Potty training - when and how to start

[Jogsandwalks]

Hi folks, My son is 21 months old so nearly two. He learns new things quite well by watching us. So he can load and unload the washing machine, put things in the recycling and rubbish bins and other household chores that he sees us doing.

Now that he is coming up to two, I want to start potty training but I don't know how to start. I bought him a potty and he's so scared of it. He refuses to sit on it and just screams and rolls on the floor.

He learns by copying me but I'm not going to start using the potty myself to demonstrate so I'm not sure where to start. I just want him to acknowledge it and not be scared of the thing and maybe sit on it for 5 seconds.

How did you get started with potty training? Any tips?

[Lydialego123]

You could try getting a child’s seat and step for the toilet, rather than a potty - then you can demonstrate and use the same toilet.

We didn’t use the potty for long (it was an extra step to clean it out!) and with our youngest I might skip it all together.

Reading books about it also helped and just letting them practice, maybe use a teddy or doll to demonstrate if you have one?

It is a big new skill to learn, so it might be that he’s just not comfortable with the idea yet - but will pick it up quickly once he’s interested. You could just leave the potty out and he might be curious and want to have a go at some point.

All the best x

[Jogsandwalks in reply to Lydialego123]

Thanks for your response. I think step and toilet insert is a good idea, more practical way to demonstrate 😅

[Seb9]

We did start our little girl sitting on the potty from quite young and then did quite a bit of nappy free time when we could, it was definitely easier in the summer time when she could naked or just in a tshirt and we'd encourage her to go on the potty a few times. She was dry in the day by her 2nd birthday, but is still in nappies overnight. We only really did the potty at home for a while and didn't worry too much about her being in knickers when we left the house, just gradually stated doing more and more in knickers and now we just make sure she goes regularly and she's definitely along to go now more. Even at soft play she stopped and asked to go, so she's done really well, she's 27 months now. My friends little boy was always against using the potty and they pretty much used the toilet straight away. Lots of reminders to go to the toilet and encouragement if you catch anything.

He sounds really bright and I love that he is helping with things round the house. He sounds like a lovely kid xx

[Jogsandwalks in reply to Seb9]

Thanks so much for your response. I think I need to factor the summer in so I can let him run around nappy free. That's a good point. Interesting point about the little boy going straight to the loo and skipping the potty, maybe my son will do that too. Thanks again

[Twiglet2]

Is he showing any signs of wanting to start using the potty or ‘big toilet’? If not, and he is scared of the potty, I would leave it a bit longer as if they are not ready research shows it can take them longer to get it and likely to have more accidents. At just over 2 we introduced the potty and he wanted to sit in it and will pee on the potty or toilet but didn’t ask for it. At 2.5 now he will ask for the potty for a pee or will go do it himself he is also getting dry nappies in between if we are in the house (but not when we are out or at night) but won’t yet poo on the toilet (tries but comes off before it) he does tell us when he need though so he’s showing signs he’s ready and I plan to do a week of no nappy this week as we are both off nursery and work. He has a potty downstairs but prefers to use the big toilet (we have a seat with steps attached) Granny got him a Thomas potty book and be has a reward chart and that seems to have got him really interested. Great that your wee guy can see the potty and stuff just now but if he’s not wanting to use it or showing signs of knowing when he needs to go etc I would leave it until he is personally as there is no rush 🤗 and it’s amazing the difference a couple of months can make! Ps our wee guy also prefers to stand up and pee in the potty sometimes in case that’s a little less scary for him x

[Jogsandwalks in reply to Twiglet2]

Really good advice because my son shows interest in the sense of fear, like please please don't make me sit on the torture device, so not really interest. You're right, I may need to give it a few months

[GraceFace]

I bought the Gina Ford book, and took a week off work to potty train my daughter. She was 2.5 years when I did this though, and we had all of the signs of her being ready, including taking her nappy and all her clothes off at nap times . A year on, she’s still in pull-ups at night, but we’ve just had another baby, so I’m waiting for things to settle down a bit before tackling that one x

[Jogsandwalks in reply to GraceFace]

Thanks for your response, I'll look into some reading material. Thank you

[Jogsandwalks]

Thanks everyone for the useful tips. I think I’ll buy him the step and toilet insert so I can demonstrate and then wait until the summer so I can combine my demonstrations with nappy free days. And give it a solid week to see if I can get anywhere. 😊