Every night before bath we sit bean on the toilet (he now comes pattering into the bathroom nekkid, pointing at the loo ) and he has a little widdle, has done for ooo a good few months now. Gone from a drop or two to a couple of squeezes and a small wee; although obv whatever he fancies and we ask if he's "all done" then it's into the bath.

Also, que lots of praise and claps - although not too loud as it scares him off and him looking pleased as punch
(You can tell when he's ill though, poor tot gets dehydrated and couldn't manage it despite trying - praise and cheers still given though for sitting on the toilet no fuss giving it a go).

Anyway, he has also taken to finding it highly ammusing when he has a piddle at nappy change time - it must be this colder weather plus my 'noooo - no widdles!'
- so today when he did it (big grin + look of concentration...) I asked him if he wasted to go to the toilet, to which he replied in the affirmative. Sat him on the loo and had a good wee with not too much effort.

I've also (hope you don't think tmi...) been trying to let him know the toilet is used for poos too - he did one himself when some nappy-free time went a bit too free a couple of months ago but generally not limiting him to only being about when we're having a wee... 'nuff said

Now I'd always had in my head the age of 2-ish to start thinking about potty training but with baby due just one month before his birthday we're happy to play it by ear as too much change etc. at once might send him backwards so to speak. I think if I tried anything now there would be ALOT of asking and chancing things - but is that how it's supposed to start or is it waiting until they can TELL you they need the loo?! Tbh it's not going to be easy anywhich way - potty training heavily pg or with a newborn - but then nappy changes now and then having two in nappies as the alternative!

Basically, do we carry on as we are or is this the start of something different?! xx

The way I am going to do it is wait until Izzy says she needs to go

We have a way to go as she can say she needs changing but cant yet say before she needs to go

So then its training her to say she needs to go, hold it and then get to the loo

Just my opinion, but I think it makes more work if its started before they are capable of saying they need to go and holding it in!

^ for sure, that's what I mean by the sending backwards bit - at present he has no fear or apprehension etc. but I know if I even tried to be pushy and tried to start / "do" potty training before little pip arrives that it would all go pear shaped and be alot more work like you say!

Hmmm so, as I reckoned, we'll see how he goes with expressing his needs more. But do you reckon the natural progression we've followed so far and the routine of before-bath-wee could affect/hinder in any way?! It only came about by chance and we're just happy if he's happy and following his lead - which is this case was peering into the toilet and asking to sit on it
He does worry me a bit when he strains though - with the occasional trump - wee's are supposed to come easy aren't they??

I don't think it will do him any harm at all hun - if nothing else it's a great way to get him used to the words associated with potty training and the feeling of weeing etc. Thomas is at a stage now where he is telling when he is doing it which is good but obviously a little late to get the trousers down and sit down, he doesn't understand to hold yet before he gets on his potty. He is also more willing to sit on his potty now which is heading in the right direction. We have had a couple of occasions where he has said "mammy doodoo" (can't say 'p') so i have whipped the nappy off and sat him down to finish on the potty so he is now getting the word association.

I would carry on as you are hun, sounds like Jonah is doing well. Keep talking to him a lot about 'poos' and 'wees' and talk to him about what he has done in his nappy at change time and ask him if he would like to do it on the potty/toilet like mummy and daddy etc. He will start to be more aware of the processes and when he is wet/dirty. I also let Thomas come with me to the bathroom and tell him what I'm doing and I let him flush.

Thomas's talking has never been great and its only these last couple of months that he's even tried to form words (other than daddy ) so I will let him progress a bit more to be able to understand to tell me when he wants to go and hopefully get christmas out of the way and make a 'start' in the new year.

I have also bought him some little undies and some toilet stuff (new seat, new step, reward stickers, special hand towel etc) for christmas to make it kind of special and try to excite him about the whole process so he might want to start wearing/using he new 'toys'.

I'll keep you posted on how we progress over the next month or so and hopefully might be able to pass on some tips.

Oh and don't worry too much about having two bums to change, it's not that bad and it's also a great opportunity to talk to Jonah about what baby has done in her nappy etc and ask if he would like to try some 'big boy' pants like daddy or stay in nappies like baby? You will find when pip comes along Jonah will seem so much more grown up all of a sudden and he will enjoy helping you with baby and start to feel more grown up so be more inclined to want to be a 'big boy' ( ).

xx

No I dont think what you are doing will do any harm whatsoever - it can only be good that he learns what the loo is for, regardless of whether he can control when/what he does in there!

Izzy knows that wees are done down the loo - but is more interested shoving the whole loo roll down there and flushing!

cheeky monkeys!

Thanks for advice & reassurance - Was I about right with 2-ish to start thinking about it or does it tend to be younger / older than that? I'd heard boys are later than girls - is that a communication-based thing do you think? Also, should we have a potty and/or baby seat for loo now - we have nothing like that as yet!

We'll crack on as we are then, and hope he doesn't get a fascination with dropping things in there... although I had a small saucepan in my washing machine today so it's highly likely