My older boys were both potty trained really early. Somewhere between 18 months and 2 years. The main reason was the Aden wanted to be like his dad, so he just copied, and of course, Mav wanted to do what Aden did. I have a feeling Max wont be quite so easy, but I guess time will tell. I'll probably start trying with him when he's about 18 months. I hate cleaning up shitty nappies. I can't imagine why it'd be a bad idea for the kid too.

With regard to kids psyche and potty training, it is one of their cognitive milestones. It's all about the creation factor, so making a big deal over what they 'create' is really just the best way to go about it.

It's all cultural. 2 is late in the UK -14-18 months -as they start walking- would be more the norm, some cultures don't do d.apers at all and "train" from birth.

Creation? Really? :eyebrow: You've been at them Eucalyptus leaves again. [/anally expulsive moment] :lol:

Nope...it's true. :) Check it out if you don't believe me.

I did.

great story! I'm happy for you :) and the kids too. They feel so big.

Look up Freud's Anal stage. That should help. :)

:eyebrow:

Srsly? You're into Freud as a model of child development? He never even studied children.

Nah...not in particular. It's just something they tried to teach us in Uni about child development.

I actually have never really set much store in any of the popular child psych teachings. I think common sense and compassion make for better parenting than pretty much anything else. That's just my opinion, but it's worked pretty well for me so far.

Actually I learned that in college too, though not from Freud specifically. During the unit on potty training they even discussed how some kids will hide it from you as an act of independence. AKA...this is MINE and I made it, not to be thrown away by you (or flushed, as the case may be)

I definitely don't regret that $20,000...at least it was terribly interesting

Oh lordy. Some kids. The not normal ones. In my -by now fairly extensive- experience, most could give a flying fuck what happens to it. Which is why they don't see any benefit of wasting all that time using the potty when they can just do it where they are in what they're wearing :lol: In fact one of the most succesful methods among my peers in the UK was leave 'em nekkid. Many kids don't like the feeling of it trickling/falling down their legs, so if the potty is the only alternative to that they will use it. But put underwear or diapers on and there's a barrier to "soften the blow" to they go in what they're wearing. But there seems to be a much bigger taboo here about having kids run around butt-nekkid -especially outside, so that may not be such an easy option. I guess the yards aren't so private and the tempertaures less nekkid-friendly for longer periods.

Which reminds me there is a turd in the back yard I forgot to collect.
I wonder if the dung beetles have hatched yet?

Yeah...leaving clothes off (or pants at least) was how we trained ours. It's pretty common over here, and the weather permits nakedness almost all year round where I live. I plan on doing the same thing with Max.

I tried the naked route, but Flintsy just peed all over the floor. Once I started putting the "Big Boy" underpants on him he recognized he was wet and had peed. So far the onely accident we've had in the past 2 says has been a poop yesterday.

In the shop I worked in we found that babies in non-disposable (terry) nappies toilet-trained far earlier. They were subjected to far more unpleasant sensations re sitting in their own waste than babies in modern nappies.

Anecdotal evidence also suggested less nappy rash, because babies protested earlier once they'd soiled their nappies.

I know that there is no universal approach though.
I copied my sister and hit all development targets early because of it.
My bro had no near example and given the same approach left round poo like Maltesers all over the house for far too long.

Yet he's a successful IT Manager these days. And I live in the same house he laid his round poops in.

Both of ours were really easy to train early. LiL Lookout was horrified with being dirty when he was little so he took to the toilet by 18 months. 2.0 doesn't mind being dirty but hates being taken away from play time for baths so he was good to go by 20 months. 2.0 still wears a pull up at night because being in the desert we slam massive amounts of liquid into him right up until bedtime. It is really just insurance though, since it is dry pretty much every day.