a bit longer, until she was taking them off dry and going to the potty first thing in the morning by herself.
There are plenty folk out there who will claim their child was 'dry' by 3 months, 1 year , whatever. But kids go at their own pace, and imho they should be encouraged, but not pressured. Works well when they're older too!Member of the first Mortgage Free in 3 challenge, no.19
Balance 19th April '07 = minus £27,640
Balance 1st November '09 = mortgage paid off with £1903 left over. Title deeds are now ours.0 -
Our eldest was just over 2 when she got potty trained & it clicked right away. We had the potty around for quite a while before so she was used to it being around.
Our youngest is only 14 months, but we have put the potty out so she can see it. She is aware of toilet stuff with others, if I sit on the toilet she always points to the toilet roll & says "that". As others have said it is no good trying to force the issue it is when they are ready.
Nicky0 -
my daughter is 3 now and will not do a poo on the toilet she holds it in rather then go which is resulting in her been very constipated i am at my wits ends she even goes to get the nappies out of the cupboard and puts one on to do a poo in any one else had this ?0
-
The best advice i had was to wait until dd was 3yrs, so on her b-day i took off her nappy and told her that all wees and poops now on potty, fortunately it was june so nice and warm, and spent lots of time outside with potty only had a couple of accidents. good luck0
-
DS can sign when he needs the toilet now - at least some of the time
- so he seats on a toddler seat on the toilet. I refuse to get him used to a potty to then move him onto a toilet - I know of several children who were afraid of the toilet and continued to use the potty...
He's been using it since he was 15 months or so. We've made a game of it, and he has my undivided attention with toys and books as I am sat on the floor.
If your little girl goes with you into the toilet then you can talk about what you are doing?The IVF worked;DS born 2006.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 244K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.3K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards