Potty Readiness Signs

[Belia]

So, my mom has me in a panic because I haven't started PL with DS yet. (ummm.... he's not even 2!)

She told me today that she's sure he's ready, and that if I don't take advantage of this "window of opportunity" now that he's ready, he'll lose interest and won't be potty trained until he's 15. Or something.

What are the signs that a LO is ready to give it a go?

[haurelia]

I am a first-timer, so I can't offer any BTDT advice. BUT, I do know that it helps to watch his cues; like, what does he do when he wets or poops? Anything? Does he tell you if he needs a change? Is he dry after a nap and then wets right after he gets up? Just knowing what his patterns are can help you to help him be more aware of eliminating, and seems like that would make learning to eliminate in the toilet much easier.

My kid usually tells me the minute he wets or poops a diaper (he says "papoo" for either or both). So, when he tells me, I thank him, take the diaper off and put him on the potty and encourage him to go for a few seconds (that's all he'll usually tolerate). I don't do the toilet every time, though, and haven't caught anything in the potty yet! I guess I just think it's important to keep communicating and help him be aware of what it feels like to poop and pee and we'll eventually get to the point of control.

Good luck! Moms are tough, eh?

[sapphire_chan]

Even if they aren't "ready" for typical potty training/learning a lot of kids ARE ready to have the idea of the potty introduced around 18 months. It's a good time to get a little potty, tell them they can use it if they want, let them take their toys to the potty, have them flush the toilet for you, etc. For some kids, that naturally segues right into asking to use the potty, for others they lose interest for a few months and then wake up one morning and just go for it.

[Jayray]

I just finished reading "Diaper Free Before 3" and she really debunks all the "readiness" ideas in it, suggesting that kids should be potty trained earlier rather than later. Although I know a lot of people here think readiness is important.

[Belia]

OP Here- DS isn't too verbal yet- he only says about a dozen words.

I can't tell when he's peeing, and he wakes up wet after naps. I can tell when he's pooping, but only because he walks backwards and claps when he's doing it or working on it. It's actually pretty hilarious in an adorable way.

Just recently he's started grabbing his crotch and saying "Booooooooh" for poop, but the majority of the time that only means he's working on it or needs to go (he's had constipation issues for the past few weeks), not that he's actually gone.

He's not scared of the potty at all, he "helps" me all the time, is with me when I go, flushes, waves bye-bye when we flush, all that.

He also goes to a Montessori daycare during the school year, and he's been around the little potties there all year.

I just don't know anything about this (except what my mother is nagging at me from her experiences 30 years ago ) and assume that if I actually start to research, I will become even more confused.

[neverdoingitagain]

I'm sort of p'ingl my second child. Its not even easier the second time around. She is completely resistant to the idea of the potty although she has seen all of us use the toilet, the small potty is hanging around the room, etc. She would rather be diaper free, verbalizes she needs to poop or pee(its all poop to her ) and actually waits until you put a diaper on her before eliminating.
Its the only time she will let you put a diaper on her. I'm trying to figure out a way to transition her from eliminating in a diaper to eliminating in a potty.
feeling

[LadyCatherine185]

subbing..

my DS has had some interest in the potty for some time, I have been trying to put him on several times a day (if I remember.. ) and he will go pretty much anytime you set him on the potty. He has peed and pooped on the potty numberous times. I don't know if I should be more "aggressive" and go ahead and try to train him, or wait..... Am I going to miss a window? I just don't want to PL now and have him regress in November when the baby comes....

[korintherin]

Originally Posted by neverdoingitagain

Its the only time she will let you put a diaper on her. I'm trying to figure out a way to transition her from eliminating in a diaper to eliminating in a potty.
feeling

Just an idea... can you put a diaper in the potty chamber?

[neverdoingitagain]

Originally Posted by korintherin

Just an idea... can you put a diaper in the potty chamber?

btdt, she grabs the diaper and puts it between her legs OOOORRR..she throws the diaper and the kicks the potty. such a stinker