Signs of potty learning? Or have I "missed the window" for now?

[micromama]

So for a while a couple months ago, my 23-mo-old DD was telling me when she had to poop or pee, and asking to use the potty. We bought her a small potty and she used it a few times, sometimes just to sit, sometimes to actually go pee or poop. But we didn't push it at all.

Lately, she has stopped asking, and stopped telling us when she has to go-- she just goes. Yesterday she took off her diaper and then just peed all over the floor. SIGH. I asked her why she didn't tell me she had to go and she just looked at me blankly, like, "What are you so worked up about?" :)

Any suggestions? Her "readiness" signs have clearly cooled off a bit and I don't want to push, but it would sure be nice to get this training thing rolling.

[skycheattraffic]

Telling you when she has to go is really the final piece of the puzzle for most kids. She is at a good age to PL and she has good awareness. She now needs structure and support from you to put the pieces together. There are different methods you can use, the naked method, the timer method, etc. if you want to keep diapers for a while then you could start incorporating the potty into diaper changes. If I were in your shoes, I would read up on methods, choose one and get started.

[organicviolin]

She's ready. Just do it! She hasn't made the connection that the floor isn't the appropriate place. We did lots of nakie time plus for a while letting DS outside like the dog to do his thing. LOL

[Asiago]

No I don't think you missed the opportunity. My neighbors and a friend said "Oh, he is ready, seize the opportunity!"

Well, he was ready to start, but once he did he quickly realized, within three days he was done and over it. He was successful, conquered the potty and now back to normal life.....and old familiar diapers. That was at 18 months. I wasn't about to push it, that effort on his behalf and sheer enthusiasm was much more than I had ever hoped for. We would just revisit it when he was ready.

So between 18-32 months, lots of naked time, lots of accidents and some success. Not a big deal, I knew he would do it on his own when he was emotionally ready.

At 32 months, he did it on his own, with no urging just a wish to be like mom and dad. He is reliable at home. We'll potty learn outside the home, once we conquer his fear of public bathrooms. All in sweet time.

I believe it was Norma Baumgarten (Mothering Your Nursing Toddler) who said .......weaning and potty training happen easily when the child is ready. So far she seems right, at least from my one experience.

Edited by Asiago - 8/6/12 at 1:56pm