My little boy is 2 years and 2 months old and I am wondering when is the right time to start potty training?

[Guest]

He understands what a poo and a pee is but he hasn’t made any visible cues that he understands before he goes?

[Ali]

I’d put him in the garden with nothing on the bottom and let him feel what happens, have a potty out as well and sit him on it about half and hour after a big drink!

[Gemma]

My daughter is 2 and a half and I'm having the same problem. I've tried the training pants, knickers have a toilet step and potty I've even sat on the toilet trying to encourage her to sit on the potty.

But no sign of her being trained before she goes preschool. My other 3 were easy to train.

I've tried less water milk etc but she has a melt down.

[Yasemin]

My little man is 2 years 4 months and I have zero intention of doing it yet. I work in a nursery and forever seeing parents feeling the pressure to do it as soon as they're 2. Granted I know it's cheaper for not buying nappies but I've seen so many children fail or take absolute months to crack it. My eldest was 2 years 9 months when he one day decided he wanted to wear pants and never looked back (nappies only worn at bedtime) he was trained within a few days. My youngest shows more interest and knows he has been for a wee and poo but has no desire to wear pants so I'll wait for his lead like I did my eldest. We also went straight to the toilet as I cannot stand potties lol just bought one of those seats you place on top.

Each child is different and yes some children can and will do it at an earlier age but I always recommend going by them to save yourself lots of washing and any stress.

[Esther]

When his ready! don't listen to others do what's best for him
No child on their 18th card says potty trained at age....
Do it when his ready and understands it'll just fall into place that way x

[Emma]

When he’s ready! There’s this ‘thing’ that makes out as soon as a child turns 2 they should be potty training, yet I found it’s usually around 3 that they’re actually ready.

As a nursery practitioner, I’ll never forget one of the boys who was probs one of the last in his group to be still in nappies (age 3) and one morning he’d just said to Mum that he wanted to wear underpants so borrowed his big brothers, came to nursery in them and had no accidents, didn’t wear a nappy again.

If they’re not ready, it’s just so stressful for everyone involved!

[Susan]

My son is 3 tomorrow and isn't potty trained. He's showing no signs and doesn't understand when he goes so we're waiting until he's ready x

[Nicole]

Its when hes ready. There is no set age. But best to remember most kids will be between age 2.5 to 4 when ready and hes very young still, so i wouldnt stress. Follow his lead completely. He needs to know he needs a wee or poo, other signs include hiding to poo and taking nappy off.

Even when showing signs a child may not be fully ready. My son was 3 and a half when he did it last summer and had been showing signs of readiness on and off for nearly a year beforehand. We would always follow his lead. Ask if he wanted to use toilet or wear pants, if he said no we left it. When he was ready he asked to use toilet all day, nailed it in 3 days and has never had an accident.

Follow your son completely on this. He will let you know.

[Kely]

If you wait until he's ready then it'll be quick and easy. If you try before he's ready it'll be frustrating and messy for a long time. my three all potty trained at different ages. 3y3m, 4y1m and 2y8m. My first and third had very few accidents and were quick. My middle (the 4y1m) I thought was never going to get there as he had serious issues about going to the toilet.

However he did because we didn't pressure him. Make it easy on yourself and your little one.

[Charlotte]

I spent a good couple of weeks with no nappy on a potty in every room also let him watch his dad go in the 'big toilet ' both my kids were quiet tall so would pick the potty up and hold it under their winkle few accidents didn't take too long, then just explained when they were out if they get that feeling let mummy know , we had quiet a few accidents but never made a big deal about it changed him then on his way . Poop was bit harder with second one cos he was too big to sit on the potty he had to sit on big toilet

[Tracy]

I put a potty in the bathroom ready (the one that looks like a loo) and told my children it was there ready for when they wanted to learn. Cant remember how old they were but I chatted about how to recognise when they needed to go. I didn't push them.to use it and let.them lead. When they were ready, they both toilet trained within a week with very little fuss.

[Emilyy]

I would recommend leaving it for a while. I did mine when he was about 2 years 8 months. Stayed in for a day and even after most the day on the potty he still couldn't do it so I left it another month and tried again and got it straight away. - did the same thing within a month overnight and never had an accident. - if you do it too soon they can have problems for years. Save yourself from misery of wondering wheres the toilet and enjoy another 6 months nappies.