When to potty train?

Jake hated the toilet initially, but we got him a little stool to rest his legs on and he was much more receptive. We originally had a potty from the warehouse that Jake hated. i had a look and it was so uncomfortable for him. My aunt gave us a musical one she found somewhere and it was much better - wider seat for the larger bum - and kept him amused. We also had a seat insert for jake that he liked, but really it was the stool that helped Jake.

I just got a handout from paft about tt and this is what it says:
There are 3 major steps of tt

1 Recognising signs of readiness in your child
-pausing and making sounds and grimaces when having a bowel movement
-having regular bowel movements
-staying dry for 2 hours at a time consistently during the day. Waking up dry from a nap
- telling you immediately that he is wet
-complaining when wet or dirty
-telling you when he has had or is having a bowel movement
-generally liking to be clean
-wanting to watch you at the toilet
-wanting to imitate adults and be grown up

2. Preparing your child
- Teach the words you want your child to use for bathroom functions
-allow child to observe others using the toilet and explain what it is for. Say "This is what mummy and daddy do"
-Read a childrens book about tt
- get a potty and introduce it as his own possession. Let him sit on his potty with his clothes on while you sit on the toilet
- Talk to him about how he will start using the potty all the time when he is bigger and will wear underwear "Like a big boy!"
-Allow your child to use the potty upon request while he is still wearing nappies; this is a way he can practice and prepare for the change from nappies to pants
-Help your child learn to take his clothes off and put them on

3 Changing from nappys during the day to pants and using the toilet all the time

Wait until your child lets you know that he is ready to make the change from nappies to pants. realise that only your child can decide when it is time to toilet learn. Some children need to spend a longer time in step 2 preparation.

Some tips -Establish a toileting routine, such as first thing in the morning, shortly after breakfast, mid-morning, before dinner, mid-evening and before bed

-Occasionally during the day (no more than every 2 hours), ask your child if he is dry. If he says yes, suggest he sit on the potty.

- Expect him to want to sit on the potty more than he actually needs to go

-Expect your child to have accidents for a while. Be relaxed about them and help your child clean up and change clothing

-Expect your child to need to go to the bathroom each time he enters a new place, such as shops, restaurants, and friends houses

-Dress your child in clothes that are easy for him to put on and take off. You may want to wait until summer when clothes are easier to get on and off.

He will let you know when hes ready for night time tt.

-Most importantly, let him know that you have confidence in his desire and ability to use the potty sucessfully.

What parental attitudes and behaviour will most encourage tt?

-Do not push him, but watch for signs of readiness, prepare him gradually, and demonstrate your confidence that he will learn to use the toilet when he is ready

-expect accidents and never shame or punish for accidents. It is normal for him to have an accident after many dry days

-Queitly encourage and praise the child for sucesses and show understanding about failures

- A childs understanding and feelings toward his body is a central dimension of self concept. The young childs attitude toward his body is learned from his experiences with people who are important to him. Your interactions with your child in tt impacts his attitude toward his body and self concept.

I have the same thing with Zaara Ella,

Zaara tells me Poos before she does it but will freak out if I put her on the toilet and screams untill I take her down. When I sit on the toilet (TMI) she comes and says mama Poo's and is fine with that but wont sit on it herself.....I was about to start a topic abt this....

thanks for that great info rach. reading that i think mikey might still be a wee way off yet, he really enjoys carrying his potty around and sometimes sits on it with his clothes on but as soon as his pants come off its no go.

like you aimee, i think i'll see where we're at once summer arrives.

I am going to buy two training pants for McKayla and see how it goes over the summer. First try the two out and then buy some more. She is staying more dry these days between naps and can sometimes be totally dry over night. She is taking her freaking own nappy off after a poo if you are not fast enough. So yeah I think I will try over the summer and see if she is ready. If not just going to wait a bit. Got her a baby doll and a potty for her birthday as well so lets see her potty train her doll and indirectly potty train her.

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