Too young??

Hi all, I was wondering if it is wishful thinking from my DH to expect our DS who is almost 17months old to start toilet training. I think he is way too young as he is not showing any signs of understanding the whole toilet thing. We have bought him a potty but he has no idea what it is for! He does sometimes grizzle a bit when he does a poo so I know he's done one but makes no issue of having done a wee. We have DD due in mid November and DH would like him magically out of nappies before then but I know its' not going to happen. I would have thought he would be at least 2 before we start. What did other Mummys with DS's do?

Well from my experience 17 months is too young. There are some kids who have TT that young though. You need to really watch him and see when he's doing something in his nappy and watch to see if he is aware of what he is doing. I've reseached this a bit and it's got to do with nerve endings and whether or not they feel it in the bladder before they wee. Also a big part of it is the willingness of the child to do what the parent wants.

You can show him how to sit on the potty so he is familiar with it. He may or may not do anything in it. Lots of praise if he does do something in there but do not force him to sit if he doesn't want to. The last thing you want to do is make him feel unsecure or anxious when he sits.

I've had one child who refused to TT and completley resisted till he was 3 1/2 but then when he got it there were no accidents! My other son was 2 when he started going on the toilet by himself with no prompting from me at all but it was really hit and miss with him. Some days we had totally dry and others he would wet his pants.
He had been dry for about 6 months when his brother was born but started wetting and pooing his pants again - several times a day. It took 4 months for him to be reliable with the toilet again.

2 in nappies isn't that big of a deal. I've done it and looking back it was much easier to manage than TT regression.

I have been trying to find the 'right' time to TT my DD for the last 6 months or so. I was lawys told "they will let you know when they are ready". I am amazed at how they do!!!

My DD (2.5) recently (a week ago) announced that she was now a big girl and wouldn't wear nappies and wanted to use the toilet. Up until this time she would say that she didn't want the nappies, but refused to use the toilet (about 5 months worth). Prior to that she would sit on the potty, but had no idea what it was all about.

There was no point in starting anything then, because we just would have been 'training' for months. All the advice I have had is once you start, don't stop. I am happy that we didn't push her before she was ready.

We have had it reasonably easy for the last week. She is waking up dry from naps as well as overnight sleeps, and generally has one accident a day (usually involving #2s only). We don't have to concive her to go to the toilet, and when she does go, she happily does her "business". She even took herself yesterday. There's definitely no going back now.

I was hoping that she would hold off until we were settled in with bubba #2, but I guess that's not meant to be. Two in nappies would be far easier than one TT and a newborn. I am dreading DD regressing after #2 is born......

From my experience, I would say that 17 months is too young. He wouldn't be able to cognitively connect the sensation of needing to go with actaully going to the toilet and doing it there. In past generations parents will say that their kids were TT by the age of 2 all the time, but it was more that they pretty much pee'd to a schedule, and mum got him/her to the toilet in time.

Good luck if you choose to give it a try, but I would wait until he gives you the signs that he is ready. I agree with Sammi - get a potty to familiarise him with it, but I woudln't expect him to 'want' to do anything just yet.