What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[theherd123]

Ok maybe not a topic to read just after your dinner but I wonder if you can offer any advice?

 

My 17 month old daughter is showing all the signs of wanting to potty train - holding the front of her nappy, squatting down (very chicken like!) and saying 'wee wee'.

Over the weekend she has used her potty once for a wee and once for a poop - yes we were very proud parents! It's all up hill from this point on isnt it?!!

 

We are not pressuring her or asking every 5 mins if she needs to 'go' and we are happy for her to lead the pace.

 

Just wondered if you have any gems of advice to offer while going through this stage with her?

[chickenNutter]

Best advice I can give is don't push it - go at her pace. I think it is a bad mistake to go over the top with praise when she manages to do one in the potty - just acknowledge it with mild praise and carry on as if it is normal. If you make a big issue out of it positively or negatively it can lead to all sorts of problems - we had one ealy potty user and one very late potty user. Just chill, and go with the flow (excuse the pun!)

[Chickvic]

Have you got wooden floors? Easier to mop up. I would keep the potty in sight so she can ask/use it if she wants to. I was potty trained at 15 months so it's not impossible

[sparkysmum]

Take things nice & slowly & be prepared for setbacks. She's very little so even be prepared to put the potty away again for a while. I had to do this for my eldest (who's now 16yrs!)

[Snowy]

I kept the potty in the bathroom once they'd shown an interest, then whenever it was bath or wash time they could sit on it when they wanted, not necessarily if they wanted to go! When the inevitable happened - mega excitement! Goodluck - sounds like it won't be long!

[Valkyrie]

We were lucky with our 2. Number one son hated the potty, but would climb up onto the loo with the special seat and a stool for him to climb up and sit on it himself. He would hold meetings in there with myself or mum for ages. By the time the madam came along she just wanted to copy everyone and potty lasted for a short while and then it wasn't good enough - she had to have the loo too. The boy was about 2 and a half when he was dry at night though - once he was told he could have an ice cream from the van - and that was it. Her ladyship was totally finished with nappies at 16 months. As I said - we were very lucky. The trick is not to make it unpleasant - do something special that happens only at potty time. Apparently with me the key word was "QUICK!" and mum and dad would rush me to the potty - conveniently placed in front of a mirror. Kept me amused (so they say). On holiday at a guest house I kept yelling quick only because of a stuffed fox on a window ledge on the stairs and I wanted to pat it on the way up and down - good game. I still remember that fox too!

 

Good luck.

[Cinnamon]

Mine were both easy-peasy & it sounds to me like little one is heading the right way too

 

Buy a few potties & have them in various places around the house (& garden!)

Buy cheapo knickers - lots of them.

Reward her with a little treat after each sucessful use of the potty,then when she gets good,make it a bigger treat after each day or consistent use.

 

Then,when she is super fab,let her pick some really pretty 'grown-up girl' knickers for herself,which she will want to keep clean & dry.

 

Treat yourself to something too when its all over - it will be hard work,but worth it

[Rhapsody]

The Rhapsody Method = pack child off to Grandma's where she will do it with guilt-free bribery.

[Chucky Mama]

I used to leave mine with a couple of potties around and with a bare bottom around the house to make hasty trips to the potty easier - good stocks of carpet shampoo available

[chickencam]

Mine were all quite late out of nappies two and half for the girls slightly older for DS. The girls were very reliable very quickly, but DS would have occasional accidents even through his reception year. Children vary enormously in this area, be led by your daughter's pace. It looks like she may be an early bird though, so relax and go with it.

[ClaireG]

Having a few potties dotted around and clearly visible is a good idea. Does she have a favourite doll or teddy? With my 3 own children and ones i've been nanny for i ofter used to sit dolly or ted on the potty and praise them for going Try not to make any fuss about accidents and be prepared to go back a few paces. Good Luck

[The Dogmother]

Wooden floors and lots of potties was the answer chez Chateau Claret.

 

Rosie always did a poo at roughly the same time every morning, so I just started by popping her on the pot at that time and reading to her while she went about her business. Pennies took a bit longer to get the hang of, but we got there in the end.

 

I have the cutest photo of her and her best friend at the time, sitting side-by-side on their potties, holding hands and singing to each other

 

You're doing it right, just take your time and be prepared for a slight regression.

[Happy chickens!]

Good luck - if you are following your child's lead and not making a fuss I am sure it will go swimmingly.

 

My younger DS was both brilliant and a terror when it came to using the potty - he was young when he wanted to use the potty as saw older brother, and trained himself pretty much at 21 months, no probs...... except he wouldn't use nappy at night, so as little bladder not bit enough to go through, would wake us several times a night to wee - but at least never had an accident! Glad he's now a teen that can sleep for England!

[PurpleTree]

I kept a potty in the front room (wooden floors) then they could use it easily whenever they needed it. Both of mine pretty much chose when they wanted it to use it, and I let them get on with it.

 

I was given one of these and have found it invaluable, Oliver barely used the potty prefering to use 'the ladder' and is able to take himself off to the toilet.

[Lesley]

I kept a potty in the front room (wooden floors) then they could use it easily whenever they needed it. Both of mine pretty much chose when they wanted it to use it, and I let them get on with it.

 

I was given one of these and have found it invaluable, Oliver barely used the potty prefering to use 'the ladder' and is able to take himself off to the toilet.

 

I used one of those for Lauren and Jake as I looked after them 2 days a week - they both preferred it to a potty. We had a downstairs loo so I used to leave the door open and they very soon got the hang of it. Lauren just decided one day that she didn't want nappies and Mum and Dad came home to a toddler wearing pants - I think they thought I was pushing her but soon realised that she'd made the decision for herself

[fluffyknickers]

That toilet ladder looks great - want to by one but out of stock at my local Argos'.

[PurpleTree]

I've only noticed them stocking it in their latest catalogue. As I said I was given ours and I was never able to find anywhere selling one, and always wondered where the person who gave it me got it from. I think my sister-in-law managed to buy one on Amazon, although I just had a quick look and they don't seem to have the same. Hopefully your Argos will have them back in stock soon.

[theherd123]

Thanks for all the expert tips & guidance

 

I think we will invest in a ladder in a while but OH will pop out tomorrow and pick up a potty or two.

[The Dogmother]

I bought some cheapo ones from the local pound shop and stationed them around the house.... worked a treat.