I have an 18month old, and I'm starting to think about toilet training.
When do I start?
How do i know he's ready?
What do I do?
I am totally clueless in this area.
I really need help here
Ashton will be 3 in 11 days. I need to toilet train him as well, but I am being REALLY slack and have the can't be bothered. He hates both the potties I have, so need to set him up to use the toilet straight away. I will probably train him in the next lot of school holidays now. That way I have a full 6 weeks home.
Is his nappy still dry after a couple of hours on at least a semi-regular basis? For instance, can you change his nappy, put him down for a nap and when he wakes up his nappy is still dry? If he does this shows he is gaining some bladder control.
Does he show any kind of awareness of pooing?
How's his talking? Do you think he'd be able to understand if you were talking about wees and poos?
Can he sit still for at least a couple of minutes (eg with a book)?
If yes to all of the above then sure, give it a crack.
Spend 3 or 4 days at home with his nappy off as much as possible - maybe the weekend for Day 1 and 2 so Dad is around to help. I believe you have to do the hard yards initially so they get the idea and then you can relax a bit and not worry about confusing them if you have to put them back in a nappy if you are going out to place where it will be a complete PITA to deal with an accident.
It will be a bit hard going at first until he gets the idea. You'll have to watch him like a hawk and when he starts weeing quickly plunk him on the potty and explain it as simply as you can that wees go on the potty now. If by the end of the third or fourth day he isn't at least trying to head to the potty for a wee, he's not ready. Give up and try again in a few months. If he gets distressed, give up immediately.
FWIW my DS was complete rubbish for the first 2 days but by the end of the 3rd day would start to wee, say "oh no, oh no!" and run to the potty to finish. It did just suddenly seem to click. (He was over 2 years old...I think he would have been ready earlier but DD was born and everyone told me not to bother potty training if I was going to have a newborn in the house).
If you get wee on the carpet treat it immediately with plain lukewarm water only. DON'T use supermarket carpet cleaners on it. This way if you get any stains a professional carpet cleaner will easily get the stains out. We found this out the hard way...we actually set a wee stain in our pale grey carpet by using supermarket carpet cleaners...got a huge lecture (in a nice way) from a professional carpet cleaner about what we should have done - good for future reference!!
Good luck. When they are trained it's just so wonderful!!!
oh this is so handy to know!! We've started with DS, who turned two in August. He'd been showing signs for about a month prior to his birthday, but over his birthday, he was hospitalised so it was put on hold. We're back into the swing of things now, but I don't think he's quite got the grasp to tell me. Either that or he's way too busy! He realises when he's going. He's not too keen on the potty, but uses the toilet ok. Will sit there without a toilet insert - but that only seems to be when Nana or Oma are about, and not for me. With the insert, he'll read a book. Distraction is the key!! We bought a book (through Total Learning - a party plan type thing) called Potty Training for Boys. Hardcover, about 10 pages altogether. After reading that, something must have clicked coz he was interested in wees and poos !
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Toilet Training
) and their method worked for us!
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